With so many new, specialized and intricate devices at a maker’s disposal, it’s always awesome to discover new uses for materials that have been here all along –
Turns out that a Ping Pong ball makes a reasonable LED diffuser. Just drill a hole and insert the LED. Easy micro Locnar! With an RBG LED this could make a nice system indicator. Maybe build a strip of these indicators to make several status indicators. Each server gets a mini orb to show it’s online status, maybe each email account. How about a ball of balls, each with an RGB LED…
Woah, easy there – one glowin’ ball concept at a time! Hmm . . . but how bout violet LEDs to make an interactive bunch of grapes – or maybe eyes that light up when . . . –Link
Related:
Ping pong lights –Link
8 thoughts on “Ping pong ball LED diffuser”
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The best diffusers of this nature I’ve found are the translucent super-bounce balls you find in gum ball machines.
Drill a slightly smaller than LED-sized hole, and insert LED, us a little hot glue if needed.
Suffused glow, no hot-spots. Very pretty.
The best diffusers of this nature I’ve found are the translucent super-bounce balls you find in gum ball machines.
Drill a slightly smaller than LED-sized hole, and insert LED, us a little hot glue if needed.
Suffused glow, no hot-spots. Very pretty.
I went out today and bought some ping-pong balls (an unusual thing for me, going into a sports shop) and found that they were half price! It must be the wrong season for ping-pong in England right now. Anyway, they work as LED diffusers, but the LEDs aren’t very bright.
I made a similar project using the balls from roll-on antiperspirant bottles. I sanded the LEDs (two per ball) before inserting which helped diffuse the light.
Ping-pong balls are made of cellulose, which is not very stable, especially in exposed/outdoor environments. See this link for some details.