The New Hotness

Well, a spider with half the proper leg count:

RGB LED - radome test — RGB LED – radome test

One could argue the LED spider has an unusually large abdomen, but I’m not going there.

The solid model looks the same way:

Astable Multivibrator Battery Holder - RGB LED Spider - radome — Astable Multivibrator Battery Holder – RGB LED Spider – radome

And, yes, those are eye protection caps over the four wire struts, most useful during construction while maneuvering the radome into position.

For reasons unknown to me, they’re called “Pirhana” LEDs:

I trimmed off half of each pin, soldered on 28 AWG color-coded silicone wires, threaded wires through openings, then rammed the LED package into the recess so it sits just below the radome’s curve. The dent matching the ball comes from the chord equation, as always, and looks pretty good.

The radome is, of course, a one-star ping pong ball from the usual big box retailer’s sporting goods section. The stamped logo sits at a random position with respect to the ball’s interior structure (visible when lit, as in the top picture), so I erased it with a fine-grit sanding sponge. Hollow plastic golf balls might work just as well, with an even more interesting surface texture.

The source code includes a cutaway look at the printed parts to verify their innards:

Astable Multivibrator Battery Holder - RGB LED Spider - fit view — Astable Multivibrator Battery Holder – RGB LED Spider – fit view

The OpenSCAD source code as a GitHub Gist:

	// Holder for Li-Ion battery packs
	// Ed Nisley KE4ZNU January 2013
	// 2018-11-15 Adapted for 1.5 mm pogo pins, battery data table
	// 2018-12 RGB LED spider, general cleanups

	/* [Layout options] */

	BatteryName = "NP-BX1"; // [NP-BX1,NB-5L,NB-6L]

	RGBCircuit = true; // false = 1 strut pair, true = 2 pairs

	Layout = "Case"; // [Build,Show,Fit,Case,Lid,Pins,RGBSpider]

	/* [Extrusion parameters] – must match reality! */
	// Print with +2 shells and 3 solid layers

	ThreadThick = 0.25;
	ThreadWidth = 0.40;

	HoleWindage = 0.2;

	function IntegerMultiple(Size,Unit) = Unit * ceil(Size / Unit);
	function IntegerLessMultiple(Size,Unit) = Unit * floor(Size / Unit);

	Protrusion = 0.1; // make holes end cleanly

	/* [Hidden] */

	inch = 25.4;

	BuildOffset = 3.0; // clearance for build layout

	Gap = 2.0; // separation for Fit parts

	//- Basic dimensions

	WallThick = 4*ThreadWidth; // holder sidewalls

	BaseThick = 6*ThreadThick; // bottom of holder to bottom of battery
	TopThick = 6*ThreadThick; // top of battery to top of holder

	//- Battery dimensions – rationalized from several samples
	// Coordinate origin at battery corner with contacts, key openings downward

	T_NAME = 0; // Name must fit recess, so don't get loquacious
	T_SIZE = 1;
	T_CONTACTS = 2;
	T_KEYS = 3;

	BatteryData = [
	["NP-BX1",[43.0,30.0,9.5],[[-0.75,6.0,6.2],[-0.75,16.0,6.2]],[[1.70,3.70,2.90],[1.70,3.60,2.90]]],
	["NB-5L", [45.0,32.0,8.0],[[-0.82,4.5,3.5],[-0.82,11.0,3.5]],[[2.2,0.75,2.0],[2.2,2.8,2.0]]],
	["NB-6L",[42.5,35.5,7.0],[[-0.85,5.50,3.05],[-0.85,11.90,3.05]],[[2.0,0.70,2.8],[2.0,2.00,2.8]]],
	];

	echo(str("Battery: ",BatteryName));

	BatteryIndex = search([BatteryName],BatteryData,1,0)[0];
	echo(str(" Index: ",BatteryIndex));

	BatterySize = BatteryData[BatteryIndex][T_SIZE]; // X = length, Y = width, Z = thickness
	echo(str(" Size: ",BatterySize));

	Contacts = BatteryData[BatteryIndex][T_CONTACTS]; // relative to battery edge, front, and bottom
	echo(str(" Contacts: ",Contacts));

	ContactOC = Contacts[1].y – Contacts[0].y; // + and – terminals for pogo pin contacts
	ContactCenter = Contacts[0].y + ContactOC/2;

	KeyBlocks = BatteryData[BatteryIndex][T_KEYS]; // recesses in battery face set X position
	echo(str(" Keys: ",KeyBlocks));

	//- Pin dimensions

	ID = 0;
	OD = 1;
	LENGTH = 2;

