DIY Lego LED Bricks DIY Lego LED Bricks In this guide, you'll learn how to build our ownDIY Lego...

DIY Lego LED BricksCreated by Ruiz Brothers

Last updated on 2017-04-10 02:44:31 PM UTC

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Guide Contents

Guide ContentsOverview

DIY Lego LED BricksThe Research InstituteMore Glowy!LED SequinsPrerequisite GuidesPartsTools & Supplies

Adafruit LED Sequins - Multicolor Pack of 5Tactile Switch Buttons (6mm slim) x 20 packCopper Foil Tape with Conductive Adhesive - 6mm x 15 meter rollPLA Filament for 3D Printers - 1.75mm Natural Translucent - 1KG

Circuit DiagramWired ConnectionsBattery Power

3D PrintingDownload and 3D PrintEdit Design3D Printing Lego BricksDiffusing LEDsSlice SettingsSupports, Brims & WallsBrimsWall StrengthSupport Removal

AssemblyPrep LED SequinsMeasure and Tin WiresCopper TapeButtonLED wiresCopper Tape contactsMounting LEDsMount ButttonWedge WiresInsert Batteries

© Adafruit Industries https://learn.adafruit.com/diy-lego-led-bricks of 35

3435

Attach bottomCompleted Bricks


Overview

DIY Lego LED Bricks

In this guide, you'll learn how to build our own DIY Lego Light Bricks! Inside these bricksare 3D printed and house a tiny LED with batteries. They’re pretty cool for adding lightingeffects to your scenes and you can easily connect to them to just about any lego compatiblebrick. You can make them in several colors and turn them on with a tiny button on the side.

The ResearchInstitute

The set used in this project isLEGO Cuusoo ResearchInstitute 21110. This set wasvoted by LEGO idea membersand was sucessfully supportedand manufactured as a limited


edition. Originally titled, "FemaleMinifigureSet (http://adafru.it/uvA)", this setwas designed to encouragewomen to get into science andtechnology professions. The goalwas to help overcome genderstereotyping in construction playtoys. The set features femalepaleontologist, astronomer andchemist. The set has VERYlimited availabilty onamazon (http://adafru.it/uvB).

More Glowy!

Compared to official light bricks, these diffuse the whole brick instead of just being aspotlight. They’re both the same size but offer different types lighting. The lego light bricksare great for pointing light, while the 3D printed brick glows brighter and can fit in tighterspaces. But you can connect them together to make interesting combinations that illuminateyour projects.


https://learn.adafruit.com/assets/39587

https://ideas.lego.com/projects/15401

https://www.amazon.com/LEGO-Research-Institute-Discontinued-manufacturer/dp/B00L2DL6N4/

This looks great because theLED is small enough to diffusethe whole brick by angling thelight.

Our printed version uses a tinypush button to turn the lights onand off. Of course the two partscan fit together, so you cancombine them to any existinglight bricks!

These bricks can fit on even thesmallest build plates, so it shouldprint on all 3D printers. It’s also apretty fast print, taking about 8minutes to finish!





LED Sequins



These are the kid-sister to ourpopular Flora NeoPixel, they onlyshow a single color and theydon't have digital control, but thatmakes them smaller easier touse for many projects!

We noticed the green LEDsseem to light bricks the brightest!

Prerequisite Guides

We recommend walking through the following tutorial to get familiar with the components





used in this project.

Collin's Lab: Soldering (http://adafru.it/rBf)Collin's Lab: Multimeters (http://adafru.it/tIf)All about LEDs (http://adafru.it/uuC)

Parts

You'll need the following parts to build this project.

LED Sequins (http://adafru.it/3377)6mm Push Button (http://adafru.it/1489)2X LR41 Coin Cell Batteries (http://adafru.it/uuD)M2x.4x9mm (http://adafru.it/pek) or #2-56x3/8 screwTactile Switch Buttons (6mm slim) (http://adafru.it/1489)Copper Tape (http://adafru.it/1128)Translucent PLA (http://adafru.it/2451)


https://www.adafruit.com/products/3377


https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00LN6X3K4

http://www.albanycountyfasteners.com/2MM-x-4-Phillips-Flat-Head-Machine-Screw-p/1011-1000.htm?1=1&CartID=0




Tools & Supplies

You'll also need the following tools and supplise to complete this project.

