This shows the construction of the first two that I made as a way to evaluate the PCB etching process outlined in another Instructable. My idea is to use these as indicator lamps in some other projects.
My son insisted that I enter it into the LED contest because he wants a TV-B-Gone kit, so be sure to vote it up if you like it. (Click the + icon at the top of this page)
You should open this pre-requisite Instructable in a new tab or window: http://www.instructables.com/id/Stop-using-Ferric-Chloride-etchant!--A-better-etc/
It is the method used to do the etching in this instructable and has the added bonus of giving the PCB's a nice green tint.
Eventually I will make stained wood and brushed aluminum enclosures for these. I also plan to make use of these as indicators on some projects. (They are actually quite significantly brighter than they appear in the pictures)
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Signing UpStep 1Gather materials
- Ultraviolet LED's - I got 200 for $10 on eBay. I think cool backlight effects could be made with any LED combination you like, my preference just happens to be UV.
- Fluorescent acrylic - McMaster carries this, as do alot of industrial supply houses. I got mine for $0.99 in the form of a tacky cutting board from a thrift store. Again, green is my preference, but the material comes in a couple of fluorescent colors. I think that maybe I'd like to try red, too.
- Standoffs - I used #8 threaded couplers
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I had the PCB on the back run off an ATtiny13, a coin cell and a push button that turns it on, causing it to fade the LEDs in and then out again.
I couldn't get my hands on any acrylic, so instead I just used three 3mm LEDs - they light up the PCB in front (FR2) quite nicely.
I made a quick build log of it:
http://negativeacknowledge.com/2008/03/02/mothers-day-08-a-light-up-box/
You can get the acrylic from McMaster if you don't feel like digging - I've never bought it from there, but I do know they carry it. I see alot at thrift stores an you can find clipboards to cut up at Wal-Mart, Target, OfficeMax, and the like.
Someone else had sent me a msg asking about getting started with etching so I looked around for some web pages that I thought would be useful:
Here's what I found:
http://www.headwize.com/projects/garbz2_prj.php
http://myweb.cableone.net/wheedal/pcb.htm * I had never read this one before - it's a little more technical way of doing the printout, but I think it may be a better way.
http://www.solarbotics.net/library/techniques/buildpcb_trnsfr.html