Introduction: 3D Printed on Air Sign With Flashing LEDs and CNC Milled Circuit Board
This On Air Sign with Flashing LED lights was 3D printed and also has a CNC milled circuit board I created on a X-Carve machine. No micro or Arduino required.
Step 1: Video
A full video of the steps are available at my YouTube Channel.
Step 2: Circuit
No microcontroller or Arduino was needed because I used an Astable Multivibrator circuit that only needed two NPN transistors, two capacitors, four resistors and two LEDs. Also a switch and 9v battery were added.
Step 3: Circuit Board Design
I used ExpressPCB to make the circuit board. There are lots of other options.
Step 4: Copper Connection
I used Copper Connection board layout software to import the ExpressPCB file and output a set of Gerber Files for the board.
Step 5: Bottom Layer
I used Flatcam software to load the bottom layer of the board (which was single sided) to create the GCode for the X-Carve CNC.
Step 6: Drill File
I use Flatcam to also create the drill file GCode from the Gerber drill file.
Step 7: Milling Traces
Universal GCode Sender software was used to control the X-Carve CNC. The GCode for the Bottom Layer was loaded and then sent to the X-Carve controller.
Step 8: Milling Traces Part 2
I used a 20 degree engraving bit to cut the isolation channels that form the traces in the single sided copper board.
Step 9: Drilling Holes
Universal GCode sender was used to send the drill file to the X-Carve.
Step 10: Drilling Holes Part 2
I used a 0.035" drill bit for the holes.
Step 11: Electrical Test
I sanded the top of the board with sandpaper and then checked for shorts with an ohm meter. The traces were good.
Step 12: Components Inserted
The components were inserted and the leads bent to hold them in place.
Step 13: Soldering
The copper soldered easily with typical rosin core solder. All excess leads were clipped.
Step 14: Testing
The board was powered up and the circuit worked perfectly. The LEDs were soldered on the opposite side to fit in the 3D Printed case.
Step 15: 3D Printed Case
A 3D printed case was designed in Tinkercad and shared on Thingiverse. The design has a 9v battery holder and holes for a switch and the two flashing LEDs.
Step 16: Assembly
The board was wired to a switch and 9v Battery clip. The case was completed on my FlashForge 3D printer. Everything ready for assembly.
Step 17: Final Assembly
The battery fit in the designed bracket perfectly and the board was held in place with double sided foam sticky tape. The switch was held in place with a nut.
Step 18: Finished
The finished design is assembled and ready to use. Works great to warn family I'm filming my YouTube Video.