Simple but effective edge lit sign base
Posted: Thu Nov 15, 2012 5:41 am
I'm pretty geeked about this.
For weeks, I have been thinking of the best way to cheaply, but effectively and professionally, edge light plexi signs.
I was thinking of a Luminedge type design, where there is a plastic clip piece with a LED strip inside, and this clips on an edge. You plug it in, and you're good to go ,,,, But I had problems finding any of these edge "guards" at a reasonable price, and even with them, the signs are still without a base.
So I figured, why not just cut out the right sized slot in MDF, then cut out a base around it. This slot not only serves as a stand for the plexi sign, but is the perfect place to lay the LED strip as well. Once designed, they can easily be adjusted to accommodate any size. I do mostly 11" and 8" to keep it simple, I really like the looks, functionality and ease of fabricating these things.
I also do 1/2 and 1/4 designs, needless to say, its an easy matter to make the slot any size necessary. It is tough though finding LED strips that thin, I have some on the way only 6mm wide [one in the pic is 10mm].
This one is the first prototype base, I need to make it just a hair longer to accommodate a full 12" LED strip. They are designed that you can cut after every 3 LED's ,, I found out that if you try to cut just 1, the next 2 won't work - So this sign is a little dark towards the right, for that reason.
This is a sign I made for some MC buddies of mine. It is .5 plexi, 11x11". I painted the back of the plexi black, then etched the design, so the edge lit affect is dulled somewhat, but still looks mighty impressive in the dark.
I just had the LED's rigged up to a battery booster for testing, so my next and final step will be finding a source of plug in AC wall warts to power these, I want to avoid battery power.
Anyone know of a source for these ?
For weeks, I have been thinking of the best way to cheaply, but effectively and professionally, edge light plexi signs.
I was thinking of a Luminedge type design, where there is a plastic clip piece with a LED strip inside, and this clips on an edge. You plug it in, and you're good to go ,,,, But I had problems finding any of these edge "guards" at a reasonable price, and even with them, the signs are still without a base.
So I figured, why not just cut out the right sized slot in MDF, then cut out a base around it. This slot not only serves as a stand for the plexi sign, but is the perfect place to lay the LED strip as well. Once designed, they can easily be adjusted to accommodate any size. I do mostly 11" and 8" to keep it simple, I really like the looks, functionality and ease of fabricating these things.
I also do 1/2 and 1/4 designs, needless to say, its an easy matter to make the slot any size necessary. It is tough though finding LED strips that thin, I have some on the way only 6mm wide [one in the pic is 10mm].
This one is the first prototype base, I need to make it just a hair longer to accommodate a full 12" LED strip. They are designed that you can cut after every 3 LED's ,, I found out that if you try to cut just 1, the next 2 won't work - So this sign is a little dark towards the right, for that reason.
This is a sign I made for some MC buddies of mine. It is .5 plexi, 11x11". I painted the back of the plexi black, then etched the design, so the edge lit affect is dulled somewhat, but still looks mighty impressive in the dark.
I just had the LED's rigged up to a battery booster for testing, so my next and final step will be finding a source of plug in AC wall warts to power these, I want to avoid battery power.
Anyone know of a source for these ?