LED-Fiber Optic Augmented Keyboard - Build Montage

Sorry, didn't think to do a time lapse of the entire process.
One of my pet projects over winter break.
Only uses a single LED dispersed by Fiber Optic tassels from an old toy...
Controlled by the scroll lock key.

More Info:
http://www.tcnj.edu/~moy5/2009/01/led-keyboard-hack.html

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• keyboard
• hack
• mod
• LED
• fiber
• optic
• scroll
• lock
• key
• board
• DIY
• cool
• trick
• light
• OEM

[51235465789]

How did u do it that all of the fiber optic glows not just the end of it

[krayvis]

@51235465789 That's mainly because I was using a low grade fiber optic cable. If you look at, say, FIOS cables, there's almost no loss. Also, if you bend fiber optics too much, like from that hole at the top where i threaded it through, light leaks out.

You might be able to enhance the effect by lightly sanding the fiber optics, though you will end up with less light at the tip.

[Brannzig]

Could you maybe cut the letters in the keys to get the actual key lighting or would that not work?

[krayvis]

@Brannzig You could... but that's a fair bit of work with either a fine drill or an exacto knife. if you want to undertake something like that, i'd love to see it ;)

[pupustinki]

what are those string like things in the video?

[krayvis]

@pupustinki Fiber optic threads. you can find them in some toys or lamps.

[fredrikmo14]

The video were great...

But the result wasnt that great.

[DJLucif3r]

i will be attempting this soon and thank you for this great vid.

What i will be doing is using at least 2 light sources instead of only 1 (1 LED in each corner for example), the fiber optic idea was amazing, thank you so much for that

[jacksonfender]

worst diy project ever. total waste of time even watching this.

[LiquidFriction]

This wasn't pointless at all. lol....