I have a 5mm white LED, Is it possible to shave it down to make it smaller?
Not sure if this is possible, I remember someone saying you can do this.
Shave an LED
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Chacal
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Whatcha mean "shave off"?
If you are going to file/sand the end off to make the LED shorter, you must know that the rounded shape of the LED enclosure acts as a lens to focus the light. Sanding that down makes the LED lose its "focus" and you'll have light coming out in a cone of about 120-130 degrees.
If you want to make the end narrower (say to 3mm or 2mm to fit a specific hole you might have), you can too, but just the tip can be shaped (if you reach the aluminum doodads inside, the LED's pretty much gone (it may light up, but it is likely to fail in the long – or not even that long – term). Doing that will also limit the amount of light the LED puts forth. Best bet is for you to buy the LEDs in the diameter you need.
If you are going to file/sand the end off to make the LED shorter, you must know that the rounded shape of the LED enclosure acts as a lens to focus the light. Sanding that down makes the LED lose its "focus" and you'll have light coming out in a cone of about 120-130 degrees.
If you want to make the end narrower (say to 3mm or 2mm to fit a specific hole you might have), you can too, but just the tip can be shaped (if you reach the aluminum doodads inside, the LED's pretty much gone (it may light up, but it is likely to fail in the long – or not even that long – term). Doing that will also limit the amount of light the LED puts forth. Best bet is for you to buy the LEDs in the diameter you need.
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DLMatthys
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Re: Shave an LED
I think I said it...warcraft101 wrote:I have a 5mm white LED, Is it possible to shave it down to make it smaller?
Not sure if this is possible, I remember someone saying you can do this.
Chuck it into a slow speed drill or if lucky with hobby tools a small lathe and get your best file on it. Don't go as far into the little diode do dads. If you want to stick out further from the model surface, counter sink the hole larger and deeper inside as close as you dare to let the turned LED stick out.
You can also shape the sides by file or mini sanding wheel to make it square shape or rectangle. If you want to shape white LEDs this is the way to go as there are not much for white LEDs in a specific shape that reds and greens can come in.
Last edited by DLMatthys on Tue Aug 07, 2007 11:24 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Sparky
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I use a belt sander on the floor. Then polish the surface with 1200/1500 grit paper, sometimes i do this step wet sometimes dry.
<a href="http://www.kc6sye.com/2_wheresaneatpart.jpg" target="_Sparky">Is this plastic thingy on the counter a neat part?</a> <a href="http://www.kc6sye.com/1_casting_inprogress.jpg" target="_Sparky">Let's cast it.</a>
In case you wanna see a shaved flat LED, down to .040 -
http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x66/ ... CT1732.jpg
http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x66/ ... CT1730.jpg
BTW, that's about as flat as a T1 will go without hitting the "innards". But that's just if you're wanting "flatter" instead of smaller- but then too you can see how much of the LED was eventually painted over and only a small portion left exposed. Maybe that helps?
http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x66/ ... CT1732.jpg
http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x66/ ... CT1730.jpg
BTW, that's about as flat as a T1 will go without hitting the "innards". But that's just if you're wanting "flatter" instead of smaller- but then too you can see how much of the LED was eventually painted over and only a small portion left exposed. Maybe that helps?
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Sparky
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If its all about a small LED, you can purchase very small surface mount LEDs in all your favorite colors.
I'll have to try and get some photos of the sample pack I jsut got from Knightbrite. Reading the size specs won't prepare you for what you get.
I'll have to try and get some photos of the sample pack I jsut got from Knightbrite. Reading the size specs won't prepare you for what you get.
<a href="http://www.kc6sye.com/2_wheresaneatpart.jpg" target="_Sparky">Is this plastic thingy on the counter a neat part?</a> <a href="http://www.kc6sye.com/1_casting_inprogress.jpg" target="_Sparky">Let's cast it.</a>
Yes, they have LED's as small as 1.8mm; just over 1/3 the diameter of a 5mm.
Check out http://www.unique-leds.com/index.php for a full listing
Ytierian
Check out http://www.unique-leds.com/index.php for a full listing
Ytierian
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Quintillus
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I've done both... shaved a 5 mm diam LED to a smaller diameter by chucking it into a drill and resting a flexible file against it, and carved one into a larger rectangular shape to be parking lights on a car.
The advantage of starting with a larger LED is you have more material to work with, so you can quite a bit.
Make sure you have a locking caliper to check your progress.
The advantage of starting with a larger LED is you have more material to work with, so you can quite a bit.
Make sure you have a locking caliper to check your progress.