3D Printed Pictures LED Projector

A contest related to 3D printing!!! well I had to do something here :)

This Instructable will show you how to make a really cheap 3D printed LED pictures projector. Inside, there is a color changing LED which will give a really cool atmosphere.

For the LED I will use one I had, but they are quite easy to find (just look for LED candle color changing).

I will guide you step by step, even if you don't need to follow all of them, adapt this Instructable to your needs.

I will mainly work using Instructables.com logo (sorry guys, I'll will have to adjust it a little bit for 3D printing). And also I'll also use SVG files from SVGSILH, it's really easy to import SVG files in Fusion360 and to work with.

This Instructable does not cover the slicing part, but if you have any question, just feel free to ask, I might have the solution or someone else :)

So here we go!!!

I also made a video with all the information, don't hesitate to have a look for more information: 3D Printed Pictures LED Projector

• a 3D printer
• a color changing LED
• Fusion360
• glue gun
• Thingiverse files
• your imagination :)

Using Fusion360:

1. open a new project
2. named it as you wish
3. Right click on the project name: "New Component"
4. Name the new component "Logo" (for example)
5. Display the Origin
6. Click on the bottom layer
7. Press "r" (shortcut for rectangle)
8. click on the origin and draw a rectangle
9. enter 60x60mm to make a square

On Instructables.com website (so here :):

1. right click on the logo
2. Save images

Sorry my web browser is in french, so is the screenshot.

Using Fusion360:

1. click insert canvas
2. browse the file previously saved
3. click on the square (the logo will appear in the square)
4. adapt the size to 0.9 (90%)

Since the logo is a .png file (so full of pixel), we have to draw the robot manually. It take time but it's really easy to do so: just lines, curves and circles.

Start with all straight lines:

1. click on the 60x60mm square
2. using "l" shortcut
3. draw every straight lines on the robot contour
4. press the space bar to quit the line tool or click on the green checkbox

Add 2 circles ("c" shortcut) for the robot feet.

Then the curvy lines:

1. using splines tool
2. clic on several points to shape the curvy contour
3. green checkbox to validate

1. Select the outside of the contour
2. press "e" to extrude
3. I used a 1mm extrusion, up to you to adapt

As before with line tool ("l") and spline tool, shape the inside of the robot.

Tips: I used a 1mm line during the drawing process as a reference, this help me to check that the line are thick enough to be 3D printed.

Doing these steps, you can draw the inside of the Robot, with some modification to be sure there are not floating surfaces.

For the extrusion, be sure to choose the "join" parameter. Usually I also use "distant to" and click on the back of the Robot to extrude.

1. export the STL file
2. use your slicer to have a 3D printing file
3. then using a LED and a wall I checked that this first print was OK, there was small issue with one hand, so I modified the drawing

Initially I wanted to work only with the Instructables logo, but I decided to add tools shape on the side.

1. create a new component
2. draw a rectangle 60x90mm
3. insert
4. SVG files
5. browse to your SVG files (mine from SVGsilh)
6. insert them
7. you might have to resize, turn, drag, rotate the SVG file to the right position

Notice: be sure there is no floating part, especially in letter, for example the "D", I just extrude 2 small rectangles to hold the inside.

Adding 3 others sides with SVG tools and letters.

Once the modelization is done:

1. click on the eyes to view all the sides and the logo
2. click on the name of a side them the letter "m" to move the side
3. organize the space as you wish

I also :

• added 4 corners that will hold the logo and the sides together
• modified the width of two sides so the box can close (from 60mm to 62mm)

Right click on each name, then export in STL files to feed your slicer and then your 3D printer.

Remember, 2 sides are wider, they have to face them.

Using a hot glue gun, use a drop of glue to hold together two sides.

A drop of glue on the corner, and I placed it to hold two sides.

I remove the cover of the LED candle so the light is brighter and not scatter. I also printed a simple LED holder which fit the projector.

Place in a dark room, the logo on top and tools+letters on the side are really bright and sharp.

I hope you will like this Instructable :) Please let me know.

These files are also available on my Thingiverse.