Ugly Lamp Maker Group
In this Maker Group we’ll build a lamp, it may or may not be ugly, but we’ll work together to:
- design the lamp in CAD (OnShape).
- use a CNC router to cut out the wooden base parts.
- use a laser cutter to cut out the MDF arms.
- use a 3D printer to fabricate the lamp shade and adjustment knobs.
- make simple electrical connections to power the light.
Through this Maker Group you’ll notice a few themes:
- Design for modularity. If you make separate parts it’s easier to fix/learn along the way.
- Tolerances. Hint, 3D printed parts are not exactly the same size as the CAD model.
- When to make 3D printed parts and when 2d parts are faster and cheaper.
Time & Costs
This Maker Group will meet once a week for 7 sessions. You will need to put in a few more hours each week designing and fabricating the lamp.
To use the equipment in the Makerspace (3D printers, Laser Cutter, CNC router) you’ll need to pay the CoE Shops Materials Fee ($50)
Lamp Materials:
- Wooden Base = Probably free, we’ll provide scrap plywood.
- MDF Arms = Probably free, we’ll provide scrap MDF.
- 3D Printed Lamp Shade & Knobs = About $10 of PLA
- A few nuts, bolts, and screws = about $1, purchased at the Makerspace Mini-Mart
- Wire & Switch =
about $1Free, Instructor Provided - LED light =
$10-25Free, Instructor Provided
Jump to:
Session 2: Making the Wood Base on the CNC Router
Session 6: Making Electrical Connections
Session 1 : Introductions
Date: February 26
Time: 4:00 – 5:00
In this session we’ll cover:
- Introduce the Makerspace Staff
- Meet the other makers in the group
- Talk about how this Maker Group is structured
- Cover the tools and technologies we’ll use during the project
- CAD ( OnShape )
- CNC Routing ( x – Carve )
- Laser Cutting (ULS)
- 3D Printing (FDM / Ultimaker)
- Electronics (wiring the light source)
- CAD the first part of the project; the plywood base.
To prepare for this session:
- Sign-in to Onshape through the UW Design + Innovation account. Instructions here. This is the CAD software we’ll use through the entire project. It’s free and web-based.
- Complete the OnShape tutorial “Introduction to Sketching” if you are new to solid parametric modeling (OnShape is very similar to Solidworks andFusion 360). OnShape offers many great tutorials., explore them here.
Session 2 : Making the wood base on a CNC router
Date: March 5
Time: 4:00 – 5:00
In this session we’ll cover:
- Exporting a 2D file (.dwg) for a 3D CAD file. ( 10 minutes )
- How a CNC router works ( 10 minutes )
- A bit about router bits.
- Creating tool paths in Easel ( 10 minutes )
- Reserving a time at the Makerspace to use the x-Carve router. (3 minutes)
- Trouble shooting your project.
To prepare for this session:
- Create a free Easel account. This user-friendly software to controls the x-Carve CNC router.
- Complete the CAD design for the wooden base.
Session 3 : Laser Cut Arms
Date: March 12
Time: 4:00 – 5:00
In this session we’ll cover:
- CAD the Arms. ( 20 minutes )
- Create and assembly. (5 minutes )
- Exporting a 2D file (.dwg) for a 3D CAD file.
- How a Laser Cutter works ( 10 minutes )
- Prepping an Illustrator file to Laser Cut ( 10 minutes )
- How to get the Laser Cutter upgrade to use the laser cutter in the Makerspace. (This is separate 1 hour training)
- Trouble shooting your project.
To prepare for this session:
- You don’t have to wait to get the Laser Cutter upgrade. See “Permit Upgrade and Use” here.
Session 4 : Adjustment Knobs
Date: March 19
Time: 4:00 – 5:00
In this session we’ll cover:
- CAD the adjustment knobs.
- Hardware Reference, 1/4-20 hex head bolt (McMaster)
- Create an assembly.
- Exporting a 3D file (.stl) for a 3D printing.
- How to prepare a 3D print job in Cura.
- How to make a reservation to 3D print the part.
- Trouble shooting your project.
To prepare for this session:
- Download and install Cura (free).
- Watch this Cura demo (optional).
Session 5 : The Lamp Shade
Date: March 26
Time: 4:00 – 5:00
In this session we’ll cover:
- CAD the lamp shade.
- Modeling the lampshade.
- Adding attachment points for the LED light source.
- Create an assembly.
- Exporting a 3D file (.stl) for a 3D printing.
- 3D print orientation considerations.
- Progress updates / trouble shooting your project.
To prepare for this session:
- Download (right click, save image) the NeoPixel_MountingHoleScan image. We’ll use this image while designing the lamp shade.
Session 6 : Making Electrical Connections
This session is in-person!
Date: April 9
Time: 4:00 – 5:00
In this session we’ll cover:
- What components we’ll use.
- LED ring
- Stranded wire
- Heat shrink tubing
- 3v DC power supply
- Soldering headers to the LED ring
- Soldering on the power wires and using shrink tube
- Trouble shooting your project.
To prepare for this session:
- Bring the lamp (or lamp parts) you have so far.
Session 7 : Share Your Lamp
Date: April 16
Time: 4:00 – 5:00
In this session we’ll cover:
- Show the rest of the group your lamp.
- Questions? Reflections?
To prepare for this session:
- Take high quality photos and video of your lamp. Upload them to this Google Folder.