Mechanical Iris Dimmer (3D Printed)
by laxap in Workshop > Lighting
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Mechanical Iris Dimmer (3D Printed)
![before-after.png](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/F38/QFL4/J3OPZGHW/F38QFL4J3OPZGHW.png&filename=before-after.png)
Dim a lamp using 3D-printed iris. A neo-steampunk style addition.
We have a hanging LED lamp which is insanely bright, and we did not find any suitable electronic dimmer.
Then I decided to add a 3D-printed iris to each LED module, as my first 3D printing project.
Now each LED module can be separately dimmed as desired.
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STL and design files are provided in the ZIP archive. Project files are on GitHub.
Downloads
Iris Design
![IMG_2790.JPG](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/FK1/GDLH/J3OPSXLS/FK1GDLHJ3OPSXLS.jpg&filename=IMG_2790.JPG)
![iris-openscad.png](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/F4Z/PN66/J3OPT09L/F4ZPN66J3OPT09L.png&filename=iris-openscad.png)
![IMG_2783b.JPG](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/F1F/68E6/J3OPX257/F1F68E6J3OPX257.jpg&filename=IMG_2783b.JPG)
![IMG_2789.JPG](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/F4R/QCIW/J3OPSXLR/F4RQCIWJ3OPSXLR.jpg&filename=IMG_2789.JPG)
![IMG_2792.JPG](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/FX7/7X51/J3OPSXLT/FX77X51J3OPSXLT.jpg&filename=IMG_2792.JPG)
I designed the iris using OpenSCAD, with each layer drawn in Inkscape.
Rectify the pieces if needed (see notes on 3rd picture), so that the iris can be opened/closed with no friction.
Tiny drops of plastic glue secure the ring to its counter piece.
Optional - Attachment Design
![IMG_2756.JPG](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/FO7/VA6U/J3OPSXLA/FO7VA6UJ3OPSXLA.jpg&filename=IMG_2756.JPG)
![Screenshot at 2017-06-10 11-43-51.png](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/FFV/JPUU/J3OPSZ6J/FFVJPUUJ3OPSZ6J.png&filename=Screenshot at 2017-06-10 11-43-51.png)
![Screenshot at 2017-06-10 12-05-00.png](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/FA9/K5RK/J3OPT0JV/FA9K5RKJ3OPT0JV.png&filename=Screenshot at 2017-06-10 12-05-00.png)
![IMG_2800.JPG](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/FD2/H597/J3OPSXM2/FD2H597J3OPSXM2.jpg&filename=IMG_2800.JPG)
![IMG_2794.JPG](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/FFI/J80Q/J3OPSXLV/FFIJ80QJ3OPSXLV.jpg&filename=IMG_2794.JPG)
I oped to design an attachment (very specific to my lamp -- you would have to design your own), and to glue it to the iris.
After having done it, I would recommend against. instead, you can directly glue the iris against the lamp, e.g. using some Sugru, leaving a later removal possibility.
Cloning
![IMG_2774.JPG](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/FJ3/KUEH/J3OPSXLB/FJ3KUEHJ3OPSXLB.jpg&filename=IMG_2774.JPG)
Once the pieces all fit, mass-produce them to match the number of LED modules.
Mounting on Lamp and Using
![IMG_2837.JPG](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/FK6/XRU2/J3OPVRGT/FK6XRU2J3OPVRGT.jpg&filename=IMG_2837.JPG)
![IMG_2808.JPG](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/FC1/CGR6/J3OPY93X/FC1CGR6J3OPY93X.jpg&filename=IMG_2808.JPG)
![IMG_2804.JPG](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/F9W/OZCJ/J3OPSXM8/F9WOZCJJ3OPSXM8.jpg&filename=IMG_2804.JPG)
![IMG_2817.JPG](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/F62/ID19/J3OPY8VE/F62ID19J3OPY8VE.jpg&filename=IMG_2817.JPG)
Clip or glue each iris to the lamp. Done!
You cannot completely dim the lamp due to its diffusing layer, but the intensity can be effectively reduced down to a very pleasant level.