Introduction: 10 Cm Tall Japanese Lamp

By Studio Petek
About: My name is Petek and I have a background in Industrial Design. With my experience of over 5 years in 3D printing and 3D modelling I love to experiment and try out new things in 3D printing and prototyping in g…
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With its timelessness, simplicity, geometric shapes, and calming characteristics, Japanese design never fails to inspire.

My goal with this project was to use the traditional Japanese lamp design as a starting point to design a small lamp that not only looks modern and cute but is also simple to make. The total height of this lamp is 9,8 cm and you can make it in four simple steps.

Supplies

The tools and materials you will need:

• 3D printer

• Filament for the 3D printer (I used PLA filament)

• 3D slicer (I used Cura from Ultimaker)

• LEDs (I used one High Power LED 3W - Warm White)

• One 3V coin cell battery

• One 3V coin cell battery connector

• One 3-pin switch

• Soldering iron and solder

• Wires for soldering

• Heat shrink tubing (optional)

• Sheet of LEE filter 215 white diffusion (or another material to diffuse the light)

• Cutting mat and knife

• (Hot) glue

Step 1: 3D Printing the Parts

After designing the parts in Fusion 360, the 3D models were exported as STL files. There are 6 STL files, but in total you need to print 8 parts.

Short_side.stl and Long_side.stl have to be printed twice, so you end up with four panels that form the sides of the lamp. The rest of the files only have to be printed once.

Download the STL files and open them in your 3D slicer. The STL models have the correct orientation, so you don't need to adjust the orientation in your 3D slicer.

All 3D printed parts in my version are printed in black. However, feel free to choose whatever color/material you prefer.

I used Cura with the following settings:

• Layer height: 0.2 mm

• Wall thickness: 0.8 mm

• Top/bottom thickness: 0.8 mm

• Printing temperature: 200ºC (this depends on the material you use, please make sure to check the settings of your material)

• Infill: 20%

• Support is required for the: Bottom_part.stl and Top_part.stl

No support is required for the: Short_side.stl, Long_side.stl, Battery_cover.stl and LED_base.stl

By the end of this step you will have 8 printed parts.

Attachments

Step 2: Cut and Glue the LEE Filter

For this step you will need the LEE filter sheet (or an other type of sheet material to diffuse the light). This will make sure that the light will be spread nicely and evenly throughout the lamp.

The 3D printed side panels and the top will be backed with a piece of LEE filter. You need to cut the following:

• Four 41 x 76 mm sheets

• One 41 x 41 mm sheet

Now that you have cut all sheets you can glue them on the backs of the panels and in the inside of the top.

Step 3: Solder the Electronics

While the glue is drying you can start soldering the electronics together. In the schematic overview you see the connections that have to be made for this lamp. The summary of this schematic overview is as follows:

• Solder a wire to the + pole of the battery connector.

• Solder a wire to the - pole of the battery connector. Before continuing to solder pull this wire through the opening in the LED_base.

• Now solder the other end of the battery connector's - pole wire to the right pin of the switch.

• Solder a third wire onto the middle pin of the switch.

• Solder the other end of the wire attached to the middle pin of the switch to the - pole of the LED

• Solder the other end of the wire attached to the battery connector's + pole to the + pole of the LED

• Optionally, you can use heat shrink tubing to make the soldered connections sturdier

• Now place the 3V coin cell battery in the battery connector. Let there be light! ;)

Step 4: Assemble the Lamp

At this point the glue is dry, the electronics are working, and it's time to put the lamp together!

You can put the soldered electronics in place by clicking the battery connector in place from the top of the 3D printed Bottom_part.

Now use some (hot) glue to attach the switch to the Bottom_part.

Place or, for extra sturdiness, (hot) glue the LED onto the LED_base.

Click the two Short_side panels into the slots in the Top_part, on opposite sides. After, click the two Long_side panels in the remaining slots in the Top_part.

Click all four panels in the slots in the Bottom_part.

Glue is not necessary, because the slots are tight enough to keep everything in place. However, if you want it to be extra strong you can use a bit of glue inside of the slots.

Lastly, click the Battery_cover inat the bottom to cover up the battery.

You are done with the assembly!

Step 5: Enjoy Your Japanese Lamp

In four simple steps you have made a small and modern version of a Japanese lamp!

Use the switch to turn the lamp on and off. Battery empty? Quickly change the battery by removing the Battery_cover at the bottom. Have fun!