Vectric Customer

Acrylic with an odd shape

I was asked if I could do an Acrylic for our Church shaped like a Cross. I knew that if I tried to light it from the bottom of the Cross that the cross section wouldn't get lit because its wider than the bottom of the Cross. After a couple tries I came up with the following design. I wanted the Acrylic to show through like a normal one so I knew that the LED lights would have to be along the sides as well as the bottom incased in the frame.
I made the frame out of MDF. I also wanted to bury the color controller inside the bottom base like I do all my Acrylics. I wanted to use the color lights and usually set them to fade in and out very slow changing colors.

I took pictures of the frame pieces to show how I did it. The back piece is screwed on to hold the acrylic and the lights in place and it's only 3/4" thick. The Cross measures 23" high and 12 3/4" wide at the widest spot. The names are primarily the various names that Jesus was called.

I used a new drag bit and set it up as a profile cut at .02 deep and ran it a 200 IPM. I set the bit up as a V-Carve bit but I don't think it makes a difference. It etched great and was a real pleasure to have the router off while running (no noise). No burning or problem with any build up on the diamond bit.

Hope you enjoy looking.

Pic 2. shows the front with the camera flash off
Pic 3. shows the back side of the Cross
Pic 4. shows the frame with the LED lights installed
Pic 5. shows a close up of the LED lights installed
Pic 6. shows the bottom base with the LED controller installed before installing the bottom cover
Pic 7. shows the LED lights on before installing the back piece

I believe that you could do most any shape you wanted to using this method.

Mark

Very impressive design, engineering, and execution...for a great cause. Thanks for showing us all that detail.

Angie

Thank you for posting Mark...a work well done and thought out.

Cheers,
Kym

Very impressive design, engineering, and execution...for a great cause. Thanks for showing us all that detail.

Have to agree with Angie,
Remarkable.

The project is just fantastic! Mark, Do you mind if I copy your Idea? I have been asked to do a Cross with The Lord's Prayer, and I could not think of a way to light it up, that would befitting for the Prayer. I was originally doing the Cross in solid Cherry, but your project has a classical touch to it!

Dave

Thanks to all for the nice comments.

Dave--- I think making it out of Cherry would be beautiful. I was just trying to figure out a good way to do it so I didn't want to glue up the hardwood until I had a good method. The MDF cuts pretty nice and paints very well.

If you PM me your email address I will send you the Aspire 4 files or a DXF file if you want them. I probably don't have them organized as well as I should but I'm willing if it would help.

Please post you finished project, I would love to see it.

Mark

very nice! it gave me a gift idea for my grandfather.

Mario

Hi Mark,

Can you tell me what the LED lighting components are; and are they sourced on ebay?

Cheers,
Kym

Check this thread out Kym http://www.vectric.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=19&t=17065

I've gotten the parts all over but eBay seems to be the best. The prices are good and the quality is also good.

Mark

Hello Mark

I tried sending you a PM asking for the files, but it wont let me, it said i am not authorized. is there another way that you could share the files? i want to carve the our father prayer in spanish.

Mario

mariogk wrote:Hello Mark

I tried sending you a PM asking for the files, but it wont let me, it said i am not authorized. is there another way that you could share the files? i want to carve the our father prayer in spanish.

Mario

Don't feel bad my PM was never responded to.

Hi George and Mario,

Sorry I didn't get back to you sooner I've been in and out of town for the last month with more to come.

George I sent you the files this morning to your email address.

Mario I don't have an email address to send you the files, if you can provide one I will send them.

Mark

I thank you for your reply.
Many thanks for the files to use.
They are very well designed.
I appreciate you sharing them with me.

Thank you for your kind reply, my email is mariogk@gmail.com

Mario Guillen

Hi Mario,

I sent the files to your email tonight. Let me know if you didn't receive them or if you need any help understanding what I sent. They are all zipped so you first need to unzip them.

Good Luck
Mark