3D Printed Pen Light

Easy to make 3D printed pen light.

I've recently gotten into the wotagei culture, so I needed to make me a pen light!

The 3D print requires no supports, and while soldering will likely result in a more lasting product, you don't have to solder anything if you don't want to.

Aside from the 3d printed parts you don't require much to build this.

The only materials needed are:

• The 3D printed parts
• 8 5mm LEDs
• About 50 cm of Wire
• Super glue
• 1 coin cell battery (20mm)
• 1 resistor (this depends on the LEDs you use)

If you decide NOT to solder, then you'll need a bit more wire.

You'll actually end up using only about 15 cm of wire, but having the 50cm will make the build a lot easier.

The first step would be to 3D print the parts.

The files are in this link: https://www.printables.com/model/154226-pen-light

The second step is to place the LEDs in their holder, and then to either solder or just join them by twisting wires to the legs.

Depending on the LEDs you use you might need a resistor to prevent them burning out too fast.

You can go to this site and in the "Leds in parallel" section you input the voltage of your battery (likely 3V), the specs of your LEDs, and the amount of LEDs you'll use and it'll tell you the resistor you need.

If you don't have a resistor of the required value you can try to use a variable resistor.

The resistor goes between the positive side of the battery and the Anode of the LEDs

On this step you'll finish placing the LEDs.

• If you only have 1 50cm piece of wire then you'll have to cut it in 2 25cm pieces
• Get one each piece of wire through the body of the pen light from the bottom, one going on each side.
• Either solder or twist together the first LED legs to the wires.
• Pull from the wires and make sure the LEDs strip sits nicely on the hexagon in the bottom
• place the lid and glue it in place.

The final step would be to wire up the battery holder.

This is very simple, just pass the wires through the holes on the sides, you can use the coin cell battery to help you bend the wires after you insert them.

Then after they are in place you can glue them to the sides of the battery holder.

When the glue is dry just push the battery holder upwards to its final place and, if needed, glue it in place.

There's a few things to take into consideration with this design.

• The pen light has no switch, to turn it on and off you insert or remove the battery.
• The material you choose for the 3d printed parts plays a huge part in how much light will come through.
• If you want, and the material you chose is see-through enough, you can print something in a regular or see through paper sheet, roll it up and place it around the LEDs chamber before you glue the lid in place.
• The battery will not last for very long, but you should be able to get at least 4 hours from it. they are very inexpensive, but please dispose of them responsively.

The design has a small hole in the base for a wrist strap.

I hope you like your pen lights! :)