There are three versions of the star script to suit different preferences.
For the openscad script I used for the stars in this video, copy this link and paste it into a new window.
www.bigclive.com/scad/neostar.scad
Kai-Steffen's version on Github:-
https://github.com/ksjh/LEDneon
Horrovac's version on printables:-
https://www.printables.com/model/176599-neon-stars
The original video with more details about terminating and fitting the LED strip:-
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y9bSzE9ir1Q

In a previous video, i've featured scripts for creating uh outlines that you could put led nien into and it made for your shapes. It made the circles, the triangles and the squares, and they were all fairly simple objects. In the case of the circle, it was just like a series of circles: the triangle it was a hull around three circles. The square was a whole round four circles, but the star eluded me.

But now we have the star and it's courtesy of other contributors who i will mention down below in the description and i'll, also put links to the scripts quite complex scripts. I'm not just going to put it in the description as a raw script. It's going to be a link, but in the meantime, let's explore this star one moment please, while i clear the table, the table is cleared revealing just the star of the show, which is a star. So let's explore how this is actually made.

So this star device uses led flex or led unit lots of different names, but it's a 12 volt strip. You get mains voltage stuff as well, but the 12 volt is much more versatile because it can be cut every inch roughly and that lets you fine tune. The size of the frame so the ends butt up nice and tightly. I was actually struggling to see where they are there.

There's the join there and there's the join here now. I've included some links to the scripts, including the one for this, and when you look at that script, you will see there are some variables. I shall just assume in this. It's a picture of a screen.

That's uh going to get me flack as usual, but that's okay. I can point it much easier than rather than wave a cursor about. If you download the neostar script, you will have variables like neon width. Neon width in millimeters is the thickness of this.

If you use a set of calipers or some other device, you'll be able to actually just close on this, and it gives you the dimension neon thickness, keep in mind. These were prototype scripts. It's better! Looking at the description here, it's the track depth and that is how deep this track is, and basically how deep into that the knee and will sit the taller you make it the taller. The star is it's entirely up to you, it's experimental, but six millimeters is pretty good minimum band radius.

Is the minimum bend here because it's quite good to be able to just gently flex the knee around. I do have another video which i'll link to which shows how to actually prepare this neon material and put it into it. Then we have the star size. We get the points, five, that's a five-pointed star.

It will work for three-pointed, star four-pointed, star seven-pointed star. Whatever you want, as it goes bigger, it will tend to just get a bit of ripley all distinctive shapes. The classic. One, though, is five points the star and then you've got major diameter, which is the outer diameter and you've got minor diameter, which is inner diameter experiment play adjust, look for the what you actually want to achieve when you actually lay the material in you'll, probably have To print a few of these off experimentally, then you want to tune it so that the material on a nice decisive cut, because you can only cut it every inch if you cut it between these little tiny black lines here that you see on it, then you'll End up with that dark section, so you want to round off to the nearest of inch and you may have to experiment and print off several to do that.
I should just zoom back out again because this is kind of too close i'll put the calipers out the way when you terminate this, i would recommend, as in the other, video making an incision in the side of it and then terminating the wires into that. So the wires come off in the middle of the neon, in this case, they're coming off right here and try and aim to get it into the mid uh midline of a straight line. Don't do it on a curve, because that makes it quite difficult. Likewise, this is a juggling act because the two ends you also want to come in the middle of a straight line, because if you put them in a curve just by the nature of it, when it curves around, it will look kind of like that.

Instead of actually, it won't be so easy to mate together in a neat style as putting it in a straight line when it where it butts up better. Is there much else to say, there's not much else to say there will be links down below because i have to say this was beyond my ability in openscad, because it's very mathematical, if you take a look at the scripts, you'll see they're quite complex. It's complicated greatly by the fact. These are curved objects that are linking together, so it used quite complex mathematics to actually generate that.

