This article was taken from the May 2015 issue of WIRED magazine. Be the first to read WIRED's articles in print before they're posted online, and get your hands on loads of additional content by subscribing online.
Clear plastic is an interesting material, but wouldn't it be even more fun if it could glow with, say, the emblem of your favourite superhero or sports team? In a few simple steps you can build a clear, glowing display to show off your extreme loyalty to all of your friends. Andy Elliott got this idea for etching acrylic from the way that hotels often illuminate the room numbers beside doors.
You'll need:
A sheet of clear acrylic material of the right size for your display; LEDs, in strips or loose; a battery to power them and a base on which to set the acrylic. Andy used a large LEGO block, but anything you can cut, ideally hollow below, should work. You'll also need a rotary tool to scratch the acrylic, a tool to modify your base and the stencil of your choice.
Etch a design
Attach the stencil to the acrylic with tape. Carefully etch inside the stencil using a pointed bit for the outline, and a more rounded bit for the inside. Press lightly on the acrylic while etching -- you don't need to cut deeply, just rough it up so it becomes off-white. Andy claims that the smell of melting acrylic is "amazing", but using a respirator in a properly ventilated area is recommended.
Light it up
Modify your base so that the acrylic will fit and either find or make a space underneath for the battery and wiring. Attach the LEDs to the bottom of the acrylic with a hot glue gun or other means, then wire them to the battery and insert the assembly into the base. Your stencilled design will now glow in the colour of the LED that you have selected.
This article was originally published by WIRED UK
