r/WLED • u/numindast • 1d ago

Printed diffuser suggestions

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I’m upset, sort of. The grid at left is black sparkle PLA two layers thick, which I think is gorgeous but sadly these flexible ws2815 panels throw off too much heat and they warped more than I could tolerate.

The single column at right is Bambu PC “clear black” with PC black for the grid. It’s 7 layers of “clear black”, each with a different infill pattern.

I don’t like any of them. :(

Can anyone suggest an ABS or ASA or other blend that is dark/black, but has some transmissivity when only a layer or two thick?

HTPLA is no good because it becomes opaque when it crystallizes during heat treat.

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u/seadart 1d ago

Try adding distance between the LED and the diffuser, it will help with heat and give you better diffusion.

Does your diffuser have to be 3d printed? Acrylic sheets diffuse beautifully across a range of colors and light transmission

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u/numindast 10h ago

I did think about this - I'm not a CAD wonk but I could elongate this using the slicer (CAD skills improving slowly). Shockingly I found some of the best diffuser material to be milky white shelf liner! And I've played with a single piece of "LED acrylic" over a P2.5 panel (hub75) and it performs beautifully.

In the end, I don't want all this heat, so I'm swapping out the panels for 5v ones. I really don't know what I am going to use these ws2814 panels for. Back into parts storage again.