	PinShank = [1.5,2.0,6.5]; // shank, flange, compressed length
	PinFlange = [1.5,2.0,0.5]; // flange, length included in PinShank
	PinTip = [0.9,0.9,2.5]; // extended spring-loaded tip

	WireOD = 1.7; // wiring from pins to circuitry

	PinChannel = WireOD; // cut behind flange for solder overflow
	PinRecess = 3.0; // recess behind pin flange end for epoxy fill

	echo(str("Contact tip dia: ",PinTip[OD]));
	echo(str(" .. shank dia: ",PinShank[ID]));

	OverTravel = 0.5; // space beyond battery face at X origin

	//- Holder dimensions

	GuideRadius = ThreadWidth; // friction fit ridges
	GuideOffset = 7; // from compartment corners

	LidOverhang = 2.0; // atop of battery for retention
	LidClearance = LidOverhang * (BatterySize.z/BatterySize.x); // … clearance above battery for tilting
	echo(str("Lid clearance: ",LidClearance));

	CaseSize = [BatterySize.x + PinShank[LENGTH] + OverTravel + PinRecess + GuideRadius + WallThick,
	BatterySize.y + 2WallThick + 2GuideRadius,
	BatterySize.z + BaseThick + TopThick + LidClearance];
	echo(str("Case size: ",CaseSize));

	CaseOffset = [-(PinShank[LENGTH] + OverTravel + PinRecess),-(WallThick + GuideRadius),0]; // position around battery

	ThumbRadius = 10.0; // thumb opening at end of battery

	CornerRadius = 3*ThreadThick; // nice corner rounding

	LidSize = [-CaseOffset.x + LidOverhang,CaseSize.y,TopThick];

	LidOffset = [0.0,CaseOffset.y,0];

	//- Wire struts

	StrutDia = 1.6; // AWG 14 = 1.6 mm
	StrutSides = 3*4;

	StrutBase = [StrutDia,StrutDia + 4*WallThick,CaseSize.z – TopThick]; // ID = wire, OD = buildable

	//StrutOC = [IntegerLessMultiple(BatterySize.x – StrutBase[OD],5.0), // set easy OC wire spacing
	// IntegerMultiple(CaseSize.y + StrutBase[OD],5.0)];
	StrutOC = [IntegerLessMultiple(CaseSize.x – 2CornerRadius -2StrutBase[OD],5.0),
	IntegerMultiple(CaseSize.y + StrutBase[OD],5.0)];

	StrutOffset = [CaseSize.x/2 + CaseOffset.x,BatterySize.y/2]; // from case centerlines

	StrutAngle = atan(StrutOC.y/StrutOC.x);

	echo(str("Strut OC: ",StrutOC));

	//- RGB LED

	RGBBody = [8.0,8.0,5.0]; // Z = body height

	RGBPin = 5.0; // pin length
	RGBPinsOC = [5.0,5.0]; // pin layout

	RGBRecess = RGBBody.z + RGBPin/2; // maximum LED recess depth

	BallOD = 40.0; // radome sphere
	BallSides = 4*StrutSides; // nice number of sides

	BallPillar = [norm([RGBBody.x,RGBBody.y]),
	norm([RGBBody.x,RGBBody.y]) + 4*WallThick,
	StrutBase[OD] + RGBBody.z];
	BallChordM = BallOD/2 – sqrt(pow(BallOD/2,2) – (pow(BallPillar[OD],2))/4);
	echo(str("Ball chord depth: ",BallChordM));

	//———————-
	// Useful routines

	module PolyCyl(Dia,Height,ForceSides=0) { // based on nophead's polyholes

	Sides = (ForceSides != 0) ? ForceSides : (ceil(Dia) + 2);

	FixDia = Dia / cos(180/Sides);

	cylinder(r=(FixDia + HoleWindage)/2,h=Height,$fn=Sides);
	}

	//——————-
	//– Guides for tighter friction fit

	module Guides() {
	translate([GuideOffset,-GuideRadius,0])
	PolyCyl(2*GuideRadius,(BatterySize.z – Protrusion),4);
	translate([GuideOffset,(BatterySize.y + GuideRadius),0])
	PolyCyl(2*GuideRadius,(BatterySize.z – Protrusion),4);
	translate([(BatterySize.x – GuideOffset),-GuideRadius,0])
	PolyCyl(2*GuideRadius,(BatterySize.z – Protrusion),4);
	translate([(BatterySize.x – GuideOffset),(BatterySize.y + GuideRadius),0])
	PolyCyl(2*GuideRadius,(BatterySize.z – Protrusion),4);
	translate([(BatterySize.x + GuideRadius),GuideOffset/2,0])
	PolyCyl(2*GuideRadius,(BatterySize.z – Protrusion),4);
	translate([(BatterySize.x + GuideRadius),(BatterySize.y – GuideOffset/2),0])
	PolyCyl(2*GuideRadius,(BatterySize.z – Protrusion),4);

