Ironman's Mark 3 Arc Reactor Cheap and Easy

Ironman is a Fictional Character from Marvel Comics. It was just known to the nerds uptill they made a movie about it. After that movie people started loving Ironman's Role alot. Now almost every (cool) human on earth knows about him and has seen Iron man 1,2,3 and Avengers.

Anyways this is his Arc Reactor which supplies endless energy to the suit and to him too(long story)......Its called Mark 3 reactor.

Coming back to the project, this is of course a cheap replica just to show off infront of friends :)

I'll be showing you how to make it in a cheap and easy way like I did.

Step 1: Items Needed for the Project

Although I have listed the items above in the pic, I'll again write them down in case people don't get my writing.

Electronics:-

• 330 ohm Resistor
• 12 white LEDs
• 1 Power LED with a heat sink
• 1, 5V Voltage Regulator (i used LM7805)
• 1, 6/9/12V battery
• 1, 9V battery holder
• 1 Button/Switch (used to turn on and off the glowing reactor)
• Connecting wires
• Soldering Iron and Solder wire (basic soldering skills are needed for this part)

Other Parts:-

• 3 inch PVC pipe for the body (just a small piece will be fine)
• Printer for printing the design of Mark 3
• Safety Glasses and Gloves
• and of course the main component AWESOMENESS to try to make this project \m/

Okay I want to apologize for writing WAX in the above picture. It was for another project I will make another instructable about making Mark 2, which uses WAX in it!!!!!! Stay tuned

Step 2: Cutting the PVC Pipe

As the name suggests we will be cutting the PVC pipe into thin ring. It will be used as the body of reactor.

Be sure to cut it evenly other wise the Top and bottom will not fit it properly.

I used a metal cutting saw's blade for this part.

Step 3: Printing the Design

Now if you have a 3D printer at your home or a friend's you are in for a treat. But as I didn't had any in reach so I found an alternative for this part. I Googled the design and then printed it with a normal HP Laserjet printer.

Then I put it on a card board and cut it with a paper knife.

It looked kind of good but had holes because of the design, so I cut a round white paper and put it inside.

This fills the holes and also Dims the light of LEDs a little.

Simply print it and cut a cardboard of this shape. Easy as a cake.

Step 4: Lights!

Here comes the big part LEDs....... I have made a circuit for those who understand better using circuit diagrams.

Now, you should know about circuitry a little. But don't panic if you don't. I'll show you each step in an easy way.

First I checked the circuit on a breadboard. Its good to check the circuit before making it permanent.

But if you don't have a breadboard lying around you don't need to buy one.

I connected the 5V voltage regulator to the breadboard and then added LEDs in circle. I finished connecting its positives and negetives in parallel formation. If you connect them in series, Leds will drop the voltage so much that they will be dim or wont even glow. So connect them in parallel so that voltage remains constant to all LEDs.

Now apply 9V to regulator which will convert a fix 5V DC and supply it to the LED's circle.

In center I applied the power LED to make the whole thing more bright. BE SURE that power LED is having a heat sink attached otherwise it will get too hot to wear.

P.S= You can apply 330ohm Resister before adding LEDs(not power Led only the simple ones). This will reduce current and hence enhance the life of LED's.

Step 5: Soldering!

After you have checked the circuit on breadboard we will now make it permanent and wearable by soldering the LED's. Some people also call it the LED ring. Those people are weird ignore them :)

Firstly safety is essential so wear safety gloves and have a proper soldering work station to avoid accidents and burns. If you are an amateur then please do this part under supervision.

Only basic soldering is required no biggy.

• Take a single core thin wire and strip its insulation off.
• Make a ring of that wire by wrapping it around some round object which is close to 3 inches in diameter
• now sold that ring together
• Make another ring but now of 1.5cm less than the first one. Eg:- 1st circle=2.8 inches, 2nd circle= 2.3 inches
• now add LEDs to the ring. remember Positive to the outer ring and negative leg to the inner ring. Don't mix these or else some LEDs will not glow.
• Add resister in the start of these LEDs just to be safe. Dont add resister for Power LED it needs more current.
• Power LED should be in the middle, it will cause all the glow inside the reactor.
• Now connect the 5V voltage regulator's output to the leds
• Lastly sold the 9V battery holder to the input of 7805

The LED ring is ready to be used

Step 6: Hot Glue Gun My Love

Now we combine all these things with the Hot glue gun and the top and bottom lids are made for the PVC piece.

The top lid is the printed and cut piece of mark 3 design. We Stick it on top side.

Then there is a circled cardboard at the bottom on which 7805 and LED ring is glued together.

We add a button after the clip for on/off purposes We can also attach and detach the battery for on/off.

Step 7: Wearing the Reactor

Some people attach a strap, some a chain around their necks. and some cut their chests and install this permanently like me :) kdding

I wore it by adding straps to the reactor. It is cheap and handy.

Step 8: And Bingo Here It Is.......

After trying this and removing the little faults I have manged to make this here. I loved making it and I will make more reactors and their instructables.Mark 2 is coming soon. Cheap and easy version.