The Evolution of Lightsaber Tech

[Tan Djarka]

Recent developments personally and the announcement of the new line of Lightsaber Academy product got me thinking. Lightsabers have come a long way since that orange flash light with a golf tube attached to it. I wonder, what paths since then have functional lightsaber replicas (and toys) taken since then, and who exactly came up with all these ideas. And discuss...

I'm especially curious to know who figured out that cellophane gift wrap would help light from a single source propagate in the blade. That was brilliant!

 

[BTTUK]

Recent developments personally and the announcement of the new line of Lightsaber Academy product got me thinking. Lightsabers have come a long way since that orange flash light with a golf tube attached to it. I wonder, what paths since then have functional lightsaber replicas (and toys) taken since then, and who exactly came up with all these ideas. And discuss...

I'm especially curious to know who figured out that cellophane gift wrap would help light from a single source propagate in the blade. That was brilliant!

Erv Plecter, and those that worked with him to test and improve his product ideas, had a big say in many leaps in the hobby. As did Yoda with his crystal chamber builds...

There are a lot of people who have had big impacts on the custom saber evolution. Some are now retired, or don't take actively take part in that hobby anymore. Some are newer and have pushed the boundaries and come up with great ideas. Some info on those considered reputable installers now, would make you wonder how they have a good reputation now...

Your best bet is to get onto other forums like FX sabers etc to really delve into the history and get replies from those that were there etc.

 

[vader45]

If I'm correct it's Plector Labs who really developed and sold the fanmade sound boards such as Petit Crouton, Crystal Shard and Crystal Focus. They had serval upgrades in the past such as multiple sound Banks and other features.

Park Sabers were around since the 90s but never offered sound. It wasn't until 2002 when master replicas released the Force FX Lightsaber when functioning lightsabers became a hit. As fans we ran with the concept and improved on it like Plector did.

And finally the toy market got hit with a huge upgrade with the ultimate fx lightsaber. But those seem to have died off.

 

[thd9791]

As for toys...

I've been surprised that instead of upgrades for the big special lightsaber toys, the force FX ones came to town and then got smaller and cheaper versions right? Now there are these weird silver things that lock together

I remember getting a Luke ROTJ and an Anakin AotC lights and sounds thing that was just a tad bigger than the real thing and decently accurate. Still have them too. Doesn't feel the same with what you'd find in a Target now

 

[Ridire Firean]

Hey Tan Djarka ! I'm not quite awake enough to answer this question properly, but I'll give you a bit of forewarning about asking questions at FX-sabers, some of the guys get really butt-hurt about questions that have been asked and answered over and over again, so just be prepared for some backlash from some of the guys to say you need to learn to read and then lock your thread.

SO, that being said, look up over there or just Google "Diffuser Tube", "Corbin Film", "Mirrored Tip", "Cellophane", "Gift Wrap", ...sorry, brain fart, I'm stuck.

You can also search over at The Custom Saber Shop's Forum, they sell blade film and have several threads about it over there too.

Another step in the evolution of blade technology is "Daylight Blades", "Photon Blades" (Vader's Vault), where they use a light reactive material inside the tubing to give vibrant colors in daylight. The downside is you're carrying around a brightly colored stick even when not 'lit'.

OH YEAH! ...also look up "Dual Diffused", <--- the air finally cleared out between my ears! That's where you sand your blade tube on the outside and use blade film inside.

If I'm thinking sort of correctly about this, and forgive me if I'm mistaken, as the guys said, it was the toy industry that put the translucent foam tube diffuser inside the LED-string lightsabers that kicked off the whole "let's put stuff inside the blade" revolution. Then Corbin film. Then cellophane (though I'm still not certain that it's different from Corbin film). Then phosphorescent tubes.

Then of course there's the evolution of the lightsource from flashlight bulb, to single LED, to RGB LED, to LED-string, to TRI-Cree, to Quad-Cree, to Neo-Pixel. And if you search for "Disney Lightsaber Patent" they're working on an extendable tube.

There's a LOT of information out there and I never memorized it. All I've done is researched what look I liked for what blades I'm going to build for myself and gone out and purchased the material to do so. I still have to experiment with the materials I bought to get the result I'm hoping to achieve. Some of that info is still floating around in my head and that is all I can contribute presently.

I hope this helps point you in the direction of the answer you're seeking!

 

[Psab keel]

Flashlights and plastic tubes.
Plasma sabers.
EL sabers.
LED sabers.

The tech has come a long way even since Luxeon came up with the first commercially available high powered LED.

Pippmaster was the first person to use LEDS for sabers as far as I'm aware and was one of the first to use Luxeon III stars.

I know several people over the years have tried to document a history of the tech but it's tough to get the time line just right.