	}

	//– Contact pins
	// Rotated to put them in their natural oriention
	// Aligned to put tip base / end of shank at Overtravel limit

	module PinShape() {

	translate([-(PinShank[LENGTH] + OverTravel),0,0])
	rotate([0,90,0])
	rotate(180/6)
	union() {
	PolyCyl(PinTip[OD],PinShank[LENGTH] + PinTip[LENGTH],6);
	PolyCyl(PinShank[ID],PinShank[LENGTH] + Protrusion,6); // slight extension for clean cuts
	PolyCyl(PinFlange[OD],PinFlange[LENGTH],6);
	}
	}

	// Position pins to put end of shank at battery face
	// Does not include recess access into case

	module PinAssembly() {

	union() {
	for (p = Contacts)
	translate([0,p.y,p.z])
	PinShape();

	translate([-(PinShank[LENGTH] + OverTravel) + PinChannel/2, // solder space
	ContactCenter,
	Contacts[0].z])
	cube([PinChannel,
	(Contacts[1].y – Contacts[0].y + PinFlange[OD]),
	PinFlange[OD]],center=true);

	for (j=[-1,1]) // wire channels
	translate([-(PinShank[LENGTH] + OverTravel – PinChannel/2),
	j*ContactOC/4 + ContactCenter,
	Contacts[0].z – PinFlange[OD]/2])
	rotate(180/6)
	PolyCyl(WireOD,CaseSize.z,6);
	}
	}

	//– Case with origin at battery corner

	module Case() {

	difference() {

	union() {

	difference() {
	union() {
	translate([(CaseSize.x/2 + CaseOffset.x), // basic case shape
	(CaseSize.y/2 + CaseOffset.y),
	(CaseSize.z/2 – BaseThick)])
	hull()
	for (i=[-1,1], j=[-1,1], k=[-1,1])
	translate([i*(CaseSize.x/2 – CornerRadius),
	j*(CaseSize.y/2 – CornerRadius),
	k*(CaseSize.z/2 – CornerRadius)])
	sphere(r=CornerRadius/cos(180/8),$fn=8); // cos() fixes undersize spheres!

	for (i= RGBCircuit ? [-1,1] : -1) { // strut bases
	hull()
	for (j=[-1,1])
	translate([iStrutOC.x/2 + StrutOffset.x,jStrutOC.y/2 + StrutOffset.y,-BaseThick])
	rotate(180/StrutSides)
	cylinder(d=StrutBase[OD],h=StrutBase[LENGTH],$fn=StrutSides);

	translate([i*StrutOC.x/2 + StrutOffset.x,StrutOffset.y,StrutBase[LENGTH]/2 – BaseThick])
	cube([2*StrutBase[OD],StrutOC.y,StrutBase[LENGTH]],center=true); // blocks for fairing

	for (j=[-1,1]) // hemisphere caps
	translate([i*StrutOC.x/2 + StrutOffset.x,
	j*StrutOC.y/2 + StrutOffset.y,
	StrutBase[LENGTH] – BaseThick])
	rotate(180/StrutSides)
	sphere(d=StrutBase[OD]/cos(180/StrutSides),$fn=StrutSides);

	}
	}

	translate([-OverTravel,-GuideRadius,0])
	cube([(BatterySize.x + GuideRadius + OverTravel),
	(BatterySize.y + 2*GuideRadius),
	(BatterySize.z + LidClearance + Protrusion)]); // battery space

	translate([BatterySize.x/2,BatterySize.y/2,0]) // recess around battery name
	cube([0.8BatterySize.x,8,2ThreadThick],center=true);
	}

	Guides(); // improve friction fit

	translate([-OverTravel,-GuideRadius,0]) // battery keying blocks
	cube(KeyBlocks[0] + [OverTravel,GuideRadius,0],center=false);
	translate([-OverTravel,(BatterySize.y – KeyBlocks[1].y),0])
	cube(KeyBlocks[1] + [OverTravel,GuideRadius,0],center=false);

	translate([BatterySize.x/2,BatterySize.y/2,-ThreadThick]) // battery name!
	linear_extrude(height=2*ThreadThick,convexity=10)
	text(text=BatteryName,size=5,spacing=1.20,font="Arial:style:Bold",halign="center",valign="center");


