Laser Etched Edge-Lit Acrylic 90" x 60" 2 Color LED.

[LaserGregg]

Harness the power of Total Internal Reflection. I do.
up to 96" x 48" etch area on 120" x 52" table size...... for those about to glow.
notice no purple all you no purple people.
http://www.opticaletching.com

[adafruit]

cool! this forum is for people to discuss lasering techniques so please post up how you did it

[LaserGregg]

how i did it was i used my mind, some computers, and a CNC attached to a laser.
its two pieces of acrylic resting on each others edge. there is no light between the Red and Blue where they meet. there is a film that separates the Red from the Blue so the look is clean.
from the correct angle you do not see the line of light.
its all edge lit by 420 LEDs. the internal frenzy of light colors the lettering.
total wattage is 24 watts at 12V.piece one is 86" x 43" piece two is 86" x 13".
it took about 12 hours to etch. using a vytek M-120 i laser etched two separate pieces in register. on two separate passes. dropped down by eye. both times.
its not an ipod, cellphone, or laptop. who be trying this size?
try and make it all you copycats.

[adafruit]

so you used an LED tape, like these
http://electronics.shop.ebay.com/LED-/5 ... 3270%2C293
thats a good idea! its probably the easiest way to edgelight a large piece of acrylic

[LaserGregg]

I've been lighting up acrylics now for 4 years. i use chinese LED distributed all over the USA.
light is a strange thing. there are best lights and there are applicable lights in these cases.
Its 300LED@12V string in Blue and 120 LED in Red. A no budget scenario dictates a calibrated custom LED for best outcome. I go big. now up to 96" x 48" etch area.... no cutting yet.
whats hot is the color hitting without blending with film in between to both stop and reflect. pics do not do it justice, and my science shows up after the fact here from a late bloomer.

[ohararp]

LaserGregg - can you describe the type of film that you use to seperate the light between the 2 different acrylic pieces? I have seen folks use some black tape that is hidden by the frame.

[LaserGregg]

I had to bounce back the blue..hard.... wish i could of layered in light.
i used silver metal thermal tape available anywhere tape is sold.
i couldn't have lights on the separation, but needed the blue.
the tape is both reflective and opaque at the same time.
there is also no solvent to adhere them they are sitting.
just a few spacers off the wall to keep them sitting level.... i did not install.

[sparr]

How deep is the etching into each layer of acrylic? I am considering doing the same thing with a mechanical CNC device (instead of a laser).

[LaserGregg]

what you are trying is very difficult. unless its a CNC laser.
i face these fabricators..... quite often.
the spinning drill misses the mark of success by spinning slow,
there is always too much material loss..it stops light .. no good. no real whitening of the acrylic.
a laser at 3000 degrees bypasses this without spinning.
a laser cauterizes the material to "frost white".
I didn't go for any depth.... its not and ever necessary unless for the $$$.
you almost cannot even feel it..... thats etching.
it really needs a laser. my opinion.

[HPark]

Hello All.
Came into this quite late, and am new to the forum as you can see. Trying to get a grasp for how to guage the proper lighting for such an application. I noted in a previous post a total of 420 12V strip lights, and using Chinese manufacturers.
Can you recommend how far the LEDS should be spaced (1" for example) and Lumen output (does color have any impact here?)
Thanks much in advance!
-HPark

[LaserGregg]

seriously... I guess well. I know were the light fits. I know how it will fill the acrylic. I know how to make it glow. also LED's use candellas.... thats the degree of the bulb times the temperature of the light..lumens are not used here.... so you can custom wire 480 bulbs or get a strip. Ihave to settle for what is available.....