Crystals to Brighten Your Soul

I love things the light up, crystals, laser cutting, and combining lots of things into to something more than they were when I started. i wanted a fantasy inspired piece that would attract attention to my desk in the office. I had a number a number of inspirational moments: Piece of scrap wood falling from a shelf, products catching my eye during shopping trips to Walmart, and the acquisition of new tools! When all of those finally clicked in my brain, this project is the result.

Materials:

1. Filament
2. Inland PLA Silk: Blue-Green
3. Polymaker Pro: LM Sparkle Green
4. The Geode Model
5. 1/4"(6mm) Mahogany that is wide enough for your idea of a base plate.
6. Clear stick-on feet
7. High gloss clear spray paint
8. ONN USB powered 16' light string
9. E6000 Glue
10. Glue Sticks

Tools:

1. 3D Printer
2. Ender 3 V2
3. Longer Ray5 Laser
4. Lightburn
5. Ryobi Glue Gun
6. Router
7. 1/8"(3mm) round over bit
8. Triangular paint stands
9. Drill
10. 1/4"(6mm) drill bit

Print the 3D models. Use your favorite method. The model is great and prints well. You will need to print a small, medium, and tall model. Including enough bases and tops. 1 of each bottom and top for each geode

I printed the tops and bottoms in LM Sparkle Green. I love the color and the slight sparkle it has in the finished print. The Polymaker Pro prints very nice in every printer I have owned.

Depending on the size and width of your board you will need to bottoms to make an arrangement that you like.

Once you have a general idea of what, then you will need to transfer this design into Lightburn(or your favorite laser cutting design tool).

Make sure to note the rotation of the bottoms and make cuts with the laser to line up with the holes to be able to pass the LED string through.

Use the router to round over the edges, so they are not at a sharp angle that could lead to splintering.

You need to run the router on both sides.

Position the board on the triangles. I used the cut out holes, so that I didn't leave a mark.

The triangles will allow you to flip board over and coat the other side.

Using slightly overlapping strokes, lightly coat one side of the board.

Using the edge gently flip the board over.

Tip: Use 4 triangles, so that when you flip it the fourth triangle will line up with the cut out hole in the center.

Lightly coat the other side of the board.

Make sure the edges get lightly coated during this process.

Allow about 10-15 minutes for the paint to setup, then repeat the process. This amount of time should allow the clear coat to setup and be ready for the next coat.

If you get drips are runs, you are making the coats too heavy.

Be patient and repeat that about 4 times.

After the coated base is dry, arrange the geode bottoms on the base.

Make sure to orient the geode bottoms on over the base cutouts for drilling later.

Apply a generous amount of E6000 on each geode bottom and then apply that bottom to the base.

Get something heavy. I used some hookup wire spools I had laying abound. Put these on top of the geode bottom/base combo and let them set overnight to allow for good adhesion.

Use the 1/4" drill and drill a hole using the cutouts as I guide to make an opening for the LED light strip.

After you clean out the shavings from the drill process, apply a generous amount of E6000 to the slots in each geode top and bottom.

Fit the geodes into the bottoms. Pressing firmly, so they go all the way in.

Fit the geode tops on the geodes. Pressing firmly, so they go all the way in.

Place something heavy on each so they will have good adhesion.

Time to unpack the LED strip and ensure that it functions.

On the bottom, find locations where the clear rubber feet should be placed. Make sure your base will be stable.

You will also what to take into account where the LED strip will run from each of the geodes during the placement of the feet.

You will want to press each one firmly to ensure that it stays on.

Find the center of the LEDs.

Insert the center into the center geode.

Keep inserting until you think there is enough left to fill in the other 2 geodes.

Repeat with each geode.

The geode that hasa section running to the power supply will need to be insert similar to the center as you will need to bend the cable in a "U" shape.

Remember to leave about 2-3 LEDS for lighting the base between the geodes.

When you are satisfied with the amount of LEDs in each, use the glue gun to secure the LED strip in place. Make sure to cover the hole in each geode, and the LED strip under the base is pressed against the underside of the base.

Plug it all in and enjoy!