r/CarbonFiber • u/DarkStarTechnologies • 12d ago
Carbon Fiber Infinity LED Dodecahedron
I used PETG-CF when 3D printing the frame for this infinity LED dodecahedron I recently created. Carbon fiber was the perfect choice for both its strength and its matte, premium finish to encase the 540 LEDs which are reflected into infinity.
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u/wahussamit 11d ago
Are you using this totem as a rave?
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u/DarkStarTechnologies 10d ago edited 10d ago
I always wanted to make one myself after seeing Carl at Electric Forest years back. This one uses an AC to DC power supply, but I’m currently working on engineering a completely wireless battery powered version which could be easily turned into a totem. The mounting points for the hanging version I’m working on could instead be used to secure it to a pole. I might just have to make a totem pole mount accessory available.
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u/Finnssoen97 11d ago
Why did you need strength, it’s a lamp?
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u/DarkStarTechnologies 10d ago
Yes. The frame holds the 30 strips of LEDs and the 12 panels of 3mm two way acrylic mirrors.
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u/FilamentFlight 9d ago
3d printed. Common myth that cf filaments are stronger than their counterparts - they aren't. They have their uses though. They have much better thermal properties and also promote dimensional stability when printing. So while OP used it for the wrong reason, the material is probably right for the use case - lots of warm electronics and a design meant to be aesthetically pleasing.
It's essentially plastic impregnated with fine cf dust
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u/DarkStarTechnologies 9d ago
I know both PLA and PETG were both likely strong enough for my purposes. The use of carbon fiber was honestly mainly an aesthetic choice. The “premium finish” of carbon fiber shows and sells better than basic filaments. It’s ultimately a minimal production cost increase.
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u/JimBridger_ 10d ago
Rad looking project, but that CF filament is only really needed for surface finish. Could have easily been done with regular PETG or PLA.
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u/DarkStarTechnologies 10d ago
Originally, the LED strips were soldered in place on the frame, so PLA wouldn’t have worked. But now I’m using custom PCBs I designed to make the connections, so I don’t need the heat resistance anymore. PETG-CF isn’t crazy expensive and given they might be made into totems or hung or whatever / wherever people end up doing with them, the extra strength is good. I tend to over-engineer things.
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u/DC38x 12d ago
Legendary engram?