Soldering Iron & Solder (http://adafru.it/drI)Tweezers (http://adafru.it/3096)Wire Strippers (http://adafru.it/527)Diagonal Flush Snips (http://adafru.it/dxQ)Helping Third Hands (http://adafru.it/291)

Adafruit LED Sequins - Multicolor Pack of 5

PRODUCT ID: 3377Sew a little sparkle into your wearable project with an Adafruit LED Sequin. These are thekid-sister to our popular Flora NeoPixel, they only show a single color and they don't have...http://adafru.it/uuE$3.95IN STOCK




https://www.adafruit.com/product/152



Tactile Switch Buttons (6mm slim) x 20 pack

PRODUCT ID: 1489Slim clicky momentary switches are standard input "buttons" on electronic projects. Theseare half the width of classic 6mm tactile switches so they line up better on a...http://adafru.it/dSl$4.95IN STOCK

Copper Foil Tape with Conductive Adhesive - 6mm x 15 meter roll

PRODUCT ID: 1128Copper tape can be an interesting addition to your toolbox. The tape itself is made of thinpure copper so its extremely flexible and can take on nearly any shape. You can easilysolder...http://adafru.it/eNZ$5.95IN STOCK




PLA Filament for 3D Printers - 1.75mm Natural Translucent - 1KG

PRODUCT ID: 2451Having a 3D printer without filament is sort of like having a regular printer without paper orink. And while a lot of printers come with some filament there's a good chance you've...http://adafru.it/uuF$39.95IN STOCK



Circuit Diagram

Wired Connections

The circuit diagram above shows how the components will be wired together inside thebrick. This won't be 100% exact in the actual circuit but it's a very close approximation.

A push button will open and close the connection between the batteries to turn the LED onand off. When the button is held down, the LED stays on, and when it’s released the LEDturns off.

Button to the + and - sides of the batteries - on the battery to - on the LED sequin+ on the battery to + on the LED squin

Battery Power

The circuit will be powered by two small LR 41 coin cell batteries. The batteries are


arranged in series to increase the voltage required to power the LED.


3D Printing

Download and 3D Print

You can 3D print the bricks using opaque filament on almost any desktop 3D printer. The3D printed parts can be downloaded with the link below. If you don’t have a 3D printer, thefiles are free to download so can send them to a 3D printing service.

Edit Design

You can easily update the size or add features by editing the Fusion360 designs. Thesketches are all listed in the timeline, so it's easy to adjust the size to each component.

Edit Designhttp://adafru.it/uvaDownload from Thingiversehttp://adafru.it/uvb


http://a360.co/2l9FKhm

http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:2124116

Download from Youmaginehttp://adafru.it/svFDownload from Pinshapehttp://adafru.it/svF

3D Printing Lego Bricks

The LED brick was designed in Autodesk Fusion 360 and designed to print in PLA filament.The parts were 3D printed using the BCN3D Sigma and Micro M3D. If you don’t haveaccess to a 3D printer, you could use a service like 3D Hubs (http://adafru.it/jNb) to make itfor you.

Diffusing LEDs

We found Natural White PLA/PHA (http://adafru.it/3059) filament diffuses the LEDs thebest. The soft diffusion illuminates the whole brick. You can also use Translucentfilament (http://adafru.it/2451) for a brighter light.

Slice Settings

Depending on your 3D printer, you may need to adjust the slice settings. We tested theenclosure on a BCN3D Sigma. The legoBody.stl part will require support materials. Theparts are oriented to print "as is".

Nozzle: 0.31mmExtrusion Multiplier: 1.0Extrusion Width: 0.39mmLayer Height: 0.2mmNozzle Temperature: 225cPrint Speed: 60mm/sBrim: 6mm


https://www.3dhubs.com/



Supports, Brims &Walls

The legoBody.stl will requiresupports to support the LED,battery and screw mounts .

Make sure to disable "densesupports" and vertical upper andlower separation layers to makethe supports easier to remove.

We added pillars with aresolution of 2mm to the middleunder the walls that hold theparts in place. Add the pillars sothey can support the corners nothe walls.

Brims

If you encounter lifting on thecorners, we'll need to add a brimto hold down the part. We usedno heat and blue painter tapeand a 4 brim outlines around thepart.





Wall Strength

We'll want the walls of the brickto be really strong by makingsure gaps between them aresolid (no zig zags inside thegaps). We had to adjust thenozzle diameter and extrusionwidth to make sure no "zig zag"paths are inside the wall gaps.Always preview tools pathsbefore printing to insure nostrange paths are created.




Support Removal

The 3D printed part will needsupports to hold up the mountingwalls, so we can use flat pliers tohelp remove them.

Position the pliers under thesupports and lift up the pry off asone piece. Use a hobby knife toclean up the gaps between thewalls.




