Introduction: How to Create a Glistening Bamboo Desklamp

About: Hi! since my first toddlerdrawings I am passionate by design, therefore "industrial design engineering" fits lik a glove to me. I really like challenging myself, to reach my skills to a next level.

Hi everyone!
I know what you are thinking!

"Huuuh? is this bamboo? What does bamboo and glistening have in common?"

Well, ...
First of all this isn't bamboo... And secondly, yes, they have something in common.
If I see bamboo, I see "green" , I see "Mother Nature", ... Mother nature who is suffering because of us.
I can predict what you are thinking!

"Oooh! It is about the environment"

I know that this will sound boring for some of you.
But, don't stop reading now !
I have to admit, I am not an environmentalist, but the suffering of Mother nature these days is for real guys!
We can't go on for ever like this.
That's where my design story begins, namely the use of recycled and sustainable materials.

These materials are our "Glistening spark" for the future !
(The Glistening Bamboo Branches)

Step 1: Materials & Abilities

Materials:

- Synthetic felt plate (≥ 1 x 1 x 0,006 m)
- 2 x YPHIX G4 (GU4) LED lamp 12-24V
- 2 x LED G4 Fitting
- 1 x Electrical LED Voltage Transformator 12V
- 1 x Switch + plug
- Scrap wood (≥ 0,15 x 0,15 x 0,006 m)
- Insulation sheet radiator (≥ 0.50 x 0.50 m)
- Cyano-acrylate glue

Abilities:

- Soldering
- Basics electronics
- Basics wood working

Step 2: Mainboard: Cutting the Felt Boards in the Right Dimensions

In step 2, are we about to cut the synthetic felt plate into 2 pieces, which will serve as the mainboard of the desklamp. You can find a blueprint of the 2 pieces felt in the photo gallery.

First of all, cut the 2 big boards out of the sheet.
Use the drawing legend to know which type of cutout is needed.
Then cut the lines indicated in the blueprint.
I recommend you drawing the lines with a pencil preparatory to cutting them.
This will avoid you making any mistakes.
The big dotted lines are full cutouts, whereas the tiny ones are only 75% deep cutouts.

If you finished the cutting part of the 2 boards, you can proceed to the glueing part of both the boards.
This will create the mainboard of our desklamp.

As you can see in the blueprint, the flaps are nested like a puzzle.
This puzzle structure will ensure that the flaps won't pop open suddenly.
When glueing with cyano acrylate glue, make sure that everything happens fast, because this glue hardens in just seconds.
! the glue can not be spread on the flaps !
Otherwise the flaps won't open anymore.

The result of step 2 is shown in the photo gallery.

Step 3: Leafs: Cutting the Felt Leafs

In step 3 will we cut the 2 tiny leafs for the LED's and the 2 big leafs for the reflective insulation sheet.
A blueprint shown in the photo gallery will help you getting the leafs into the right dimensions.

First of all, as said in step 2, draw the leafs onto the remaining felt pieces preparatory to cutting them out.
Take your time, this will avoid you making any mistakes.
Use the drawing legend to interpret the line types right.

When finished the cutouts, bend the 75% cutouts so that the leaf tip will lean upwards.
This will prevent the light blinding the owners eyes.

Step 4: Branches: Making the Scrap Wood Branches

In step 4, will we shape some scrap wood into 2 types of branches which will hold the big and tiny leafs.

The dimensions of the branches are given in the blueprint.
You may want to use a woodworking machine to shape the branches with detail.
If necessary, sand the edges a bit.

Step 5: Glueing the Reflective Insulation Sheet

In step 5 are we glueing the reflective insulation sheet to the big felt leafs.

You can use cyano acrylate glue or double sided tape.
First of all, cut the shape of the big leaf out of the reflective insulation sheet.
Make sure that the shape is 1 cm less at all edges, than the shape of the big leaf.
This is just for aesthetic reasons.

Step 6: Soldering & Fixing the Wiring

In step 6 will we solder and fix the wireing.
A blueprint of the electrical circuit is given in the photo gallery.
This is a very basic electrical circuit.

The electricity flows trough the plug with a voltage of ca. 230 to 240 V, while the LED's can only have 12V.
This is the reason why we needed a Transfo.
The G4 Fittings are a sort of quick access point to fit LED's in.
They are important for the design, because the design must be set up / break down quickly.
The fittings are poped out trough a hole, which is made to access the LED leafs.

The LED's are simply glued to the tiny leafs as shown in the photo gallery.

Step 7: Setting Up the Desklamp in Under 5 Minutes

This desklamp design is meant to be set up and break down in under 5 minutes.
It is a bit based on the KIS principle. "Keep It Simple"
I like this principle as much as brilliant and complex designs.

This design is just one example out of an infinite range of possibilities to work with sustainable materials ...

I hope I can be an innovator for today's industry...

It was an honor to be able to participate in this contest ;)

LED Contest

Participated in the
LED Contest

Lamps and Lighting Contest 2016

Participated in the
Lamps and Lighting Contest 2016