Introduction: Safety Light Box

Have you ever wanted to make your classroom more safe? Now you can (and in style) with Grace and Sarah's Safety Light Box! The Safety Light Box while being functional is also a fun and stylish addition to your classroom! The box has three safety necessities (goggles, gloves, mask) that we think are imperative for a safe classroom. Each item is sectioned off and has separate light control so you can choose which item to illuminate depending on the project at hand. For the lighting we used ArtSkills® Poster Lights which has 20 LEDS and is connected to its own battery pack and switch. Before beginning, if you want to have the inlay style box pictured above, make sure you have access to a laser cutter. We also suggest that you put aside a day to complete this project due to the many parts that are all made differently. Now make that box!!

Step 1: Tools and Materials

Tools:

  1. Ruler
  2. Pencil
  3. Full Spectrum Laser Cutter
  4. Tape
  5. Scissors

Materials:

  • 3 ArtSkills® Poster Lights
  • Roll of Aluminum Foil
  • 2 1/4" Plywood (10in x 10in)
  • 4 1/4" Plywood (10in x 3in)
  • Hot glue gun
  • Glue sticks for glue gun
  • Tracing Paper

Step 2: Create File for Inlay Box and Cut

  1. First go to http://makeabox.io/
  2. Insert Demensions:
    1. Width: 10in
    2. Height: 10in
    3. Depth: 3in
    4. Thickness: .25in
  3. Download PDF and open in Adobe Illustrator
  4. Save as a .svg file and transport to Full Spectrum Engineer
  5. Insert the wood into the laser cutter
  6. Home the laser and run the job perimeter to ensure that the whole cut will be on the board
  7. Set the speed to 30% and power to 100%, then have at it!

Attachments

Step 3: Connect Joints on Inlay Box

Now once you have popped out all of your pieces, go ahead and connect the joints leaving the top off.

Tip: You may have to use some hot glue or wood glue to ensure that the pieces will stay!

Step 4: Prepare Inside of Box

First you want to cut two cardboard rectangles about 9 in x 3 in and place them inside the box light the photo above, so that each word has its own slot for the lights.

Now that you have finished the box structure, it is time to line the inside with aluminum foil.

  1. Cut out 6 10in x 3in rectangles and place them on the longer inside walls.
  2. Then cut out smaller squares to fit the remaining wood, remembering to leave a small rectangle for the battery packs
  3. After it is all cut, adhere it to the wood using hot glue

Now it is time for the lights!

  1. Gently place each battery pack with the switch facing the outside in each slot.
  2. After it is placed the way you want it, glue it down.
  3. Now arrange the lights along the bottom of each slot making sure you glue as you go so they stay in placed when the box is hung.

Step 5: Finish and Connect the Top

Now that the inside is complete, it is time to put the finishing touches on the top and connect it!

  1. First you want cut a piece of tracer paper to cover the lettering but doesn't cover the edges
  2. Then you want adhere it with hot glue
  3. Once it drys, you can go ahead and connect it to the rest of the box!

Tip: If the top doesn't stay on its own, use hot glue or wood glue to ensure it stays.

Step 6: Now It Is Time to Hang the Box!

You can hang the box in any way you please, but we recommend that you hang it in a place that is not to high so you can reach the switches and somewhere it will catch the eyes of your students.