Dwarf Star: Christmas Decoration – Multi Optional LED Lighting

Edited 12/10/2023

 Here's some good news: The most cumbersome part of the assembly, arranging the LED string inside the sphere, has been sorted out! Simply print out two skeletons and glue them together as shown in the photos below. Don't forget to thread the LED string through the box lid before you start winding the string around the skeleton. Arrange it so that the LEDs are distributed relatively evenly, and reposition them to ensure that no LED sits exactly on the edge. This way, they won't interfere with the two halves of the star when you close the assembly.

Using LED Blink or Flicker Plates

Using Fairy Lights Battery Operated String

Description:

A star-shaped Christmas decoration, 3D printed using clear PETG filament.

Structure:

• Two identical halves printed with a 0.4mm nozzle at 0.2mm layer height.
• Joined by an 'Alignment Star Key' that fits into grooves on each half.

Illumination Options:

1. Mini LED String: Battery-operated, provides a simple twinkling light effect.
2. LED Chip Plate:  A placeholder designed to allow various LED configurations.

Use:

• Suitable for Christmas trees, outdoor displays or as a centerpiece.
• Offers a customizable approach to your holiday decorations.

Additional Bases:

• Table Base: A base design for placing the star on a flat surface.
• Rod-Fitting Base: A base that fits a 24mm rod, compatible with my 'tree of light' setup for outdoor displays.
• Moss Pole-Fitting Base: This base is specifically designed to mount the star atop the 68mm moss pole
• Battery Case Concealing Base: This new addition consists of two parts:
  • Bottom Container: Serves as a holder for the LED battery box and remote.
  • Container Cover: Designed to hold the star and cover the bottom container.

Printing Specifications:

• Printed on a Prusa MK3S+ with a 0.4 mm brass nozzle at a 0.2 mm layer height.
• No supports are required for any of the parts.

Note on LED Assembly: 

With the holidays just around the corner, I haven't had the chance to upload detailed circuit board files online, so my solution was an LED Chip Plate. In my design, I arranged 5 strings, each containing four LEDs in series with a resistor. These strings are then connected in parallel and powered by an external source. I opted for a 12V power supply and calculated the resistors to limit the LED current to 45mA. The resulting light effect, shining through the plastic shell, creates a festive ambiance reminiscent of Christmas trees, perfectly matching the holiday theme. This Dwarf star crowns the top of an outdoor 'tree of light'.

If you are working with the LED chip plates option, you can use 1W LED chips wired in series with resistors in groups that accommodate your own power source. It is necessary to have some knowledge of electronics to ensure that the temperature reached by the LEDs or resistors does not increase so much that the little star melts or, worse, catches fire. Be careful, the plates on which the LEDs are placed are plastic and help with different configurations (not all LED slots need to be populated) but do not provide cooling.

If you're interested in building a plate with blinking LEDs, I've uploaded an additional part: the LED Blink or Flicker Plate. You can find blinking LEDs on Amazon, on AliExpress. The LEDs I used are powered at 3V/20mA , so I simply connected them all in parallel and added a 2.7Ohm resistor in series with the string. I am using a 5V/1.5A power supply.

If you've printed and tested the model, your feedback, whether it's positive or offers suggestions for improvement, is a helpful tool for refining the design. Thank you for contributing your thoughts!