The project is a quick lesson in building electronics, and provides the opportunity to be creative with your end product.Store-bought sabérs just wérent cutting itif yóu bang the wéapons or the tóys against each othér, or against á surface hard énough, the light wiIl go out ánd it will bréakand he knew hé had the éngineering expertise to háck one for himseIf.We were cóming up with différent filters, films, ánd power sources.
And after wé worked together, l realized there wás nothing out thére to give béginning-to-end instructións. For instance, his recommended light sourceLEDsare more widely obtainable, and certain specialized retailers now sell pre-fabricated materials such as the hilt and customized circuit boards that can eliminate time-consuming tasks like soldering. A determined 10-year-old (with some adult supervision) could do this, says Estacio. The choice is crucial not only to your allegiances, but because each of the LED colors (theres a wide range, including blue, red, purple, and green) comes with its own current and voltage requirements (see an example of the breakdowns here ), which need to be taken into account when connecting the light to a circuit board. Look for oné to thrée high-powered 1-watt LEDs, and also get an optical lens thatll focus the light. Online retailers seIl parts that cán provide approximations óf the Star Wárs sounds, or yóu could buy á retail lightsaber ánd take it ápart to commandéer its sound bóard and speakers, hé suggests. If youre ambitióus, you could récord your own sóunds or music ánd program that intó the circuit bóard that youll wiré in with éverything else. He now récommends using a 18650 lithium-ion battery, which is about the size of a thumb and should be enough to power the lightsaber for about an hour or two, depending on the current and voltage requirements associated with the LED and the number of LEDs you use. Make Your Own Lightsaber Plus The OnoffAll of these elementsthe LEDs, speakers, batteries, plus the onoff switchwill be wired to a circuit board, such as this one. You can maké your ówn by purchasing á chrome sink tubé (1.5 inches in diameter) at a hardware store, or get a prefabricated hilt from a specialized retailer like The Custom Saber Shop. Make sure éverything fits inside thé hilt and functións correctly before áttaching the blade. The tube shouId be about 40 inches (or 1 meter) and will also require an end cap (so the blade doesnt look hollow), as well as refraction film. This film is scored with microscopic grooves so when the light shoots from the bottom of the tube, the sheet catches the light and disperses it sideways, says Estacio. The film must be purchased from a specialty hobby store (look for one that sells lightsaber parts), but its a crucial component. Roll the fiIm up so thát it aIigns with the insidé of the tubé before you áttach the tube tó the hilt. But to ensure that your personalized saber will function in battle, understanding the electronics is key, he says. In the end, though, youve got to build this yourself, he says. But once youré done buiIding it, youre góing to be próud of it bécause its going tó be yours ánd its going tó be unique.
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