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Main => Main Forum => Topic started by: SavannahLion on May 28, 2013, 04:54:34 pm

Title: Thread search: LED through laminate
Post by: SavannahLion on May 28, 2013, 04:54:34 pm
One of the forum members experimented (installed?) an LED (I want to say it was a 7-segment LED display but I could be wrong) behind laminate. If the LED was off, it wasn't visible. Turn the LED on and the laminate was thin enough to allow the light through.

I was almost positive it was somunny's ARK Project (http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,76255.0.html) but nothing in the thread mentions this. In retrospect it would make sense, somunny is using metal foil.

I'm about 95% certain it was a table top cocktail type cabinet but I just can't find it.

Does anyone remember who did this and what project they did it on?

edit: corrected terminology.
Title: Re: Thread search: LED through laminate
Post by: yotsuya on May 28, 2013, 04:59:29 pm
It was a project that used oak verneer, if I'm not mistaken.
Title: Re: Thread search: LED through laminate
Post by: SavannahLion on May 28, 2013, 05:34:46 pm
It was a project that used oak verneer, if I'm not mistaken.

Maybe it was one of those ginormous "dining table" cabs? I'll have to hunt through them and see if it turns up there.
Title: Re: Thread search: LED through laminate
Post by: PL1 on May 28, 2013, 05:40:12 pm
Are you thinking about EightBySix's Insert Coffee (http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,96762.0.html) build?

(http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=103207.0;attach=185643;image)

He sanded the veneer down as thin as he dared to get the LEDs to show through.


Scott
Title: Re: Thread search: LED through laminate
Post by: Nephasth on May 28, 2013, 05:41:11 pm
Damn you PL1... Here's a direct link to the post anyway: http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,96762.msg1279855.html#msg1279855 (http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,96762.msg1279855.html#msg1279855)
Title: Re: Thread search: LED through laminate
Post by: SavannahLion on May 28, 2013, 06:55:28 pm
Yep! That is exactly the project I was looking for.  :cheers:
Title: Re: Thread search: LED through laminate
Post by: RandyT on May 29, 2013, 03:40:33 pm
That's a really nice effect.  If one doesn't wish to use woodgrain or similar, the very dark (~16% transmission) smoked plexi will hide it until it comes on as well.  Mirrored window tint would also be an interesting experiment.
Title: Re: Thread search: LED through laminate
Post by: DLinkOZ on May 29, 2013, 03:42:10 pm
My skeeball games use the same setup with red laminate, and it shines through very brightly.
Title: Re: Thread search: LED through laminate
Post by: Don on May 29, 2013, 05:12:55 pm
My skeeball games use the same setup with red laminate, and it shines through very brightly.

I'm also interested about this. Could you give more details about the type of laminate? Do you think it would work through vinyl, or does it have to be quite a thin material?
Title: Re: Thread search: LED through laminate
Post by: DLinkOZ on May 29, 2013, 09:12:21 pm
It seems to be pretty standard laminate, though a bit thin.  The result is pretty good, easily visible even with the joint lit up like christmas.  Look at the top of the right skeeball game on the left of this picture, you can see the scores shining through despite the lights being on, my flash being on, etc.

http://album.oesm.org/arcade/gameroom042013.JPG (http://album.oesm.org/arcade/gameroom042013.JPG)