Smart LED Eagle Nebula lithophane lamp.

Video of final product : 

A Desk lamp lithophane of the Pillars of Creation in the Eagle Nebula. Thanks to https://lithophanemaker.com/ for the free tools that allowed me to create this lithophane. You'll need 4 color printing ( like Bambu AMS ), and CMYK filament. 
For backlighting, you'll need some kind of led strip lighting. 

I wanted Wi-Fi connection and full color control, so I used WLED software on a  ESP32 board with WLED's free software loaded on. 

**This project did require some very minimal and basic soldering. Really not a bad first time project. 
Even if you mess up a board, a 3 pack is only 15 bucks.**
 For instructions on getting your own programmable LED lights working with WLED, I'd hit up Youtube and WLED's web site ( https://kno.wled.ge/ ) or discord. DO NOT LET IT OVERWHELM YOU! It's really not as complex or scary as it seems. Give yourself a chance. I have included an ledmap with the download here - this is intended for use with the led matrix and WLED software.

It's also entirely plausible to just buy a USB white strip light, stick it into the project, and be done. no soldering, nothin. unplug the USB cable when you don't want the light on. 

For the easy way out, Look for something like :

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09XDJT1B5/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&th=1

• You can just self adhesive it into a spiral on the back of the frame, leave the usb connector sticking out, and should be able to cut - at the right places - the excess off and save for some other project. This won't allow you to control the Light remotely, or change the colors at all, as you can see happening in a few of my videos and photos, but it requires no real electrical or “programming” work. (It's not really programming to get WLED working, but whatever. computery stuff. 
  
  
  
  IF you skipped over the easy stuff cause you want your light to change colors and be controllable through your smart home, ONWARD! 
  I'll do my best to update this with clear instructions, links, and photos, as I think of things. 
  (It's actually been almost 8 months since I made this thing.)
   

So, you WANNA get WLED working and genuinely set up your own custom LED matrix. Firstly, supplies ….

the ESP32 board I used is here :

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09J95SMG7/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&th=1

wired to these strip lights : 

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09573HX4X/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&th=1

and for powering both, I connected a USB-A connector with a switch : 

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08M44D79T/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Some USB Extension Cables :

https://www.amazon.com/Extension-AINOPE-Material-Transfer-Compatible/dp/B07ZV6FHWF?ref_=ast_sto_dp&th=1

And bought some 5v phone chargers:

 
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07DCR29GN/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

You can probably also plug it into just about any computer's powered USB port as well, instead of using the plugs, and obviously, get an extension cable the length you actually need, or look for a cable with a switch the length you want in the first place. 

Step one, will be printing the Lithophane. You'll want to load all 5 of the files into your preferred slicer - I'll be describing Orca steps - as one model with separate parts. Then apply the proper color to each part, matching it's name. Again, if this seems confusing, Youtube search something like “Printing CMYK Lithophanes Slicer”. Of, of course, feel free to ask questions. I'm happy to try to help. 

It's Designed to be printed at the following settings. 

0.4mm Nozzle
Layer Height: 0.12
First Layer Height: 0.12
Infill 100%
 

Consider using Mouse ear or other Brim to help the corners stay stuck down as best as possible. 
 

The Frame is in several pieces.

The base is 2 parts. I've included one engraved alternative as well. 
Print them whatever color and settings you prefer, I just used .2mm layer height and a matte dark brown at standard settings. 
Then there's the Frame for the Light ( the big hexagon spider web lookin thing ). 
I also printed it at 0.2mm layer height, but at 100% infill. 

You'll also find a set of Insets that can be printed in a secondary color and glued into the indents of the base for a more “ finished” look. I used a silk brass for those, printed at 100% infill.
 

Additionally, you may want to search for an ESP32 case to use. I don't recall which I ended up using, but there's plenty to choose from. This just kinda helps protect the ESP32 board a bit, and gave me a way to securely mount it into the base. 

Finally, there's a very thin back Hexagon panel, intended to be printed in white, or perhaps a SILK silver that would be highly reflective. You'll be building your LED matrix onto this backing panel. Refer to my images for my exact layout, or feel free to get creative with WLED if it's all making sense to you. Be sure your strips are serpentine, in alternating directions, not all parallel like mine are in the image below(the arrows of each strip should face opposite directions) . 

Each of these strips is soldered back together after being cut to fit, to form a single, zig-zag pattern. (If you can figure out a good way to zig zag a light strip onto this panel without cutting it and resoldering, by all means - but keep in mind you want your LED's to work a perfect grid, so they can be programmed to display patterns and shapes and images.)

 


I used B7000 Jewelers Glue to glue everything together.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0B829NPTD/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

The assembly is pretty straight forward, and I figure if you can get through the WLED stuff, you can probably figure out how the models go together. Please don't hesitate to ask if anyone has any questions, comments, or requests. I'll try to keep updating this, and adding more of my projects as I can. This is the smallest of 3 Lithophane LED lights I've made. I'll eventually get them all uploaded.