So it was something that, when i mentioned it in a live stream uh then the mathematicians stepped in and they created. What i was trying to achieve so down below is the link to the new star script plus. I shall put links to others that were sent in i've, not tested those yet but i'll link to them anyway, because each one may have its own merits and is well worth exploring just to see how it was achieved in the script. But that is it uh.

You can create little stars that get kind of round and squishy or the bigger stars which get more detailed, um and the size of star just depends on what size the build plate is of your printer mine's a round one, because the fl sun q5 is what I'm using at the moment - and this was about the biggest star i could fit in before it was just starting to nudge the limits, but there we go. It's very neat. It looks very, very good. I'm just going to turn the light off, take exposure off and this is going to swamp out completely.

That's not too bad, that's not too bad, but it achieves nice results, and i know i normally say i don't really like cold white, but in this instance the cold white actually suits the star because well it's a star. So that is it how to make the ledenian stars to match the rest of the shapes? Well, i say stars and wobbly outlines if you wish, because the scripts are very versatile, it's a good result looks great.

14 thoughts on “By request – the neon star frame”
  1. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Jonathan Miller says:

    Hey big Clive.
    I want to do some led lighting for my plastic model kits. I want to build the Enterprise and have some of the tiny windows light up. I think using FIBER OPTICs would be the way to go.
    Do you think fishing line would work, or would you recommend something else entirely?

  2. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Richard Eadon says:

    It's not the printout of a screenshot that bothers me, it's that you don't use a monospace font for code!

  3. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars hackbyte Daniel Mitzlaff says:

    I like it! I just wonder .. when you print those frames in a transparent/clear plastic, would'nt that give a even better effect because of the missing shade around the frame?

    If that really works out, one could even hang them up in the air instead of just putting them on some surface.. (just like old real neon sighs floatet somewhat above most walls ;))

    Just a idea … would love to see someone testing it. 😉

    Love your videos BigClive .. keep it up! 😉

  4. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars jayzo_sayers says:

    I mean, the photograph thing is kinda a part of the channel's identity so I think the photo of a screenshot rather than a screen capture is rather in-keeping with the channel.

  5. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Gareth Bancroft says:

    Ow'do Big Clive. Been watching for a while and really enjoy your content. I've got an old Innokin cool fire IV vape mod that I could send out to you for a breakdown if you want.

  6. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars reggiep75 says:

    Could you not add something to the script that will show you the length of the inner star radius? That would work a treat to make sure that you could save cash with the neon LED strip.

  7. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars reggiep75 says:

    3 pointed star!? Hmmmm… That's gotta be a triangle 🤔🤔🤔… 😉😂

    EDIT: Have searched for other comments like this and it's different… Hmmm

  8. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Htiek Mahned says:

    Drinking game: take a shot of carbonated alcohol beverage every time BC says "star" and see how long until you start seeing stars! 😜

  9. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Alex Stone says:

    I got interested and learned (kinda) scad since your last neon video, even though i don't have a use for it as i don't have a 3d printer

  10. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Aron Madder says:

    I made a big red heart for my girlfriend with my 3d printer and neon leds after i saw your video. She loves it and it was a nice project for me. Thanks alot

  11. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Carl Dawson says:

    A very good result. Easy customization, hints and warnings & nothing went KABOOM!!.
    And it can be made pink.😊

  12. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars 1978garfield says:

    Makes me hungry for Hardee's
    (Hardee's is a US restaurant chain with a star logo ever since they merged with Carl's Jr. another chain that had a star logo.)

  13. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Chuck Kirchner says:

    This collaboration was splendid!! I hope you also benefitted by learning some of the math equations needed. Do you know if they make those strips with multicolor flashing LEDs?

  14. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Joseph King says:

    Twinkle twinkle Clive's a star,
    3D printing's come so far.
    He made a star with neon flex,
    Gee I wonder what comes next.
    He's working on a brand new show,
    I can't wait for that video.

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