LED Road Test - Interactive Trophy - Blog 5 Nov 16

16 Nov 2015

While waiting for parts to help with the rest of this road test I thought I would build a more complex demonstration of 3D printed objects for intricate lighting applications. This concept/ example is an interactive trophy - I think it would be pretty unique to have a trophy that did more than just sit on a shelf. By making it interactive, it can spend a lot more time on prominent display. The TI BLE LED module is an excellent way to make a trophy into an interactive trophy.

This 3D print is considerably more complex than my previous blogs and I show it being printed as well as a working demonstration in the video. While it is printing, you can see impressive printing of long overhangs without support structure as well as some of the internal structure of the object. These overhangs are printing at an angle of 26 degrees (I had been under the impression that anything less than 45 degrees was likely to fail) Another impressive accomplishment in this print is the final horizontal flat surface which was printed by bridging across about 4.5 cm without any support underneath.

To be able to use the TI BLE Multitool App, I had to borrow an old iphone, which has a cracked screen and was not charging well. On closer inspection (stereoscopic microscope) I noticed the connector port on the iphone had some lint and dirt packed into it.

Here is a picture of what I dug out - I couldn't believe how much gunk there was in there: (the 1/4 w resistor is just for size reference - I didn't find it in the connector. Fortunately my wife is into quilting and had some microscopic needles.

Needless to say, it worked a lot better after the crud was removed. So, if any of you are having problems charging your phone - clean out the connector. The lender of this phone will be happy.

The LED Road Test page is here:

http://www.element14.com/community/roadTests/1481

The Lighting Group page is here:

Lighting

Here are links to my other blog entries for this road test:

LED Road Test - Proposal - Blog 0 Jan 1, 2016

Light Emitting Diodes Road Test - Blog 1 Nov 1

LED Road Test - 3D Printed Housings - blog 2 Nov 10

LED Road Test - Dodecahedron Light Fixture Blog 3 Nov12

LED Road Test - Wearable Interactive Lights - Blog 4 - Nov 13

LED Road Test - Interactive Trophy - Blog 5 Nov 16

LED Road Test - Making Household Objects Interactive - Blog 6 Nov 22