Introducing the Gesture Controlled DNA Wooden Desk Lamp!

This unique decorative piece combines the elegance of a wooden DNA model with the versatility of an addressable LED strip.

Mini glass bottles serve as diffusers, adding an organic touch to the lighting.

With gesture control technology, you can effortlessly adjust brightness, choose from a variety of color palettes, and enjoy mesmerizing lighting effects—all with a wave of your hand.

Join me as we delve into the intricacies of this innovative project, blending artistry with technology to illuminate your workspace in style.

The video is about the process of making

Gesture Controlled DNA Wooden Desk Lamp

#tablelamp #dna #woodworking #lasercutting #diy #wled #led #gesture

Supplies

Tools:

DIY Laser cutter/engraver 520x520mm, 5.5w
Disk Sander
Hand router 1600 W, Round bit R=5 mm
Dremel, Sanding rings 90, 100 grit
UV Lamp
Hot glue gun
Soldering iron

Components:

Tube 76mm
Mini glass bottles 11x35 mm
Walnut sliced veneer 4.5 mm
Plywood 3.15 mm
Screws 2.5x10 mm
Masking tape
Scotch
Wooden Glue Titebond 2 black
CA Glue (Akrifix 702)
CA Glue Gel (Akrifix 705) + Activator
UV Resin (Hard)
Alcohol 99%
Acrylic matte spray varnish
Mini Clamps
Rope Clamps
Tung Oil with Carnauba Wax
Esp8266 controller
PAJ7620U gesture sensor
WS2812b addressable LED strip
USB-C plug
Color wires

GitHub Link

Step 1: Preparing and Marking the Tube

For the tube, I used a water tube with a diameter of 76 mm. A little heavy, but that's all I found in the right size.

Preparation:

- Wrap the tube with (scotch) tape (this will prevent super glue from sticking to the tube)

- Apply a strip of masking tape and mark the pitch of our spiral on it

- In my case, a full revolution of the spiral is 166 mm (I will do 1.5 revolutions)

Step 2: Download Layout and -Cut -Engrave With Laser

Sounds easy, doesn't it?

The file that I prepared contains information for engraving grooves.

I used Walnut sliced veneer 4.5 mm

You need to adjust your laser speed and power (each laser is unique) so that the depth of the grooves engraving is 3-3.5 mm, then the thickness of the rest piece of wood will remain 1 mm or 1.5 mm.

I did this in a few tries.

strips.svg
Download

Step 3: Preparing Sticks

Clean carbon deposits and resin after laser cutting with alcohol
Wet the solid side of the stick with water (I used a kitchen sponge)
Wait for a couple of minutes

Step 4: Bending Stick

At this stage, you need to bend a wide stick around the tube by spiral.

The markings made earlier help control the height of the complete revolution of the spiral.

Secure one end of the stick with a belt clamp, go around the tube and secure the other end.

Step 5: Soak the Stick With CA Glue

!It is important to wait until the wood is dry.

(Very wet wood will not allow the CA glue to be absorbed; it will immediately begin to react with excess moisture on the outside of the wood.)

I waited several days.

Wet and soak the stick with CA glue around the perimeter on both sides.
Wait until the glue dries well.
Separate the stick from the tube.

Step 6: Preparing of Borders-sticks

Clean carbon deposits and resin after laser cutting with alcohol
Wet the solid side of the sticks with water (I used a kitchen sponge)
Wait for a couple of minutes

Step 7: Glue of Borders-sticks

Place border sticks along the edges of the spiral
Make sure they fit snugly
Temporarily secure them with clamps
Apply CA glue to all joints
Wait until the glue dries well.
Release the clamps.

Step 8: Sanding, Polishing of the Spiral

Rough cleaning of glue and rounding edges using Dremel with 80 grit sanding ring
Final manual polishing with 200 - 400 grit sandpaper

Step 9: Repeat Steps 1 - 8 and Make the Second Spiral

Step 10: Download the Layout and Laser-cut the Stand Parts

base.svg
Download

Step 11: Glue Stand

Just glue the rings and the top together

I used weight to hold the piece in place while gluing.

Step 12: Bottom Cover-stand

Chamfer the bottom cover holes
Screw it on with screws

Step 13: Fitting of a Wooden DNA Model

I tried to assemble a DNA model and realized that the spirals are quite difficult to place evenly and accurately

So I decide to make a helper holder

Step 14: Helper Holder for Spirals

Download and laser-cut holder parts
Glue parts to make a wired cylinder
Put the spiral on the assistant holder,
Insert the spirals into the holes in the stand
Praise yourself )))

helper.svg
Download

Step 15: A Place for Gesture Sensor

The gesture sensor should be positioned straight up.

Therefore, let’s mark the cutting line parallel to the plane of the head of the holder assistant

I decided to sand it off using of disk sander

Step 16: Tuning the Stand

Sanding the sides with a disk sander

Rounding corners with a flipped-over manual router

Hand sanding with 200-400 grit sandpaper

Step 17: Join Spirals and the Stand

Join spirals and the stand
Put spirals on the helper holder
Put wooden glue to the corners of spirals
Place spirals into the holes of the stand
Put a few drops of CA glue (gel) into the joints and spray with an activator
Paint cracks with wooden glue (I use dark glue, so it will be less visible on the walnut after the final oil)

Step 18: Make a Hole for the USB-C Socket

Mark the hole dimensions
Drill few holes
Widen the holes and straighten the hole with the mini file.

Step 19: Gesture Sensor

Solder color wires to the paj7620u gesture sensor
Unplug the helper holder
Put a small line of hot glue on the corner of the spiral
Fix the sensor on the spiral
Put wires inside spiral (I used small drops of hot glue for this)

Step 20: Addressable LED Strip

* As an addressable LED strip I use WS2812b with 60 LEDs per meter

Cut 2 strips of 26 LEDs each
Solder color wires to the LED strips
Put Strips inside spiral (Strip already has a sticky base)

Step 21: Glue Wires With Hot Glue

Just hot glue the wires inside the stand, this will prevent accidental breakage

Step 22: Solder the Components According to the Diagram

Step 23: Glue the USB-C Socket and the Rest of the Wires

Step 24: Firmware

Here I will not delve too deeply into how to compile/upload the firmware, since this is very well described on the website of the original project WLED

I developed a small usermod for the paj7620u gesture sensor.

If you want to compile it by yourself sources you can find on my GitHub repository.

Also, I uploaded the already compiled binary to the repository.

Quick guides:

How to compile

How to install binary