Custom Led Signs

[Rich Kruyer]

Here is some recent LED edge lit signs I completed.

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[Rich Fennessey]

Nice. Do you use a laser to make all of these? Is the multi-color one two 1/4" acrylic sheets put together. It also looks like you utilize a couple different base designs.

[Rich Kruyer]

I use the laser to cut the acrylic material and use the router to make the bases. I am still playing with my base design. On the two colored one I just put part of the logo and information on one piece and the balance on the other sheet.

Rich

[Rich Fennessey]

I have yet to do any cutting of the acrylic with my CNC but do have the O-flute bits to try it. I've been ordering pieces to size and have been using a chop saw to cut the hidden edge. I found designing the bases to be quite arduous, but I sort of got in to it, and the acrylic engraving easy by comparison. I'm still playing with my base design and want to make an option to have the power cord run out the side or back and to be able to tighten down the acrylic. I put one of these signs on my window seal and didn't like having a cord running out the back but for a desk, you would probably want it out the back. I friction fit the acrlylic and if it is a little loose, I hot glue the ends from the bottom of the base. Having to route the top and bottom of the top half of the base definitely makes it more complicated but gives a lot of flexibility.

[Mike Lassiter]

I use the laser to cut the acrylic material and use the router to make the bases. I am still playing with my base design. On the two colored one I just put part of the logo and information on one piece and the balance on the other sheet.

Rich
Would you care to please explain more about that? I have custom cut night lights and did a couple of signs with LED bases that I got from a source that is no longer available in different lengths and colors. Wanting to look into doing some of this, but looks like getting everything from sources that have "kits" with the LED strips and channel bases for the LED strips and power supplies would cost around $20 for a 12" long sign. That would be single colors with single sheet of acrylic.
Curious about doubling acrylic and different color on each and cost to produce.

[Rich Kruyer]

Mike not sure what you are wanting to know?

[Mike Lassiter]

Double sheets of acrylic side by side with different engraving is what you did in picture I think. Sheets glued together someway or just held together tightly bytight fit Ito base?
Did you buy bulk led on a roll in each color and just put led strips under each piece of acrylic (like would do on a single piece)? Any issues with colors crossing over from one sheet to another?
Wondering if you had to put some type of separator between the led strips for colors to not melt together in both acrylic parts.

[Rich Kruyer]

Yes two strips of acrylic and two strips of LED's. Just press fit the acrylic into the base. I put a little piece of black tape between the two pieces of acrylic at the bottom to help the LED from transferring from the other sheet. I purchased the multicolored strip LED and just wired it so when green was on in one strip blue was on in the other, do when the controller cycled through the colors they were different.

Let me know if you have any other questions.

[John DeMaris]

Where do you recommend someone pick up led lights for making signs like these.

[Rich Kruyer]

I pick them up off ebay.

[mike moll]

How did you make your base and what power supply do you use?

[Rich Fennessey]

For those of you who want a summary of where to order several of the components needed for LED edge lit signs, you can check this thread over at the Camaster site: http://camheads.org/showthread.php?t=3880 I found it pretty challenging to gather every thing and I found threads both on Vectric and camheads.org site extremely useful but still scattered. For single color LED strips, I get them here: http://www.hobbypartz.com/ledlights.html

I make my bases from HDPE or MDF. The single color ones are pretty easy for 3/8" acrylic. I cut a .25" strip in the bottom of the 3/8" pocket for the LED strip to lay in. I measure my acrylic and then create a shallower cut the width of the acrylic - this makes a tight friction fit. I drill a hole out the side to run the wire that connects to the transformer. I have to stick the transformer to LED strip adapter through the hole before I solder - this keeps the hole small.

For the RGB controllers, I have a much more complicated solution. I use a two piece base that hides all the electronics and provides exit points for the power cable and IR receiver. I inset two drywall screws through the bottom to hold the pieces together and make sure they are inset enough so you don't scratch furniture with them. Note my initial base was for a larger controller - I've since switched to the mini controller - shown in 2nd photo. I made a design for the power cord to either go out the back or out the side.

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The top piece is pretty much identical for both of these except I didn't have to mill out anything for the mini-controller. This is effectively a box and the lip edges keep it from sliding. The hardest part about these is having to get a nice coat of paint on the MDF edges. I have used drywall spackle and sign foam primer with success. You just need to do some sanding to get those edges sealed, otherwise it will suck the paint right in. I've also made them from HDPE which is already colored. The base on the very right is HDPE. It is a bit tricky to cut and make sure the edges look ok. Note that I made a slot to keep the remote control in - just seems like a good way to not lose it. The 4th photo shows my single color sign with the simple base made from HDPE. Normally 3/4" HDPE is about $12 or more (forget exact price) per square foot but I came across some remnants.

