Backlighting 3d-printed panels

[maciekish]

Hi, I searched around for a bit but couldn’t find anything so ill ask instead.

Does anyone have a tested concept for incorporating backlight into their 3d-printed panels?

Do you print transparent first and swap the filament for the last 2-3 layers?

Or is IDEX with full dual-material the way to go?

I do have an IDEX capable printer but its a nightmare to calibrate the second extruder so i’m thinking maybe there is another simples solution i haven’t thought of?

Here is my initial failed attempt where i thought my LED strip was powerful enough to shine through 0.2mm of PLA. Spoiler-warning: It wasn’t. 
 

[bojack]

You might be better with natural coloured PLA filament than with clear.

I have made some mock up 3D printed panels of designs that I plan to get cut in acrylic - but I found that with transparent filament it wasn't easy to see the text when the backlight was off.

I had better results with natural coloured PLA which is still translucent enough to let light through, but has enough of a whiteish tint that the text is visible with no backlight - better, but still not perfect

I have a cheep laser engraver (not powerful enough to cut the acrylic) and I did the spray paint black and laser etch the artwork through technique - so not exactly what you are doing

 

[No1sonuk]

I did a test where I used Chep's inlay method to print the backlit text part first in a couple of layers of white. Then print the main part in black (with text cut out) using Z-hop.
 

 

[maciekish]

8 hours ago, bojack said:

I had better results with natural coloured PLA which is still translucent enough to let light through, but has enough of a whiteish tint that the text is visible with no backlight - better, but still not perfect

I was actually worried about readability in the day, thanks for the tip about natural PLA. Just ordered a spool

[BaronVonVaderham]

On 7/19/2022 at 3:35 PM, bojack said:

You might be better with natural coloured PLA filament than with clear.

I have made some mock up 3D printed panels of designs that I plan to get cut in acrylic - but I found that with transparent filament it wasn't easy to see the text when the backlight was off.

I had better results with natural coloured PLA which is still translucent enough to let light through, but has enough of a whiteish tint that the text is visible with no backlight - better, but still not perfect

I have a cheep laser engraver (not powerful enough to cut the acrylic) and I did the spray paint black and laser etch the artwork through technique - so not exactly what you are doing

 

Do you need to use An extractor fan for the etching you do? I’m contemplating the exact same approach, though I don’t have a laser just yet. Space is a bit of a premium for me, so if I need an extractor fan, I probably pass. Have you got a video that’s how’s the effectiveness of the backlighting?

[Bucic]

In real aicraft a white paint is used thin enough that the light can shine through?

[No1sonuk]

1 hour ago, Bucic said:

In real aicraft a white paint is used thin enough that the light can shine through?

More likely an "opal" plastic. i.e. one that looks white, but is translucent. 

[Bucic]

1 hour ago, No1sonuk said:

More likely an "opal" plastic. i.e. one that looks white, but is translucent. 

So a crappy PLA should do Transparent or "no color."

[DEG]

Some edglit panels in real aircraft use white paint, then oversprayed with black paint, then a laser burns off the black paint to expose the white paint; on top of a clear panel.  The panel has embedded lights (LED or incandescent), often with a diffuser layer to 'spread' the light throughout the panel.  Don't suppose anyone has a laser engraver to try it out DIY?

Edited February 9, 2024 by DEG
added more info