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Step 2PREPARE THE CASE
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You have limitless options when it comes to a case. I used 3mm black Sintra for mine (see note below). You could use an Altoids box, a small plastic, metal, or wooden project box, or even a cardboard box. You may even want to use an old picture frame. You could put a photograph in the frame or just a sheet of black construction paper to give it a cool high contrast look. You can also use a plastic CD/DVD case instead of the plexiglas, but in my opinion the results you get with glass or CD/DVD cases is not quite as good as with Plexiglas. Plexiglas has special light guide properties that really make the fluorescent ink glow brightly. You can always wire up the LEDs and try different materials to see what suits you best.
If you use a case similar to the one I made you will need to cut a slot in it for the Plexiglas like shown below. The Plexiglas needs to at least be flush with the inside of your case. It won't hurt if it extends inside the case a little so long as you leave room inside for the rest of the parts.
If you decide to use an old picture frame or some there material you are on your own at to how to mount the LEDs so they will shine onto the edge of whatever material you use. If you come up with something that works I would love to see a picture of it.
NOTES: Sintra is sort of like foam core board, but it is made of PVC and is much stronger. It is pretty easy to cut to whatever size you want. Just score it a few times with a utility knife and then snap it in two. After cutting, sand the edges smooth with sand paper or an emery board normally used for fingernails. You can glue Sintra together using super glue.
It is available in various thicknesses and colors. You can buy it from several sources but Solarbotics is the only source I have found that sells it in smaller sheets (8 inches by 12 inches). If you decide to buy some from Solarbotics, I suggest that you buy several sheets in various thicknesses and colors because once you use this stuff you are going to find a thousand uses for it. It is great for all sorts of projects - especially robotics. Sintra adds a certain professional look to your projects that is hard to achieve with any other product.
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You have limitless options when it comes to a case. I used 3mm black Sintra for mine (see note below). You could use an Altoids box, a small plastic, metal, or wooden project box, or even a cardboard box. You may even want to use an old picture frame. You could put a photograph in the frame or just a sheet of black construction paper to give it a cool high contrast look. You can also use a plastic CD/DVD case instead of the plexiglas, but in my opinion the results you get with glass or CD/DVD cases is not quite as good as with Plexiglas. Plexiglas has special light guide properties that really make the fluorescent ink glow brightly. You can always wire up the LEDs and try different materials to see what suits you best.
If you use a case similar to the one I made you will need to cut a slot in it for the Plexiglas like shown below. The Plexiglas needs to at least be flush with the inside of your case. It won't hurt if it extends inside the case a little so long as you leave room inside for the rest of the parts.
If you decide to use an old picture frame or some there material you are on your own at to how to mount the LEDs so they will shine onto the edge of whatever material you use. If you come up with something that works I would love to see a picture of it.
NOTES: Sintra is sort of like foam core board, but it is made of PVC and is much stronger. It is pretty easy to cut to whatever size you want. Just score it a few times with a utility knife and then snap it in two. After cutting, sand the edges smooth with sand paper or an emery board normally used for fingernails. You can glue Sintra together using super glue.
It is available in various thicknesses and colors. You can buy it from several sources but Solarbotics is the only source I have found that sells it in smaller sheets (8 inches by 12 inches). If you decide to buy some from Solarbotics, I suggest that you buy several sheets in various thicknesses and colors because once you use this stuff you are going to find a thousand uses for it. It is great for all sorts of projects - especially robotics. Sintra adds a certain professional look to your projects that is hard to achieve with any other product.
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