Rotating Lithophane Box

This Rotating Lithophane box is a derivative of my previous box, with the added feature of rotation!

My wife liked the first version, but said that it would be much better if it rotated. Makes sense. I thought about incorporating a small stepper motor, or a servo motor to get the box to rotate, but since this is more of a static object that will be sitting around most of the time, it doesn't need to be fancy, or overly complicated. A slow, nearly imperceptible rotation would be ideal, about one full rotation every hour or so. Hmm, what rotates once every hour? A minute hand!

I used a simple battery powered mechanism out of a cheap clock I had laying around. There are many of these clock mechanisms available on Amazon and other sources for a couple of bucks, and only requires one AA battery to operate.

This revision uses the same sized Lithophane panels (75mm x 100mm) in my previous design, but all other parts from the previous box had to be redesigned.

The LED lightstrip used is a newer variant, with the control module smaller than a stick of gum, much smaller than the bigger cube used in my previous lithophane box.

Step 1: Purchased Parts

There are only 2 purchased items (plus one AA battery) to complete this project. Here are a couple examples:

clock mechanism: Amazon

LED lightstrip: Amazon

The clock mechanism I used for this build has visible hour and minute "tubes" that stick up as seen in the photo. We'll be driving the lithophane box using the "minute" tube. Other clock mechanisms exist, so choose the style as shown. It should hopefully work straight up.

Step 2: 3D Printed Parts

Only 4 printed parts to build the mechanism, with 4 printed lithophane panels. A new top with vertical posts pointing downward, with a new central post that captures the minute hand post of the clock mechanism.

The lithophanes slip in upside down, with the top frame inverted. The bottom plate is then pressed in, with the printed guide pins pressing into place. The pins are now longer, providing for a better lock once installed.

A tip is to try to install panels such that the assembled box is as close to being balanced on the central post. This will ensure that the box rotates without sticking or binding on the base.

UPDATE: The central post has now been thickened to accommodate the heat and to lessen the likelihood of distortion.

Step 3: Assembly - Clock Mechanism and LED Module

The LED cable/module gets installed first, with each end press fit into the base as shown.

The clock goes in next. The clock may require a washer between the base to act as a shim, to get the protrusion height correct. The goal is to have the lithophane box installed on the base (clock mechanism), leaving about a 1mm gap between the rotating part and the base.

Step 4: Assembly - Light Tower

The light tower is wrapped with an appropriate length of LED light strip, using the 2 sided tape provided adhered on the strip. Peel and stick. Cut the strip on one of the LED cut lines to the desired length.

The assembled tower just sits on the base and "clicks" into position, through the 4 holes.

Note that it may be easier to insert the LED cable connector through one of the 4 holes before installing the clock mechanism.

Step 5: Assembly - Lithophane Box

The assembled lithophane box just slips on top, with the central post slipping over the minute hand post of the clock mechanism. A light press fit is all is needed.

Note that it only rotates clockwise! (another bad pun)

The clock mechanism was never intended to be used this way, with this much mass, so it will "wobble" a bit, depending on the gap. Provided there is at least a tiny gap (attained by adjusting the clock mechanism up or down), it will work as intended.

Enjoy!