Introduction: Christmas LED Circuit Ornaments

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About: Building cool-looking things

I have designed these simple LED circuit ornaments that can be produced with 3D-printed templates.


If you prefer to watch a video tutorial, feel free to watch the video above for one of the ornaments (I have 2 more videos for the other ornaments but to be fair the process is very similar for all of them).

Supplies

Now the supplies are very important to ensure that you get the correct results when producing the freeform circuits,. The specific supplies used are stated below, with relevant links:


1206 SMD LEDs: https://amzn.to/3TA4ex6 (UK) / https://amzn.to/3hL5yQH (US)

0.8mm Brass Wire: https://amzn.to/3EyrIOO (UK) / https://amzn.to/3EaSMCj (US)

Coin Cell battery: https://amzn.to/3EUMhp2 (UK) / https://amzn.to/3ACsB6A (US)


Soldering Iron: https://amzn.to/3EE7X8R (UK) / https://amzn.to/3UEA9hp (US)

Solder wire: https://amzn.to/3E8AqSn (UK) / https://amzn.to/3X794EV (US)

Flux: https://amzn.to/3O0XeZ7 (UK) / https://amzn.to/3twYdH5 (US)

Wire cutters: https://amzn.to/3TxOhYf (UK) / https://amzn.to/3AfeIuP (US)

Pliers: https://amzn.to/3hDdEdV (UK) / https://amzn.to/3AfMQXC (US)

Tweezers: https://amzn.to/3i80eah (UK) / https://amzn.to/3EpLESO (US)

Wire straightener: https://amzn.to/3AdbCHU (UK) / https://amzn.to/3hOUBO5 (US)


Remember, you do not need to have the exact supplies as me and can always use similar tools to create the circuits.

Step 1: 3D Printed or Paper Template

Now you have 2 options here, I have provided a 3D printing template as well as a paper template.


For this instructable, I will be using the 3D printed template. I want to just point out that Ornament 2 is one of the most difficult of all of them, so only make that if you are up for a challenge :) I would suggest watching the video for that as it's not simple to create.

Attachments

Step 2: Cutting the Brass Wire to Length

The templates can be used to also cut the brass wire to the correct length.

Place the cut brass wire onto the templates ensuring that brass wires are placed in a similar fashion to the images above.

Step 3: Place the 1206 LED's and Brass Wires

The 1206 LEDs are tiny, like really tiny but you simply need a little bit of patience and you can move them around with some tweezers.

I have made sculptures using 0603 LEDs, now those take a lot of patience :D


The LEDs have a symbol on the back that indicates the anode and cathode, make sure to place all the LEDs in the same manner.

The LEDs can be placed in the larger spacings in the 3D-printed template. If you are using a paper template you can use double-sided tape to hold the LEDs in place. I would highly suggest using some double-sided tape to hold the brass wire as well.


Step 4: Solder Everything

Now the fun part!


I am using a TS80 soldering iron to solder the brass wires together. The soldering iron is set at 400C as I feel that it allows me to very easily and quickly solder the brass wires.

Flux will definitely make it a little easier to solder the parts together. I suggest you use it if you struggle to solder the parts together.


Step 5: Battery Connections

The templates do not contain any methods for battery connections. I have left this out as it can also depend on the battery you are using and this part is fairly easy to do for the ornaments.


You can see in the picture above, I have simply bent the straight brass wire on both sides and have soldered them onto the outer edge

Step 6: Finish

Finish!


If you do decide to create these ornaments or make something else like this, please do share them below :D


Also If you like this type of work I would highly suggest checking out Jiri Praus, he has also made some awesome sculptures and has been a huge inspiration for the work that I made.