To make these customised lamps you can use the openscad scripts included at the bottom of this video description area.
Download the free open-source openscad software for Windows, Linux and Mac from the official website:-
https://www.openscad.org/
Once installed, clear the text area and copy and paste in your chosen script from down below.
There are three. Diamond, Obelisk Quartz crystal and Globe quartz crystal.
You can change several variables as desired to create globes with custom base and body sizes.
By design, the globes will print as a hollow shell with a wall thickness of about 1mm. I recommend using natural/transparent PLA for the best light output, but you could also use white or colours for a solid visual shape. For safety you could use a flame retarded printing filament, but I don't use that myself.
The lamps you use with this will need downrated to around 3W as shown to keep the housing cool and make the light last longer. Running at full power may cause thermal issues with the cover.
Let me know if you try this project and how you get on.
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If you enjoy these videos you can help support the channel with a dollar for coffee, cookies and random gadgets for disassembly at:-
http://www.bigclive.com/coffee.htm
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Here's the first script. It's for the diamond shaped lamp.
//Lamp cap diamond.
//You can adjust the five variables below
base=40; //Diameter of base for lamp
rim=5; //Length of rim at base
size=60; //Size of diamond
facets=6; //Number of sides (default 6)
scaling=0.66; //Ratio of length to width (default 0.66)
//Don't change variables below here
halfsize=size/2;
$fn=facets;
difference(){
union(){
//outer body
translate([0,0,0])
cylinder(h=4+rim,d1=base,d2=base,$fn=100);
translate([0,0,-(base/2)+rim])
cylinder(h=halfsize,d1=0,d2=size);
translate([0,0,halfsize-(base/2)+rim])
cylinder(h=size*scaling,d1=size,d2=0);
}
//Inner core.
translate([0,0,-1])
cylinder(h=6+rim,d1=base-2,d2=base-2,$fn=100);
translate([0,0,-(base/2)+rim+1])
cylinder(h=halfsize-1,d1=0,d2=size-2);
translate([0,0,halfsize-(base/2)+rim])
cylinder(h=size*scaling-1.5,d1=size-2,d2=0);
translate([-halfsize,-halfsize,-halfsize])
cube([size,size,halfsize]);
//x-ray box
//translate([-80,-80,-50])
//cube([160,80,260]);
}
Here's the second script. It creates the quartz crystal that tapers to the top.
//Lamp cap obelisk quartz crystal.
//You can adjust the five variables below
base=40; //Diameter of base for lamp
rim=4; //Length of rim at base
size=60; //Diameter of crystal
scaling=1.5; //Scale of crystal length (default 1.5)
facets=6; //number of faces (default 6)
//Don't change variables below here
halfsize=size/2;
upper=halfsize-(base/2)+rim;
$fn=facets;
difference(){
union(){
//outer body
translate([0,0,0])
cylinder(h=4+rim,d1=base,d2=base,$fn=100);
translate([0,0,-(base/2)+rim])
cylinder(h=halfsize,d1=0,d2=size);
translate([0,0,upper])
cylinder(h=size*scaling,d1=size,d2=size/2);
translate([0,0,upper+size*scaling])
cylinder(h=size/4,d1=size/2,d2=0);
}
//Inner core.
translate([0,0,-1])
cylinder(h=6+rim,d1=base-2,d2=base-2,$fn=100);
translate([0,0,-(base/2)+rim+1])
cylinder(h=halfsize-1,d1=0,d2=size-2);
translate([0,0,upper])
cylinder(h=size*scaling,d1=size-2,d2=(size/2)-2);
translate([0,0,upper+size*scaling])
cylinder(h=(size/4)-1,d1=(size/2)-2,d2=0);
translate([-halfsize,-halfsize,-halfsize])
cube([size,size,halfsize]);
//x-ray box
//translate([-80,-80,-50])
//cube([160,80,280]);
}
And the third script that creates a globe-like quartz crystal.
//Lamp cap globe-style quartz crystal.
//You can adjust the five variables below
base=44; //Diameter of base for lamp
rim=4; //Length of rim at base
size=60; //Diameter of crystal
facets=6; //Number of sides (default 6)
scaling=1.5; //Scale of crystal length (default 1.5)
//Don't change variables below here
half=size/2;
upper=half-(base/2)+rim;
$fn=facets;
difference(){
union(){
//outer body
translate([0,0,0])
cylinder(h=4+rim,d1=base,d2=base,$fn=100);
translate([0,0,-(base/2)+rim])
cylinder(h=half,d1=0,d2=size);
translate([0,0,upper])
cylinder(h=size*scaling,d1=size,d2=half*3);
translate([0,0,upper+size*scaling])
cylinder(h=(half*3)/2,d1=half*3,d2=0);
}
//Inner core.
translate([0,0,-1])
cylinder(h=6+rim,d1=base-2,d2=base-2,$fn=100);
translate([0,0,-(base/2)+rim+1])
cylinder(h=half-1,d1=0,d2=size-2);
translate([0,0,upper])
cylinder(h=size*scaling,d1=size-2,d2=(half*3)-2);
translate([0,0,upper+size*scaling])
cylinder(h=(half*3)/2-1.5,d1=(half*3)-2,d2=0);
translate([-half,-half,-half])
cube([size,size,half]);
//x-ray box
//translate([-80,-80,-50])
//cube([160,80,280]);
}

