LED Cube 8x8x8

Step 24 Build the cube: bend the pins

In the LED cube columns, we want each LED to sit centered precisely above the LEDs below. The legs on the LEDs come out from the LED body half a millimeter or so from the edge. To make a solder joint, we have to bend the anode leg so that it touches the anode leg on the LED below.

Make a bend in the anode leg towards the cathode leg approximately 3mm from the end of the leg. This is enough for the leg to bend around the LED below and make contact with it's anode leg.

Comments

[naimis]

One trick to make this faster, easier and relatively consistent: take a wooden dowel or some other scrap bit of material and drill a hole in the end of it just large enough for the anode lead and only as deep as you intend to bend the lead (3mm if you follow the instructions precisely). It's probably best to use a drill press if you can for this to set the depth and keep the hole a consistent diameter, but not really necessary. Stick the anode in the drilled hole and twist the dowel. Make sure you twist it right along the flat bottom edge of the dowel in order to get the bend right.

If you can't find tiny drill bits with the rest of the normal sizes, try looking in the dremel tool section of your store.

[phazerave]

good tip, they also sell soldering tools that are little dentist looking tools with various tips on them. one is a tool with a slot in the tip that I found to be perfect for the job, just stick the lead in the notch and twist. perfect every time.