V1.1 Lightsaber
V1.1 Lightsaber
The first upgrade of my V1 lightsaber, denoted as V1.1, was the first attempt to add electronics. The goal of this iteration was to implement an illuminated blade and a properly located center of gravity.
The first upgrade of my V1 lightsaber, denoted as V1.1, was the first attempt to add electronics. The goal of this iteration was to implement an illuminated blade and a properly located center of gravity.
The electronics consisted of a neopixel LED ring, a trinket microcontroller, a 5V voltage regulator, 2 switches, and one pushbutton. The whole system was powered by a 9v battery. One switch controlled power to the LEDs, while the other controlled power to the entire system. The pushbutton signaled the trinket to cycle through a series of preprogrammed colors.
The electronics consisted of a neopixel LED ring, a trinket microcontroller, a 5V voltage regulator, 2 switches, and one pushbutton. The whole system was powered by a 9v battery. One switch controlled power to the LEDs, while the other controlled power to the entire system. The pushbutton signaled the trinket to cycle through a series of preprogrammed colors.
This iteration used the same design concept as the V1.0 iteration: a 3D printed shell around an aluminum core. This meant some of the electronics had to be placed externally. The hilt was extended to place the battery, trinket, and main power switch behind the core. Extending the hilt instead of shortening the core kept the center of gravity closer to the hilt.
This iteration used the same design concept as the V1.0 iteration: a 3D printed shell around an aluminum core. This meant some of the electronics had to be placed externally. The hilt was extended to place the battery, trinket, and main power switch behind the core. Extending the hilt instead of shortening the core kept the center of gravity closer to the hilt.
Reusing the V1.0 aluminum core without modification presented significant limitations on the blade. The blade was built from a polycarbonate tube with a custom made tip which would be printed from a clear resin. The plan was to illuminate the polycarbonate with the LEDs placed at the interface between blade and hilt.
Reusing the V1.0 aluminum core without modification presented significant limitations on the blade. The blade was built from a polycarbonate tube with a custom made tip which would be printed from a clear resin. The plan was to illuminate the polycarbonate with the LEDs placed at the interface between blade and hilt.
An adapter was needed to connect the polycarbonate tube to the aluminum core. This meant the LEDs would have to be placed around the adapter. This is why a neopixel ring was used. The smallest size was chosen, a 12 LED ring. Unfortunately, this ring was larger than the 1" diameter used in most lightsaber blades, so a larger polycarbonate tube was needed.
An adapter was needed to connect the polycarbonate tube to the aluminum core. This meant the LEDs would have to be placed around the adapter. This is why a neopixel ring was used. The smallest size was chosen, a 12 LED ring. Unfortunately, this ring was larger than the 1" diameter used in most lightsaber blades, so a larger polycarbonate tube was needed.
Unfortunately, the adapter design could not achieve a strong connection to the polycarbonate without mechanical methods that would block the light from the LEDs. Additionally, this arrangement did not illuminate polycarbonate as expected. Ultimately I decided it was better to start from scratch than to continue modifying this existing design.
Unfortunately, the adapter design could not achieve a strong connection to the polycarbonate without mechanical methods that would block the light from the LEDs. Additionally, this arrangement did not illuminate polycarbonate as expected. Ultimately I decided it was better to start from scratch than to continue modifying this existing design.