12 thoughts on “Make epic custom crystal lamps”
  1. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Lorddarthvader1701 says:

    New sub, thank you for the script files. printing one as we type.

  2. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars S/V Sugar Magnolia says:

    I have been mucking around printing RC planes lately. Single wall thickness What thickness (and nozzle size) are you printing these at? Sorry if the question has already been answered.

  3. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars commandOR says:

    Cool! Thanks.

  4. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Sapioit says:

    This kind of video makes me want to start tinkering with LED lamps, to make a fairly expensive LED lights array generating the equivalent of a 140 W lightbulb with 1 W worth of energy, in a homemade light-bar like the ones for neon lights.

  5. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Rushil Kisoon says:

    I wonder what would happen if there were light tubes/fibre optic type extrusions above the LEDs

    Also possible to get a clear print, is acetone smoothing with ABS filament

  6. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Calum A says:

    God ๐Ÿคฃ I am so selfish, had to scroll quite far to find a video I haven't seen.

    So useful to go to sleep to. Soothing is an understatement. How you put in so much effort Clive is beyond me!

  7. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars ZomB1986 says:

    I opened half of the 6W bulbs I had laying around to modify them. I noticed they only have 5 LEDs inside them, and they otherwise look the same as yours (with cap, regulator, 2 resistors). I measured 53V/17.5mA per LED and 20.6V across the bleeder resistor bank. So 2.95W actually goes into the LEDs.

    I also found some old 7W LED bulbs from maybe 6 years ago which still worked. These have heavy solid aluminum bases, the PCB screwed in place (rather than pressed), with actual thermal paste, and 17 LEDs and nothing else. The electronics in the base are potted and probably contains a switched regulator. The LED brightness doesn't change with input voltage at all, and it shuts down cleanly below 120V.

  8. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Brian Terrill says:

    Dude this video made Google News.

  9. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars k sand says:

    "you can just stuff it up the end of it"

  10. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars JayCee1965 says:

    Oh yeah Clive, more money saving hacks for the household. This is a neat little mod and so simple to do as long as one remembers they are using live mains voltage and current. Plus remember never to do electrical things like this while plugged but in the OFF position, as any one can come in and switch it to ON. With the warning over for beginners, I must say these clear frosty lens covers are very nice. With other translucent PLAs one can make an excellent set of indoor window or room bordering lighting dรฉcor hangings or even Crimbo lights etc. Just design or download a file to suit, a Star or Globe files in STL. Keeping your base measurements the same as Clive has explained and 3D print away. Though I don't have a 3D printer, maybe I can find some one that has, to make me the lamps per cost of time and PLA plastic. Maybe a little 3D printer tutorial next Clive since you explained the STL designing process.

  11. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Bafel Jajo says:

    Hi
    I have some IKEA LED laps and they look totally different but it's same principle.
    I have had time figuring out which resistor it is to disable.
    Can you make a video about one of that type of lamp perhaps?
    Because they burn out, what feels like, all the time. ๐Ÿ™

  12. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars nyetloki says:

    I wonder how the fire ๐Ÿ”ฅ led bulbs would look with this as the cover.

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