[mike moll]

Thanks for your input. Your base's look great.

[Rich Kruyer]

Rich your bases look good.

[Jim Dawson]

we do a version of these. Bases are machined plastic. We also do Plug in and battery operated versions with switches. Nice Job!

[Joe Kace]

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Here are some of my LED creations. I work within the gaming industry and these are all displays for Pinball Machines, I have my own custom bases and leds.

[Kevin Schlossberg]

Wow. You guys have done some incredible work with these signs. I'm a complete novice when it comes to building electronics, but I've got some ideas like these that I'd love to build using my epilog. My problem is I don't know anything about sourcing parts & putting things together for the light component.


we do a version of these. Bases are machined plastic. We also do Plug in and battery operated versions with switches. Nice Job!
Jim, those bases are incredibly professional looking, are you making them in house? The light up layer of acrylic is an incredible artistic touch.



Here are some of my LED creations. I work within the gaming industry and these are all displays for Pinball Machines, I have my own custom bases and leds.
Loving that Demolition Man

Edit - my post was edited to remove ebay links by the mods. Totally understand, my apologies.

[Rich Kruyer]

Jim what thickness of acrylic do you use for your signs?

[Rich Fennessey]

Jim, nice looking base. I like the light around the base perimeter.

[Rich Fennessey]

Those are super cool. What software do you use for those?

[Joe Kace]

Everything created is done in AI by our artist, then I convert everything into Corel Draw 14 to send to the laser.

[Kevin Schlossberg]

Joe, I've been staring at those signs and it looks like they are clear acrylic with colored LEDs in front of a black or dark background? Am I interpreting that correctly?

Also, sent you an email, thanks for your advice!

[Joe Kace]

The leds are under the acrylic which is cast clear. The background was only for photo purposes, you can see through all my designs like in the first pic.

[Jim Dawson]

yep… 100% in house. we use HDPE and various PVC's and acrylics


Wow. You guys have done some incredible work with these signs. I'm a complete novice when it comes to building electronics, but I've got some ideas like these that I'd love to build using my epilog. My problem is I don't know anything about sourcing parts & putting things together for the light component.


Jim, those bases are incredibly professional looking, are you making them in house? The light up layer of acrylic is an incredible artistic touch.




Loving that Demolition Man

Edit - my post was edited to remove ebay links by the mods. Totally understand, my apologies.

[Jim Dawson]

we use 1/4" through 1" depending on the application. These bases were 1/2"



Wow. You guys have done some incredible work with these signs. I'm a complete novice when it comes to building electronics, but I've got some ideas like these that I'd love to build using my epilog. My problem is I don't know anything about sourcing parts & putting things together for the light component.


Jim, those bases are incredibly professional looking, are you making them in house? The light up layer of acrylic is an incredible artistic touch.


Loving that Demolition Man

Edit - my post was edited to remove ebay links by the mods. Totally understand, my apologies.

[AL Ursich]

I picked up some 12 volt DC Reel LED's on eBay and some Solar Powered Xmas Lights for a outdoor type Acrylic Sign.

Very nice work....

AL

[Jim Dawson]

Jim, nice looking base. I like the light around the base perimeter.

Thanks… we made them for special awards for a motocross racing series. The LED's are under the ring in the base and we roughed it up a little to diffuse the light passing through it…. it was a neat study in what we were capable of.

[Sandra Mart]

Here is some recent LED edge lit signs I completed.

275701275702275703


Hello Rich.. thats great led,, i love it..http://watchfree.me/11/w.png

[Rich Kruyer]

Sandra thanks!

[Rich Kruyer]

New base design made from Corian288518288519

[Rich Fennessey]

I haven't checked in here for about a month, I think that is a record for me on this site. I have quite a bit of remnant corian but seems .5" is a bit shallow to hold the LED lights and put the acrylic on top. These look good but do you have an issues securely holding the acrylic? I hate painting MDF and use HDPE some times but it doesn't look that great, so would love to use some of my darker corian.

[Rich Kruyer]

Rich,

I have made a few of these and have not had any issues with the Acrylic staying in the Corian. When I machine the slot on top I make it a little snug to help retain it.