Introduction: LED Bouncie

This is my entry into the Get the LED Out Challenge.

It is a combination of the amazing LED Throwie by Q-Branch and your average super bouncy ball. The result is a bouncable light up device that is excellent for satisfying your midnight super bouncy ball cravings.

Step 1: Gather Materials

Gather the following materials:
  • 1 Small LED (any color will do but I had green on hand).
  • Enough small button cell batteries to power your LED.
  • 1 Super bouncy ball.
  • Electrical tape .

And also fetch the following tools:
  • Razor blade.
  • Exacto knife (the razor will be fine but the Exacto will help you as well).
  • Hot Glue gun (and glue). The hot glue worked OK but you may want to use super glue or epoxy instead.

Keep in mind that you want all your components to be small. You will notice that my LED and battery arrangement fit comfortably inside a 1-inch super bounce ball. You can use larger components but you may need a larger ball to house them all. That said, lets continue.

Step 2: Dissection (part One)

First, take your razor blade and simply cut the super bouncy ball down the middle. You will notice that there is already a line running around the equator of the ball and it is a handy cutting guide.
I suggest using the razor blade in this step because it makes one single cut going straight down rather that a longer cut running around the entire ball (like would be done with an Exacto knife.) The result will be two completely hemispherical segments of super ball.

Step 3: Battery and LED Core.

Now to prepare the insides.

First, take your two batteries and tape them together making sure that the terminals are in order like this +||-+||- (where || represents the battery.) Be sure that the tape is very tight around the batteries and that the batteries touch each other, (pics 2-3).
Then, using an Exacto knife or razor blade cut the excess tape off the batteries and discard, (pic 4-5).
Now, test your LED on the batteries to find the positive and negative terminals so the LED will light.
Bend the leads of the LED so they conform to the shape of the batteries and then tape the LED on the batteries so it lights. Be very sure that the leads are taped in place securely because this throwie will be bounced around a lot.

Step 4: Dissection (part Two)

Now you must carve a cavity into both segments of super ball.
This can be most effectively done with an Exacto knife, razor blade, or a drill with a large bit on it. In one half of the ball you want a round cavity that approximately half of your battery assembly can fit in to.
On the other you want to look the same as the first except for a notch in the side of the ball that the LED can fit in to. (Picture 2 best shows the notch for the LED.)

Note: This step makes tons of tiny rubber particles so you may want to do this over some newspaper or something similar, (not your mom's carpet).

Step 5: Final Assembly

Now to put the ball together.

Put a small dab of hot glue in the cavity of the half of your super ball
with the notch for the LED in it. Then secure the battery assembly into the cavity being sure that the
LED is positioned in the notch as shown in pic 2.
Now you want to dry fit the remaining part of the
super ball over the part that was just glued. If it does not fit easily then remove more
material from the cavity and try again.
Once the top fits on the bottom, begin gluing. Slowly work your
way around the equator of the ball making sure the glue bonds well. Super glue will work here if you
are having difficulties with hot glue.
Trim off any excess glue as necessary, but be careful not to cut the ball.

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