A maker has created an automated process for creating a star-field lamp in the shape of a concrete sphere, which was a gift idea and entails drilling a thousand holes and fitting plastic rods as lightpipes for the LEDs inside.
After creating the first one by hand, the maker created a machine for the laborious process of creating the lamp and published a video on their Unnecessary Automation channel, which went through all the design ideas in detail, showing a beauty of a machine.
Among the more clever ideas was using a customized 3D-printed peristaltic pump to push out the UV-curing glue used to hold the rods in place.
The display shows how designing your own machines for specific tasks can be rewarding and offers many advantages along the way.