 

[Joek3rr]

Hey Tan Djarka ! I'm not quite awake enough to answer this question properly, but I'll give you a bit of forewarning about asking questions at FX-sabers, some of the guys get really butt-hurt about questions that have been asked and answered over and over again, so just be prepared for some backlash from some of the guys to say you need to learn to read and then lock your thread.

SO, that being said, look up over there or just Google "Diffuser Tube", "Corbin Film", "Mirrored Tip", "Cellophane", "Gift Wrap", ...sorry, brain fart, I'm stuck.

You can also search over at The Custom Saber Shop's Forum, they sell blade film and have several threads about it over there too.

Another step in the evolution of blade technology is "Daylight Blades", "Photon Blades" (Vader's Vault), where they use a light reactive material inside the tubing to give vibrant colors in daylight. The downside is you're carrying around a brightly colored stick even when not 'lit'.

OH YEAH! ...also look up "Dual Diffused", <--- the air finally cleared out between my ears! That's where you sand your blade tube on the outside and use blade film inside.

If I'm thinking sort of correctly about this, and forgive me if I'm mistaken, as the guys said, it was the toy industry that put the translucent foam tube diffuser inside the LED-string lightsabers that kicked off the whole "let's put stuff inside the blade" revolution. Then Corbin film. Then cellophane (though I'm still not certain that it's different from Corbin film). Then phosphorescent tubes.

Then of course there's the evolution of the lightsource from flashlight bulb, to single LED, to RGB LED, to LED-string, to TRI-Cree, to Quad-Cree, to Neo-Pixel. And if you search for "Disney Lightsaber Patent" they're working on an extendable tube.

There's a LOT of information out there and I never memorized it. All I've done is researched what look I liked for what blades I'm going to build for myself and gone out and purchased the material to do so. I still have to experiment with the materials I bought to get the result I'm hoping to achieve. Some of that info is still floating around in my head and that is all I can contribute presently.

I hope this helps point you in the direction of the answer you're seeking!

Corbin film is indeed different from cellophane. It has a texture to it. When combined with sanded blade it's got a pretty good look.

 

[Joek3rr]

Have guys heard about the saber that Disney filed a patent for? The blade is made up of two pieces. When it's "off" the two halfs rolls up like a measuring tape. When it's turned on the two halfs are "zipped" together. It could be the first lightsaber toy with a blade that both extends and retracts with no human interaction (except pressing a button)

 

[Psab keel]

When I get home I'll try and type up a rough timeline.

 

[Tan Djarka]

Thanks for the responses so far. I'm not a member of the FX-saber forum, so I figured asking here would get a less technical response.

Honestly, I was mostly interested in blade tech verses crystal chambers or sound cards, but it's all interesting.

Although it's kind of funny that in spite of how far it's come, some of the best implemented designs are still just a high tech "flashlight with a plastic tube".

 

[Joek3rr]

When I get home I'll try and type up a rough timeline.

Oooh that would be so cool!

 

[Psab keel]

In my opinion blade tech hasn't advanced all that much for in the hilt "flashlight" LED sabers and the advances have more been the soundboard and LEDS themselves.

Optics and blade tech are key. You can have the brightest LED but without proper optics and a good blade to diffuse the light it won't make a difference.

I've been meaning to write down what I know of the history of the tech from back in 1999. I think it's high time I do it.

 

[BTTUK]

Hey Tan Djarka ! I'm not quite awake enough to answer this question properly, but I'll give you a bit of forewarning about asking questions at FX-sabers, some of the guys get really butt-hurt about questions that have been asked and answered over and over again, so just be prepared for some backlash from some of the guys to say you need to learn to read and then lock your thread.

SO, that being said, look up over there or just Google "Diffuser Tube", "Corbin Film", "Mirrored Tip", "Cellophane", "Gift Wrap", ...sorry, brain fart, I'm stuck.

You can also search over at The Custom Saber Shop's Forum, they sell blade film and have several threads about it over there too.

Another step in the evolution of blade technology is "Daylight Blades", "Photon Blades" (Vader's Vault), where they use a light reactive material inside the tubing to give vibrant colors in daylight. The downside is you're carrying around a brightly colored stick even when not 'lit'.

OH YEAH! ...also look up "Dual Diffused", <--- the air finally cleared out between my ears! That's where you sand your blade tube on the outside and use blade film inside.

If I'm thinking sort of correctly about this, and forgive me if I'm mistaken, as the guys said, it was the toy industry that put the translucent foam tube diffuser inside the LED-string lightsabers that kicked off the whole "let's put stuff inside the blade" revolution. Then Corbin film. Then cellophane (though I'm still not certain that it's different from Corbin film). Then phosphorescent tubes.

