cool DIY infinite LED tunnel

hi,
in this instructable i'm going to show you how to build a virtual "infinite" led tunnel.

this is my first instructable...i know it's not perfect....especially for what concerns the grammar:-)....however I hope that you'll like it

see the video here: http://www.metacafe.com/watch/865086/cool_diy_infinite_led_tunnel/

Step 1: Materials & tools

the things you need are:
- wooden bar (80cm X 3cm X 1cm)
- copper wire
- 20 leds
- a semi-reflective  mirror
- an ordinary mirror (the same size of the semi trasparent one)
- a DC transformer (3V or the same voltage needed by the leds)
- glue

- saw
- soldering gun

Comments

[Masone AV Haunts]

This is a great idea to use as a computer desk top. HMmm

[Anhan12]

This guy had the same idea.
http://i.imgur.com/rpF1q.jpg

[facilitator476]

Scratch that, I thought that sounded familiar, Check this out: http://www.popsci.com/diy/article/2011-05/2011-invention-awards-picture-health

[facilitator476]

Something like a transparent OLED screen in front of the entire setup?

[Zichau91]

Anyone got any idea of how to make this into a wall clock? (:
Would make an awesome wallclock :D

[xhephaestusx]

idea: remove clock hands from movement, replace with some manner of glowing tube?

[Green_mantle]

I wonder... Ok, front mirror is see semi-reflective, say (I do know actual number) 30 - 50%. What if the rear mirror was 80 - 90% reflective, then place an animatronic hand/spider/thing behind the rear mirror, with LEDs to illuminate it periodically or remotely. Tell friends it is a meditation mirror, you'll see your soul...

There is a related idea BTW, that uses an the mirror and semi-reflective mirror front & back of a candle, kind of an infinite regressing candle.

[xhephaestusx]

i was eating dinner at my friends' house, and they had three candles on the table... then they pulled out a tall rectangular prism with the bottom and top open, and placed it neatly over the three candles.
it was made of panes of semireflective glass, and the effect was incredible... the sides being also mirrors created an infinite field effect, blew my mind

[tinker234]

cool wow that would be weird to open a door and see this

[1161858]

wow this is really cool now im considering making a bunch and making a cool dance floor

[arenshaw]

Just use some really strong plexi glass.. Don't want people falling into the infinity hole :P

[zmcqueary]

What an awesome idea, dude :)

[jimmyt9574]

Where did you get your LEDs from? Did you buy online or at a local place?

[XOIIO]

I am going to try this, but covering up the LE"s with mirror pieces so that you can\t see the source

[megapun13]

I am definately going to try and add this to my 360!

[Charlie13]

Question: would an acrylic 2 way mirror/1 way glass work as well for the tunnel? I'm building a coffee table (22"x22") and i'm worried about the strength of the glass if i were to set something down on it, but getting glass tempered/getting a thicker cut is pricey.
Here are my choices: What do you think?
22 " x 22 " x 1/8" Acrylic Two Way Mirror-$65
22" x 22"x1/4" Acrylic Two Way Mirror - $98
22 " x 22 " x1/4" Glass Two Way Mirror-$84
22 " x 22 " x1/4" Glass Two Way Mirror (Tempered)-$109

Your advice would be much appreciated

[curly B.]

hi:), sorry 4 the delay of my response, well... i've never tried to build an infinite tunnel with an acrylic 2 way mirror, but i think that will work just fine:), by the way i suggest you to make 4 infinite tunnel and put them togheder, cause 22" are alot and if you'll not get a very deep effect with a single tunnel, just don't make the wooden part too thick!

[Charlie13]

thanks for the suggestions. I guess the tunnel depth would be rather weak unless i used ultra bright LEDs or something like that. I'll have to think about it

[enoted]

wow this looks amazing

[jamesorlov]

oohhh! if you paint the frame with black and make it circle it'll look like real portal )) Thanks, it's cool!

[CoolKoon]

You might want to remove the video from your last step as the user has decided to delete it from YouTube (I still can't comprehend the reasons behind this, other than lunacy/idiocy/immaturity/ignorance).

[curly B.]

ok thanks 4 the reporting:)

[Charlie13]

This would be cool with some EL glow wire.

[1jimbeam]

Ok,
the next question is: do you think this would work with a third layer of glass. I want to try one with the regular mirror in the back. Add an object, in this section and only to be seen when that section is lit. middle glass would be 2 way mirror, then leds, then the next two way mirror.
I want to mount this in the led of a custom casket I tow with my motorcycle. And at bike shows I could produce to different tunnels, one with evil devil face and one infinite tunnel.

[curly B.]

if i've understand, you want to be able to create Two tunnels in the same frame (one with an object in it and one empty) and swich from one to the other, i think it's possibile but you have to' find the right specifics for the mirror and the right amount of light in the two scompartments (i think that the one between th 2 semi transparent mirror needs more light, otherwise youll'see trough it).. If you do it, please post some phothos.. I'm curous of the result:)

[adriangeorgescu]

Really nice. You shoud try making a coffee table in this style.

[curly B.]

the guy that did the last page video made a coffe table in this way..but unfortunatly he removed the video

[555mst555]

nice, imagine if you up-size it and use strong white LEDs, i'll be like a standard mirror plus cool LED effects and lights!:)

[curly B.]

Hi everybody:)..i Just wanted to excuse for the dalay of my reply, but i'm on the other side of the world(probably:)).. And, in those days, the only way i can browse the internet is by an iPhone.
anyway i would like to thank everybody that have replied for me at the "semi-transparent",questions:)..i'm sorry if i wasn't clear enough in my instructable but, i'm from Italy, and here you can find that kind of glass very easilly but i didn't know where you can find it in the rest of the world, so thank you all also the ones that have replied to the other questions!..you Are helping me soo much!... Have a nice day!

[somerockenguy]

put a picture frame on it and hang it on the wall and people would have no clue what it is.

[graffix]

nice job,by the way. the ones i made like 15yr ago had a wide frame with christmas lights the wires ran through a channel of the frame to hide the wires.when its off just looks like a mirror.

[curly B.]

nice idea:)

[somerockenguy]

the second pic on the intro page i saw that and thought if i hung like a few of those in the entry room, some with green led some with blue, people that walked in would think there tripping.

[curly B.]

hahahah...yeah...it would be really cool:-)

[eyebot117]

What would it look like if you make 5 more and put them together to make a cube? Or even better, what would a dome look like?

[graffix]

it works by light bouncing between the panels the top lets you see in only really when the lights are on.round hexagon square dosent matter just mirror two way mirror and lights christmas lights even.the dome from a truck side mirror gives a nice starburst pattern when put in the center of the inside plain mirror.

[wibrle]

I guess I over looked it, so if this question has been asked before sorry in advance Where can I get the semi reflective mirror? Anyone got a link? If the semi reflective glass is how I'm thinking it is, couldn't a person use tint(like for car windows) to make their own semi reflective glass? This instructable is too cool not to do, especially since Christmas is coming up. Awesome work btw, curly B. :D

[graffix]

this is simple dont read too much into it.the box could be any shape or size really leds,or christmas lights would work try puttn one of those dome shaped mirror parts you see on some side mirrors (for trucks)in the center and get a star burst pattern.nice my father made these twenty plus years ago.

[graffix]

tint wont work try lookn for two way mirror

[Charlie13]

havin a tough time with the "semi transparent mirror". can someone explain in detail or shoot me a link with the materials needed to make one myself?