Backlit Control Panel Idea

[Trimoor]

I came up with this great idea once, and as I was recently browsing through my old files,  I found it again.

It's fairly simple, just take the plexiglass for your control panel and sand the bottom surface of it.

-'What?!!? you want me to scratch up my nice new plexiglass that took me 4 hours and 6 tries to make? are you crazy?!'

Well, yes! (to both questions )

After you mutilate your hard work, place an LED or CCFL light next to the side edge of the panel. The result will be that the sanded surface reflects and scatters the light, creating a nice even illumination.

Give it a try on a scrap piece!

[krion]

cool idea.  Was wondering if it would be possible to do this sort of this with a CP...

Krion

[Xiaou2]

 I had thought of this before as well.  

 To make plexi strong enuff for a full control panel - it will either have to be really thick (almost 1"  )  or have several layers fused together to make it thick.   That or have some metal cross beams to add support...

  Another idea I had was to have like 3 to 5 layers of plexi... and inbetween each layer.. you would have different artworks.   This would make a cool 3d effect.

  BTW - if you really want a cool effect... try heating plexi with a heatgun or simular.  After a while... it starts to bubble inside.   When it cools... theres all these different sizes of bubbles all over the place - and when lit up - will be dazzleing. (especially if using switching multicolor led lighting
system)

[Trimoor]

I just might try the idea of a CP made entirely from plex.
Hell, I'll probably try it with bubbles and multi layers too.

I found a great deal on plex at a weird store called Ax-Man.
You can get a 14"x12"x1/8" sheet for about 25

[Sylentwulf]

Your best bet would be to make a sandwich 3 layers thick.

Cut out the middle layer with a dremel to make long grooves for the LEDS to fit in (you WOULD need at LEAST 5-6 three-led clusters for a control panel) and wiring, etc... You may want to also include a switch.

Sand the bottom of the top layer, the bottom layer is just there to keep everything in, but you would probably want to paint the bottom of the bottom layer blac, or tinfoil it, or something to keep the light shooting upwards instead of leaking out downwards.

glue the middle layer to the bottom, attach everything in the middle layer, hot glue it down, then glue the top layer to the middle layer, and you have a CP Sandwich that glows beautifully.

[Sylentwulf]

Oh, and yes, I've done the above method, and it works great. Not with anything as big as a control panel, but with a mousepad

[hunky_artist]

oohh, i LIKE this idea.... anyone got any pics of any tests they've done?

[patrickl]

Cool idea. How far does the illumination travel? I guess it depends on the light source used, but any ideas?

You might have some problems with shadow areas resulting from buttons and joystick going through the plexi. It would be nicer if the whole CPO lit up like a marquee.

[RayB]

Timoor,
Are you suggesting this idea with plexi that is over a solid color, or with plexi which is on top of CP artwork? Doesn't the artwork appear fuzzy as a result of the sanding?

[Zakk]

I think some people are not getting the idea.  Don't make the control panel out of crazy thick plexi with nothing underneath, but a thin piece of plexi over top your wood or metal control panel, sanded on the bottom side, but lit from the very edge of the plexi.  

I've got the materials here, I might try his idea today if I get a few minutes, and I'll post a pic of the result, at least with a scrap piece... I'll try a cold cathode tube and an LED cannon.  

Unless I get too drunk by the pool to operate an LED safely

[Sylentwulf]

Here's an example of the design I was referring to:

http://metku.net/index.html?sect=view&n=1&path=mods/breezepad/index_eng

Of course, the fans are optional

[patrickl]

On a mouse pad that would work nicely since it's a contious piece of plastic. Cut some holes in it (which you would need for a CP) and you'll get horrible "streaks of shadow" in it. Maybe it would be less vissible if you run the lights along the long edges though.

[Bgnome]

i would also think that it would be difficult to get even lighting, especially on something as large as a cp.  what you would need to do is to light it from all sides..

[Sylentwulf]

MY only other thought that I haven't ever tried, is getting some nice long strips of EL lighting (the flat kind) this could EASILY go between buttons, around joysticks, all over the friggin place. Thin enough you probably wouldn't need to route out any channels for the wiring.

Only problem would be how bright it is, and how well the light transfers through the plexi.

[Trimoor]

Timoor,
Are you suggesting this idea with plexi that is over a solid color, or with plexi which is on top of CP artwork? Doesn't the artwork appear fuzzy as a result of the sanding?

If you have artwork, this might not be the best thing for your CP.

Or, put the sanded plex under the artwork, illuminating it like a marquee.

Or, instead of sanding the whole surface, sand designs into it that compliment the artwork.

The lighting will be surprisingly even, especially if you use a CCFL bulb.  I'm not too certain about the optical physics of plex, but it might evenly illuminate the panel even if there are holes in it. If not, just light it from several sides.

For a neat effect: after you drill the holes, glue aluminum foil to the inner edge of the hole.  This will reflect the light back, potentially creating a halo effect.

I'll try it on a scrap soon.

[Xiaou2]

 I was just going to recomend that.   heh

  If you are trying to light up artwork... make the very bottom layer frosted on the underside.  All other layers wont need sanding - as you are just trying to keep the inside from bing see-thru.  

  I suggest using a florescent light because it gives much more even lighting... like Trimoor said " like a marquee ".

  The mouse pad was pretty cool tho!   The airflow idea would be great for sweaty hands.   Although... you could just pop the fans near the surface of the panel - right near the monitor bezel area... either making it look like a speaker grill... or using many hard to see blow holes drilled close to the surface of the control panel.

 Btw-  they do sell spray paint that resembles frosted glass... thought Im not sure how well it works on plexi. (which would illiminate the need for the sanding)

 And... if you use enuff layers of plexi... you may not even need to sand or frost... as the plexi creates a blury-ness from all the layers the deeper you go.   And of course... if the entire bottom is lit artwork - then you do not need to frost either.
 
 Be aware that the bubble effect will weaken the plexi as well as shrink and distort it.  Its a tough process to get right.  I never tried a large sheet either - just a small section.

  If fiber optics wernt too expensive - they could make some wicked twinkle effects as well!   (imagine a twinkling mame logo that shines in the control panel center... and changes colors... ooooo  perty  : )

 Ohh - and lets go way over the top...  imagine a way to change audio 'bass drops'   to turn on a strobe light or strong led...to simulate a sort of 'lightning effect every once in a while.

 Could also run a visible laser in the panel using many mirrors to create an internal light pathway...
 

[patrickl]

On the topic of crazy ideas ... you could use the led lighting from the keyboard leds so MAME would control (part of) the light effects. Have your Out Run brake lights turn the CP red when you brake.

BTW would glowire work for this or doesn't that give enough light?

[Trimoor]

Btw-  they do sell spray paint that resembles frosted glass... thought Im not sure how well it works on plexi. (which would illiminate the need for the sanding)

I'm afraid this wont work.  The plex needs to be sanded to scatter the light traveling through it, otherwise you would only see it at the edges.

Glow wire gives nice even illumination, but it doesn't produce nearly as much as CCFL or regular fluorescent.  What would work is to put and EL panel under the CP.  This would provide lighting even more uniform than sanded plex, but would be very expensive.

Many EL kits include a sound activated module, maybe you could use one of those.