Assembly

Prep LED Sequins

LED sequins come in a pack offive. Use flush diagonal cutters tothem break away from the panel.

Cut close to the pads to avoidhaving to remove anyperforations on the edges.

We'll need to connect wires tothe LED sequin from the bottomof the PCB. You can tell whichpad is positive and negative by




looking at Tthe adafruit logo –It's right next to the postive+ pad.

Use third helping hands to securethe LED sequin. Then, tin thepositive and negative pads with abit of solder.





Measure and TinWires

Now we can measure the wiresfor the LED and the push button.For the push buttons we’llmeasure from the battery walls inthe center, to the opening on theside of the brick. The LED willconnect from the center cut awayto the top of the two middle walls.

Match up the wire lengths for theopposite side and cut them tosize. Tin all of the wires so theywon’t fray while solderingtogether. It’s also a good ideause silicone coated wires sincewe’ll need to flex the wires to fitinside the brick. Here we’re using30 gauge silicone coated wire tofit between the wall gaps.





Copper Tape

Now we can create the contactsfor the coin cell by using piecesof copper foil tape. The tape hasa sticky backing and we cansolder wire directly to the tape.

Hold the pieces of copper foiltape with tweezers. Secure thetweezers to third helping hands



to keep it sturdy while soldering.Tin one side of the piece ofcopper foil tape with a bit ofsolder. Then, solder the longerwires to the copper tape.Repeat this process for thesecond wire.

Button

The longer wires will connect tothe push button. To fit our buttoninside the brick, we’ll first need totrim the two pins from the button






short. Cut both pins using a pairof flush snips, just below wherethe they bend. Secure the buttonto third helping hands. Then, tinthe two short pins with a bit ofsolder.

Next, we’ll connect the wires tothe pins on the button. Theseshould be positioned on the innerside of the pins at an up rightangle. This way we can fit thebutton through the opening onthe brick.





LED wires

Now we can solder the twoshorter wires to the pads on theLED sequin. Secure the LEDsequin to third helping hands. Todiffuse the brick, we’ll need toposition the LED face down.Then, solder the wires on thebottom of the PCB.

Copper Tape





contacts

We’ll need two more pieces ofcopper foil tape for connectingthe batteries to the LED sequin.Use scissors to cut thin slices ofcopper foil tape. Then, removethe backing and stick them to theinside of the brick.

You can use tweezers to stick thecopper foil tape to the inner liningof the brick. Use the flat end ofthe tweezers to evenly stick themto the walls. Follow the photo toreference the correct position.

Next, tin the two pieces of copperfoil tape with a bit of solder.





Mounting LEDs

Now we can insert the LED intothe brick, face down. It shouldpress fit into place with the wirefacing upright.

Next, position the wires towardthe two pieces of copper foil tape.

Hold the wire in place andcarefully apply heat to solder





each wire to the copper foil tape.Make sure your iron is clean soyou can quickly solder the wireswithout melting the brick.


Mount Buttton

Now we can insert the pushbutton into the brick with thewiring going through the openingfirst. Press the button in until itsnaps into place.

The pins should be short enoughto push up against the wall. If thebutton stick out too much, you’llneed to trim the pins until it fits.





Wedge Wires

Now we can wedge both wiresbetween the gaps in the walls.Use the flat end of the tweezersto help tuck the wires inside.

Remove the backing from thecopper tape and stick it the innerside of the walls.





Insert Batteries

Next, insert the batteries in thebrick. Line up the positive andnegative contacts with the copperfoil tape so they have matchingpolarities.

If the batteries are loose, you canadd an additional piece of coppertape to help keep the batteriesfrom moving around. Press thepush button to check if the LEDpowers on.

If it doesn’t power on, make surethe copper tape is makingcontact with the batteries.




Attach bottom

Now we can secure the bottomcover to the brick. Use an M2 (ora #2-56) machine screw to mountthe two parts together.

Fasten the screw through thebottom cover to create threads inthe mounting hole. Try to keepthe machine screw straight whilefastening. Then, position it overthe brick and fasten the screwuntil both parts are tightlymounted together.





Completed Bricks

And now we have a super bright DIY lego light brick!! Add these to light light up props inscenes or even add it to characters to give them a cool looking glow. You can of coursecombine these with original light bricks to create different light combinations.

© Adafruit Industries Last Updated: 2017-04-10 02:44:30 PM UTC of 35


DIY Lego LED Bricks DIY Lego LED Bricks In this guide, you'll learn how to build our ownDIY Lego...

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