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One simple cut-out shape lets you build all sorts of different designer-looking lampshades! You can make dozens different geometric forms using various numbers of the cut-out shape made from paper or plastic. All the standard mathematical polyhedrons and such are possible.
The pieces just fold together by hand into rigid forms, and you can take them apart and build into new shapes any time!
this is fun and educational for kids and adults alike, and you get a really nice lampshade when you are done.
As seen in ReadyMade Magazine, Dec. 2007/Jan 2008 issue
If you like our projects please check out the latest on Kickstarter
The pieces just fold together by hand into rigid forms, and you can take them apart and build into new shapes any time!
this is fun and educational for kids and adults alike, and you get a really nice lampshade when you are done.
As seen in ReadyMade Magazine, Dec. 2007/Jan 2008 issue
If you like our projects please check out the latest on Kickstarter
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Signing UpStep 1What you need
I saw a lampshade made out of the shape below at a friend's house, so I traced the shape and made my own. the lamp i saw used thin plastic for the pieces. I believe the original design for this lamp was done over 30 years ago by the firm Iqlight, they sell pre-cut parts in case you do not want to make the parts yourself.
Below is the shape as an image, and i've also attached a DXF file.
You will need sheets of paper or plastic that allow light to get through. The stiffness of your material determines how large your pieces can be - stiffer material for larger pieces and larger lamps, thinner material for smaller pieces and smaller lamps. (see next step)
You will need a lamp fixture - just a raw socket on a cord. I found some nice ones at Ikea for $4, and some fluorescent bulbs. Use a compact fluorescent bulb so you can get more light without melting the plastic.
I experimented with a number of different plastics and sizes for the parts, here are my results:
- HDPE: works well, looks good, cheap and easy to get. I used 0.8mm thick stock for 8cm pieces (measured flat-side to flat-side). That's about the smallest you'd want to go with that thickness, you could go up to 12 or 15cm with that thickness. this is the least expensive plastic by far. One of the commenters suggested using plastic milk-bottles, which are made of HDPE, this is a good idea!
- Acetal (delrin): this seems to be the best choice for looks, it has the purest white color and best light dispersion (basically, looks just like acrylic except it doesn't crack as easily). I used 0.35mm stock for 6cm and 8cm pieces, and 0.5mm stock for 8-12cm pieces, and 0.65mm stock for 12-15cm pieces. It still is a little brittle and harder to work with than HDPE, and more expensive. if you cut this with scissors it will be somewhat tricky due to the brittleness, but possible.
- Vinyl: I did not try it, probably want to use thicker pieces since it is not very stiff. but you can use colors!
- Paper: I did not try paper but it should be good for smaller constructions.
- Laminated paper: this is a great idea suggested in the coments section. try laminating color tissue paper, then cut the pieces from that. very unique and colorful!
- Acrylic: too brittle, it will crack when you try to assemble. too bad!
- Nylon: has a yellow-ish look when lit up which makes it undesirable.
- for a large construction use stiffer material for the same size piece. ie, if you are making a lampshade with 12 pieces use thinner material than if you are making a shade with 100 pieces, assuming same size pieces.
Where to get it:
HDPE 1/32" sheet: sheet: http://www.usplastics.com item number 42584
Acetal sheet, 0.015" and 0.020":: http://www.mcmaster.com item number 8738K52 and 8738K53
Below is the shape as an image, and i've also attached a DXF file.
You will need sheets of paper or plastic that allow light to get through. The stiffness of your material determines how large your pieces can be - stiffer material for larger pieces and larger lamps, thinner material for smaller pieces and smaller lamps. (see next step)
You will need a lamp fixture - just a raw socket on a cord. I found some nice ones at Ikea for $4, and some fluorescent bulbs. Use a compact fluorescent bulb so you can get more light without melting the plastic.
I experimented with a number of different plastics and sizes for the parts, here are my results:
- HDPE: works well, looks good, cheap and easy to get. I used 0.8mm thick stock for 8cm pieces (measured flat-side to flat-side). That's about the smallest you'd want to go with that thickness, you could go up to 12 or 15cm with that thickness. this is the least expensive plastic by far. One of the commenters suggested using plastic milk-bottles, which are made of HDPE, this is a good idea!
- Acetal (delrin): this seems to be the best choice for looks, it has the purest white color and best light dispersion (basically, looks just like acrylic except it doesn't crack as easily). I used 0.35mm stock for 6cm and 8cm pieces, and 0.5mm stock for 8-12cm pieces, and 0.65mm stock for 12-15cm pieces. It still is a little brittle and harder to work with than HDPE, and more expensive. if you cut this with scissors it will be somewhat tricky due to the brittleness, but possible.
- Vinyl: I did not try it, probably want to use thicker pieces since it is not very stiff. but you can use colors!
- Paper: I did not try paper but it should be good for smaller constructions.
- Laminated paper: this is a great idea suggested in the coments section. try laminating color tissue paper, then cut the pieces from that. very unique and colorful!
- Acrylic: too brittle, it will crack when you try to assemble. too bad!
- Nylon: has a yellow-ish look when lit up which makes it undesirable.
- for a large construction use stiffer material for the same size piece. ie, if you are making a lampshade with 12 pieces use thinner material than if you are making a shade with 100 pieces, assuming same size pieces.
Where to get it:
HDPE 1/32" sheet: sheet: http://www.usplastics.com item number 42584
Acetal sheet, 0.015" and 0.020":: http://www.mcmaster.com item number 8738K52 and 8738K53
polypiece.dxf31 KB| « Previous Step | Download PDFView All Steps | Next Step » |
So did this guy steal this from you or what Dan?
i think if you are here at instructables you are more interested in cutting out your own pieces from an interesting material than paying someone else to do it for you.
These are the diagrams I found on this site. Good luck.
my id is Ali_naseem_1@yahoo.com
regards
Muhammad Ali
We used disposable cutting boards / placemats we got at Walmart. They have the same vine print green and black mixed in with some plain white. The photos don't really do it justice.
I think we're going to replace the incandecent bulb with and LED one for safety. Almost no heat from LEDs... and I already had a regular bulb melt through the plastic of another lamp I made.
Cheers
or not respecting Intellectual property?
http://www.iqlight.com/
The only thing that you need to do is quote the author of the material that you are using. Its the same with the clasical chairs of the Bauhaus or any chair, you can copy it and sell it but you need to quote the author of the chair.
Cheers
It doesn't look like there is any violation of intellectual property here. The original design was made in the 1970's so if there was a US patent on this kind of lamp, it has long since expired.
Just my 2 cents.
M
I made mine out of printer paper as a table ornament. It stands 16 inches or so tall and I cut my pieces, all 120, on my Silhouette SD. I reckon I could cut thin plastic too.
I'm working on a prototype ball with a special shaped piece to slot on to your ceiling pendant as the perfectionist in me needed it to hang right. My friend wants me to send her some and make a video assembling it, which I might just do.
Thanks so much for sharing!
Thank you for any assistance!
Ansley
I got some for AUD$17.20 per 30 (delivered price as I sniped 0.99c auctions and negotiated postage with 4 lots). Not as cheap as making them yourself, but the polycarbonate plastic is good quality, and I'm very pleased with the result.
Looks fantastic, thanks for the instructable!
So do you have your diagram on that? Thats an awesome design.