Lighted Single Finger Wave

The “Single Finger Wave” has been downloaded more than any other of my prints, so I added an LED to the waving finger and light diffusers, front and back.  The front diffuser (.4 mm thick) is printed just below the hand outline. The other diffuser is press fit onto the back using 2 mm diameter cylinders.

Install the LED first.  Get the one that has a pre-wired resistor for 3 volts.  The are available in a variety of colors and flashing multi-color.

The wires are insulated to near the end.   To have better battery contact, remove  ~1” of insulation from the end by rubbing the ends on sandpaper or scraping with an Exacto knife.  The Exacto knife occasionally damaged the wire (ineptitude).  The gold wire goes to battery +.  Curl the end of each wire back upon itself so the end is pushed against the battery (see photo).

White PLA allows the multi-colored LED to show its colors.  The red PLA provides only red.

Pass the LED wires through the hole in the bridge between the 1st and 3rd finger.  This will keep the LED from falling down into the palm area.  Then pass the wires through the hole in the bottom of the hand.

I found it easier to pass the wires through the small holes by twisting them 1-2 turns.

There are three files:

       If you want a single color set of parts, print the …"All Parts" file.

       If you would like the hand to stand out (in a different color, such as black), print the “Hand Only” file and change the filament from dark to something light, such as white.  The hand's outline shows up much better when printed in two colors.  Then print the “Parts Less Hand” file in any color.

The following are press fit together:

  Base into the spring;

  Diffuser onto one side of the hand;

  Battery retainer disc into the base.  The press fit seemed to change when printed on a second printer, using different PLA colors, so I included a couple of different-sized discs.

Store-bought (Amazon):

  CR2032 battery. (Note the PN indicates size, i.e., 20 mm diameter x 3.2 mm thick), 100 pieces for $19.  Sold by fuspowerus.

  LED.  They come flashing and steady in many colors.  Buy those with a built-in resistor for 3 volts, such as:  

         Steady white:  Micro Litz Wired Leads Whiktem 25 pieces for $9.

         or Pre-Wired Micro Blinking LEDs 0805 SMD LEDs, Sold by: ZHONGZHENG

Question:

   I considered entering this into the Holiday Decorations Competition.  I did not do so.  Let me know if this was the correct decision. :)