Lithophane instructions, step by step

[dhellew2]

At the 2013 UGM in Las Vegas I received a lot of questions about lithophanes and agreed to post the following step by step instructions that I follow when preparing and cutting lithophanes.

This photo's contrast can be used as a guide for creating the best lithophanes.

The attached PDF contains the steps I follow to make a lithophane. (Please let me know if you find any errors and I will fix and re-post the pdf)

LITHOPHANE instructions.pdf

(2.49 MiB) Downloaded 2563 times

The screen shot below is the lithophane preview.

The below photo is the finished lithophane.
Lithophane is a medium brown Corian (or LG-HiMax or Avonite) with small metal flake.
I carve lithophanes in a single pass using either a 1/16" or 3/64" 3-flute, spiral, solid carbide, ball nose bit. I've carved about 100 lithophanes using the same $8 bit (now $11.04 from http://www.cuttingtoolsource.com/ballno ... mills.html)

Dale

[stankern]

thanks..your instructions are good ,its worth a try

[zeeway]

Thank you for taking the time to detail your process instructions. I have wanted to try one of these for some time.

Angie

[highway]

Thank you for the instructions, i am going to try lithophaning soon and have been gathering info thank you
highway

[hdtheater]

Lithos are on my list of to do's. Downloaded the guide for a future time.

Thanks,

-Eric

[woodcrafter]

Thanks for the instructions. I have not had much luck with litho's in the past. I will try it again.

Mike

[bill_w]

Dale,
Very nice thank you for taking the time for composing the PDF

it is well done and will be used often.

Bill.

[stanbey3]

Huge thanks for posting the tutorial, I know it is can be time consuming.

I'm ordering corian etc now for my first lithophane.

[stanbey3]

To late to edit my previous post.

You mention that you use " either a 1/16" or 3/64" what determines which you use?

Thanks again for the help and information!

[PaulRowntree]

Thanks Dale!
pr

[dhellew2]

The smaller the bit the greater the detail. For photos with lots of detail, such as city skylines, smaller bits do a better job with all the smaller detail. Dale

[dhellew2]

As requested, Lighted lithophanes at the UGM [download the pdf poster earlier http://forum.vectric.com/viewtopic.php?f=29&t=18394]

I will post another pdf in the near future with all the parts, wiring, etc for a 9-volt battery and/or 9-volt DC adapter operated lighted lithophane stand using 4-each 28-LED flashlights as shown at the Orlando UGM.

Dale