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LED Backlit 'DO MORE' Sign 8 Steps - Instructables

Create awesome led backlit sign

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11 views7 pages

LED Backlit 'DO MORE' Sign 8 Steps - Instructables

Create awesome led backlit sign

Uploaded by

huugje12
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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LED Backlit 'DO MORE' Sign : 8 Steps - Instructables https://www.instructables.

com/LED-Florescent-DO-MORE-Sign/

LED Backlit 'DO MORE' Sign


By Nickolae in CircuitsLEDs

Introduction: LED Backlit 'DO MORE' Sign

I wanted to test out my CNC machine with polycarbonate (I couldn't get hold of any acrylic) and so I
came up with this project.

There are loads of illuminated signs like this on the internet and this is my addition!

I'm using Casey Neistat's signature slogan "DO MORE" as the illuminated part of my sign and an el
egant white oak base to house the LEDs and mount the letters to.

If you like this instructable, please vote for it in the "Make It Glow" competition

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cUviWtiKnL0

https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/LiveALittleMore?ref=hdr_shop_menu

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LED Backlit 'DO MORE' Sign : 8 Steps - Instructables https://www.instructables.com/LED-Florescent-DO-MORE-Sign/

Step 1: Cutting the Acrylic/Polycarbonate

So I started this project in illustrator trying to decide on what font to use. I went through a couple an
d ended up with this slab font pictured above.

I created the text in illustrator and then created outlines of the letters and exported as an svg file.

This .svg could then be opened in a browser based program called makercam which generates Gc
ode for my cnc machine.

Step 2: Frosting the Acrylic/Polycarb

Once the pieces are cut out and the edges are de-burred and the sharp edge is knocked off I used
some fine sand paper to make some very fine scratches on the surface of the plastic. I used 600 an
d 800 grit to create a very dense scratch pattern so that you can not see scratch lines. As you can s
ee from the first few images it didn't work quite to plan as when I was attaching the letters to the wo
od they got quite scuffed up. This can be avoided with more care than I used in later steps.

I recommend using water on the paper to float away the dust whilst sanding and thus keeping the a
brasive clear so it can continue to sand the surface.

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LED Backlit 'DO MORE' Sign : 8 Steps - Instructables https://www.instructables.com/LED-Florescent-DO-MORE-Sign/

Step 3: Cutting an Undercut Into the Base

Next, to have a place to put the LED strip I am planning to use and to have it so that the diodes on t
he strip are directly beneath the plastic letters I used a dovetail router bit in my router to cut the prof
ile shown in the photo.

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LED Backlit 'DO MORE' Sign : 8 Steps - Instructables https://www.instructables.com/LED-Florescent-DO-MORE-Sign/

Step 4: Tapering Edges and Finishing Front Face of Wood

I then cut the ends of the piece of white oak that I am using as the base for this project. I cut them o
n my mitre saw very slowly to give an accurate and smooth finish.

On the subject of finishing I did the finishing touches to the front face of the oak with a cabinet scra
per and some fine sandpaper until it looked good as in the picture above. Then justt some teak oil t
o make the grain pop and protect the wood a bit.

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LED Backlit 'DO MORE' Sign : 8 Steps - Instructables https://www.instructables.com/LED-Florescent-DO-MORE-Sign/

Step 5: LEDs

Next I got a strip of RGB leds and cut them to the length of the oak base using a stanley knife along
the nearest cut point marked on the strip. I then used the adhesive backing to attach it into the cuto
ut in the oak as shown above.

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LED Backlit 'DO MORE' Sign : 8 Steps - Instructables https://www.instructables.com/LED-Florescent-DO-MORE-Sign/

Step 6: Attaching the Letters

I used thick super glue to attach the letters to the frame a little bead near the bottom of the letter an
d I used a set square to perfectly align each letter perpendicular to the oak. I then just used a hand
plane to apply some clamping pressure to help the CA make a good bond.

Step 7: Finishing the Ends

After the CA had dried and I too a look at it for the first time I wasn't happy with the ends so I cut tw
o small pieces of white oak and glued them onto the 45 degree ends then planed, scraped and san
ded them flush and smooth and then re applied some teak oil.

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LED Backlit 'DO MORE' Sign : 8 Steps - Instructables https://www.instructables.com/LED-Florescent-DO-MORE-Sign/

Step 8: Finished!

Last thing to do is wire it all up and test it out! these pics are without the leds on, the picture above i
n my workshop with the normal lamp as a back light looked pretty cool in my opinion!

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