Edge lit acrylic with LEDs

[RandyG]

If you google edge lit acrylic you can see alot of cool designs for signs or light panels that are made by putting leds on the edge of the sheet and any scuffed or engraved design will bee lit up inside the acrylic. So I was thinking of putting a skylight in my tear so we can look at the stars but then when the lights are on it will be the interior "dome light". This means I will have to have part of the skylight scuffed so that will block a clear view when the light is off. But maybe just a few thin lines can be scuffed on it so I can keep it as clear as possible. Any other ideas? Advice, input? I will try a smaller piece to test it before I ruin a bigger piece.

[Fyddler]

Maybe etch the edges like a frame so the light will shine, but not block your view?

[Breytie]

A lot of things can make the light "leak" out. We have an advertising display using edge-lit glass and felt-tip pens writing with a waxy/oily "ink". Fingerprints, condensation and almost any other surface contamination also glows quite nicely.
Give it a shot, this has many intersesting possibilities.
Andre

[iregan]

I worked in a plastics shop and did a bit of this for sign shops etc,, basically any scratch will let light out, sanding works, or even having a pattern routed out.
Regan

[RandyG]

I think that is the route I'm thinking, scuffing a frame around the edges, great idea.
Regan, since you have experience, does it have to be acrylic? And how big can I make it before it loses effect? I may try to go as big as 4' x 3' with a 1 or 2" frame scuffed a couple inches in. Is it better to route or is scuffing enough? Thanks!

[iregan]

Hi,
You would be surprised at how much of an area of acrylic you can light up this way, but its also dependant on the LED's used. The nice thing is you can have a few different sets of LED's lighting it so you could set up coloured "mood" lighting.
The light you will get will be diffused quite a bit and while the acrylic will shine fairly bright, it won't light the Tear up very efficient. I think it would be cool, but would also include normal lights for reading etc.
You can do almost any design that looks good black and white, its very much like etched glass.
Stick with an acrylic, for example plexiglass, lucite etc., its cheap and durable. Either sanding or routing works,, another option is to have a shop that has a cnc engraver engrave the pattern you want in. The area engraved will be the area lit up.
Cheers
Regan

[RandyG]

Thank you! I searched for those answers on google and got very little info. That shows how great this forum is, so many people with so much knowledge!

[iregan]

Your very welcome!
Can't wait to see how it all turns out
Regan

[RandyG]

I got the acrylic and just ordered the leds so it won't be long before I give this a shot. Check my build thread for progress.

[grantstew8]

The under counter lights in my kitchen packed up and I've replaced the LED's with a strip of LED lights, so it's shining out of the edge of the glass. The led strip is curled up with the LEDS pointing out.
The center lights over the stove were bought from costco a while ago..
My better half thinks it look like the star ship enterprise!

Made a short video.

[RandyG]

This is what I was going for, the lights in a routed grove on the edge with a frame routed out on the face. I may scuff from the frame to the edge to get more lighted surface area out of it.