7/8 inch Neopixel Blade Diffusion

[CarnageRacing]

Hey guys!

I'm planning on building a Neopixel blade in a 7/8 inch tube so that it will fit my Solo's hold blade holder in my TGS graflex (when it gets here).

I thought I'd ask the question what would the best diffusion be for this blade size?

I've had a search around and all the posts about diffusion are regarding 1 inch blades

My initial thoughts are first a layer of 2mm packing foam, Clear tape to hold that together, then several layers of diffusion film/plastic wrap to fit it into a thin-walled TRANS-WHITE 7/8 inch blade.

I've got an XLR 3 pin microphones connector for the base.

PS this will be a display piece mainly so no need to worry about dueling.

Any input would be appreciated.

Cheers Peeps!

[Jenny]

3.2 mm isn't that much of a difference. I would expect that whatever works for a 1" blade will work fine for a 7/8" blade.

[CarnageRacing]

3.2 mm isn't that much of a difference. I would expect that whatever works for a 1" blade will work fine for a 7/8" blade.

For the straw hat style maybe however I'm using the led strips back to back version. I would like to minimize the seam that people sometimes get with this sort of setup which will probably be slightly worse in a 7/8 blade. Plus there's no led diffuser tube available for the 7/8 blade either.

[Darth Nurse]

If you are worried about the seam, you can go with a triangle setup.

[jbkuma]

Triangle setup has a huge amp load.. I've been making this type of blade for a year now and have only made back to back 1" blades. My experience is that if you have enough diffusion for the pixels, the seam won't be an issue.

[Darth Nurse]

Triangle setup has a huge amp load.. I've been making this type of blade for a year now and have only made back to back 1" blades. My experience is that if you have enough diffusion for the pixels, the seam won't be an issue.

I've heard of people building them triangle, but a huge amp load would not be optimal. I think now is a good time for a neopixel blade build tutorial, in the post-PhotoBucket era...

[Ncthorn]

One thing I really would like to try is twisting the strip 1/2 revolution to see if that helps with seam diffusion. I haven't tried it at all, but it seems like it could work

[jbkuma]

Everyone is really over thinking this, the seam is just not much of an issue.

[CarnageRacing]

Everyone is really over thinking this, the seam is just not much of an issue.

lol mountains out of mole hills

Sooooo some packing foam and cellophane should take care of it?

[jbkuma]

That has been my experience. The 7/8 blade will have less room than the 1" blades I'm used to using, but I think it will be OK. Another pixel blade builder I've been working with uses thick walled 1", so the ID is the same there. He uses transwhite blades, I have been using clear blades.

[CarnageRacing]

That has been my experience. The 7/8 blade will have less room than the 1" blades I'm used to using, but I think it will be OK. Another pixel blade builder I've been working with uses thick walled 1", so the ID is the same there. He uses transwhite blades, I have been using clear blades.

that was my next question actually: Trans-white or clear?

[jbkuma]

I think with your 7/8 blade the white will help. Round tips will illuminate better than bullet tips, and of course you'll want to remove the mirror. I tried hollowing out a bullet tip, but didn't really get the result I was looking for. I've been experimenting with printing my own parabolic tips in clear PETG and I've had some good results. It's not pretty, but it illuminates well.

[CarnageRacing]

I think with your 7/8 blade the white will help. Round tips will illuminate better than bullet tips, and of course you'll want to remove the mirror. I tried hollowing out a bullet tip, but didn't really get the result I was looking for. I've been experimenting with printing my own parabolic tips in clear PETG and I've had some good results. It's not pretty, but it illuminates well.

Thats what I was thinking, especially seeing as the LED diffuser wont fit in the 7/8 blade. Good advice on tips! thanks for that! I'll post up a build log and such once I get going.

[Cloudfeather]

JBKuma, could you possibly link the gift wrap you use. I just finished my neopixel build, foam diffuser with the quad wrap diffuser film. I'm thinking of doing a tiny wrap around the led strip itself before putting inside the foam. The seam is very, very minor, but I'd like to clean it up without sanding the outside of the tube if I can. Thanks.