After running LEDs on our 2024 bot “Kachow,” my team has wanted to dive further into using LEDs on our bots.
Our 2024 off-season “show” bot project will be an opportunity to experiment with aluminum anodizing and some cool lighting effects.
Today we experimented with engraving details in polycarb using an end-mill as well as sanding edges to change the way the light disperses. We have been happy with our findings, but would like to know more about what other teams do to achieve easily visible designs.
As we are still just covering the basics, I am curious if you guys have any tips for achieving cool designs by edge lighting polycarb with LED strips. Pictures for ideas would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!
I’ve not had good luck trying to edge light polycarbonate in the past (in non-FRC crafts).
Acrylic seemed to work much better than polycarb for light transmittance (and therefore edge-lit effects).
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LigerBots 2016 robot has some, if I remember correctly it looked better in person. I was not on the team at the time, I just know to much about robots.
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Edge lit Acrylic is what folks use for signs.
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it’s much easier to flame the edge of acrylic to make it clear.
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We received a pit award one year from a team that was done this way. Back side was reverse CNC engraved and the bottom edge was crystal clear. With an led strip in the bottom it glowed up through the rest really well.