Star Wars Thermal Detonator with LEDs

[skeplin]

Sharing the results of my latest project! I found a Star Wars Thermal Detonator ornament on Thingiverse by AprilStorm (http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:185165). After sizing it up to 130%, I printed it on my XYZ Da Vinci 3D printer.



Several coats of automotive primer along with vigorous sanding yielded a nice smooth surface. I applied a grey gloss coat and then several coats of acrylic from my airbrush starting with gunmetal, then to silver, and copper for the accents. Finally, a little bit of weathering with some watered down black.



I wanted to take it one step further, so I decided to light it. I used an Adafruit Trinket and four Neopixel LEDs along with a push button to allow different animated light sequences.



And the video:

[video]https://www.facebook.com/pinearmory/videos/vb.1609889162579341/1733996153501974/?type=2&theater&notif_t=like[/video]

 

[Sym-Cha]

That's absolutely an amazing thermal detonator on a budget I've seen ... well done

Chaim

 

[skeplin]

On a budget is right! Excluding time, there may be $25 in this build. And most of that cost was shipping electronics.

 

[VanOaksProps]

Awesome job! I just started on a thermal detonator as well. Still in the sanding & filling stage.



My was also from thingiverse.com (http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:809004), but it looks like we went with different models.

 

[skeplin]

Nice! What are you using for the "fill" stage?

 

[VanOaksProps]

Rustoleum filler primer, then sanding it with 000 steel wool. Repeat til smooth.

I'm still a few coats away from the smoothness I'm looking for. Plus I need to really work on the edges where there was support material. It's really jagged and will need some tlc.

 

[skeplin]

I followed a similar process. I think it took about 4 or 5 coats of primer before I was satisfied with the surface. I took 80 grit sandpaper followed by 100 grit to the more jagged edges. Have you ever tried Smooth-On XTC-3D?

 

[VanOaksProps]

Have you ever tried Smooth-On XTC-3D?

Nope, but I've heard it's decent for large parts that don't have small details.

 

[skeplin]

Good to know -- thanks!

 

[Redwillow]

This is awesome!!

 

[Oubliette]

Second one looks familiar. Nice to see it getting used. :cool