Then of course there's the evolution of the lightsource from flashlight bulb, to single LED, to RGB LED, to LED-string, to TRI-Cree, to Quad-Cree, to Neo-Pixel. And if you search for "Disney Lightsaber Patent" they're working on an extendable tube.

There's a LOT of information out there and I never memorized it. All I've done is researched what look I liked for what blades I'm going to build for myself and gone out and purchased the material to do so. I still have to experiment with the materials I bought to get the result I'm hoping to achieve. Some of that info is still floating around in my head and that is all I can contribute presently.

I hope this helps point you in the direction of the answer you're seeking!

That's the problem when questions get asked a lot over a decade or so, they tend to grate on people.

 

[Psab keel]

Well hopefully my time line will help answer some questions.

 

[BTTUK]

Well hopefully my time line will help answer some questions.

I'm certain it will. Will probably jog my failing memory too hopefully

 

[ARKM]

Some more info... LED string blades in custom sabers were a thing for awhile back in the day due to Master Replicas FX Sabers but when in-hilt LED tech got good, they replaced them. Mainly because were much easier to install and could withstand heavy dueling whereas LED string blades often broke when dueling, requiring extensive repairs. This also created the need (or desire) for blade plugs. Basically a cosmetic and safety device inserted into the blade holder so that one could turn on their saber to show it off, without a blade in it and without harming anyone's eyes (the in-hilt LEDs used in sabers are so bright that they are classified as class II lasers and can easily damage your eyes if looked at directly). In-hilt LEDs can have multiple dies on them, allowing for many colors and flash on clash effects. However with the advent of NeoPixel technology (which is similar to LED string blades to some extent) in-hilt LED solutions (as well as blade plugs) are no longer as popular as they once were and may already be overshadowed by those wanting NeoPixel blades in their sabers.

Neopixels are configurable LEDs that are usually RGB and allow for many different colors and programmable blade effects in one blade with different sections of the blade allowing for colors and effects separate from other sections of the blade. The main downsides are that they require more energy than other saber blade lighting solutions and as such, have much shorter run-times before the battery needs recharging, cannot withstand heavy dueling like in-hilt LEDs can and can be difficult to install and diffuse.

Profezzorn of this forum ,The Rebel Armory forum and others, is one of the people who has helped advance the popularity of NeoPixels in sabers by developing and providing open source soundboards and code for said soundboards for use of NeoPixels in sabers.

With all of the blade effects that NeoPixels have to offer, it's easy to see why they are currently the popular choice.

 

[vader45]

NeoPixel looks fantastic but to rich for my wallet. I have spent $800(MK-VI V2) on the flash light/tube method and feel that was very very expensive as it is. I heard NeoPixels cost much more.

I may get one when prices settle down. For now I'm sticking with the best tried and true method. In hilt LEDs and diffused blades.

 

[Ridire Firean]

Plasma sabers.
EL sabers.

Oooh~ I forgot about EL sabers! Were "Plasma sabers" neon tubes?

 

[Joek3rr]

NeoPixel looks fantastic but to rich for my wallet. I have spent $800(MK-VI V2) on the flash light/tube method and feel that was very very expensive as it is. I heard NeoPixels cost much more.

I may get one when prices settle down. For now I'm sticking with the best tried and true method. In hilt LEDs and diffused blades.

You should look at SaberTrio and Electrum Sabercrafts. You can get a NeoPixel for under 500 USD from them.

 

[Psab keel]

Plasma sabers were neon tubes and featured even illumination and scrolling up and down but obviously they could not be dueled with.

Alright so please keep in mind that this is a work in progress and for those of you who were there in the early days of the LED saber revolution like I was (2001 and beyond) please send me additional names of key players in the development of the tech. I recall a lot but I know I'm forgetting people and want to make sure I give credit where it's due.

Also please note that there were (as there sadly always are) conflicts and bickering between different vendors and developers that I tried not to get into so as to not reopen old wounds. This is just a timeline to try and document the major innovations that led us to where we are today with illuminated saber props.

I also won't be able to go past a certain point in the time line because while I have developed my own methods for my personal saber blades, I have stuck to single die LED sabers and simpler soundboards for my builds. I haven't followed every innovation past a certain point other than some cursory awareness of new tech and have no real in depth knowledge of it.

My hope was to try and fill in the blanks of some of the early history to give newcomers (and perhaps give the old timers a nice trip down memory lane) a time line to work off to understand how this all came to be. Please note I will keep it focused to sound and light developments and not so much on hilt tech because that is an entirely different area and far too hard to document properly.

Once I can clarify more names, developments I may be missing and dates I will pass the reins to someone else to add if they so choose.

Enjoy!