	}

	translate([2*CaseOffset.x, // battery top access
	(CaseOffset.y – Protrusion),
	BatterySize.z + LidClearance])
	cube([2CaseSize.x,(CaseSize.y + 2Protrusion),2*TopThick]);

	for (i2 = RGBCircuit ? [-1,1] : -1) { // strut wire holes and fairing
	for (j=[-1,1])
	translate([i2StrutOC.x/2 + StrutOffset.x,jStrutOC.y/2 + StrutOffset.y,0])
	rotate(180/StrutSides)
	PolyCyl(StrutBase[ID],2*StrutBase[LENGTH],StrutSides);

	for (i=[-1,1], j=[-1,1])
	translate([iStrutBase[OD] + (i2StrutOC.x/2 + StrutOffset.x),
	j*StrutOC.y/2 + StrutOffset.y,
	-(BaseThick + Protrusion)])
	rotate(180/StrutSides)
	PolyCyl(StrutBase[OD],StrutBase[LENGTH] + 2*Protrusion,StrutSides);
	}

	translate([(BatterySize.x – Protrusion), // remove thumb notch
	(CaseSize.y/2 + CaseOffset.y),
	(ThumbRadius)])
	rotate([90,0,0])
	rotate([0,90,0])
	cylinder(r=ThumbRadius,
	h=(WallThick + GuideRadius + 2*Protrusion),
	$fn=22);

	PinAssembly(); // pins and wiring

	translate([CaseOffset.x + PinRecess + Protrusion,(Contacts[1].y + Contacts[0].y)/2,Contacts[0].z])
	translate([-PinRecess,0,0])
	cube([2*PinRecess,
	(Contacts[1].y – Contacts[0].y + PinFlange[OD]/cos(180/6) + 2*HoleWindage),
	2*PinFlange[OD]],center=true); // pin insertion hole

	translate([CaseOffset.x/2 + BatterySize.x/2,BatterySize.y/2,-(BaseThick + Protrusion)])
	linear_extrude(height=2*ThreadThick + Protrusion,convexity=10)
	mirror([0,1,0])
	text(text="KE4ZNU",size=6,spacing=1.20,font="Arial:style:Bold",halign="center",valign="center");
	}

	}

	// Lid position offset to match case

	module Lid() {

	difference() {
	translate([-LidSize.x/2 + LidOffset.x + LidOverhang,LidSize.y/2 + LidOffset.y,0])
	difference() {
	hull()
	for (i=[-1,1], j=[-1,1], k=[-1,1])
	translate([i*(LidSize.x/2 – CornerRadius),
	j*(LidSize.y/2 – CornerRadius),
	k*(LidSize.z – CornerRadius)]) // double thickness for flat bottom
	sphere(r=CornerRadius,$fn=8);

	translate([0,0,-LidSize.z/2]) // remove bottom
	cube([(LidSize.x + 2Protrusion),(LidSize.y + 2Protrusion),LidSize.z],center=true);

	translate([LidSize.x/8,0,0])
	cube([LidSize.x/4,0.75LidSize.y,4ThreadThick],center=true); // epoxy recess
	}

	translate([0,0,-(Contacts[0].z + PinFlange[OD])]) // punch wire holes
	PinAssembly();
	}

	}

	// Spider for RGB LED + radome atop vertical struts

	module RGBSpider() {

	difference() {
	union() {
	for (i=[-1,1], j=[-1,1]) {
	translate([iStrutOC.x/2,jStrutOC.y/2,StrutBase[OD]/2])
	rotate(180/StrutSides) // doesn't quite match crosspieces; close enough
	sphere(d=StrutBase[OD]/cos(180/StrutSides),$fn=StrutSides);
	translate([iStrutOC.x/2,jStrutOC.y/2,0])
	rotate(180/StrutSides)
	cylinder(d=StrutBase[OD],h=StrutBase[OD]/2,$fn=StrutSides);
	}

	for (m=[-1,1]) // connecting bars
	rotate(m*StrutAngle)
	translate([0,0,StrutBase[OD]/4])
	cube([norm(StrutOC),StrutBase[OD],StrutBase[OD]/2],center=true);

	translate([0,0,0]) // pillar for RGB LED and ball
	cylinder(d=BallPillar[OD],h=BallPillar[LENGTH],$fn=BallSides);
	}

	for (i=[-1,1], j=[-1,1]) // strut wires
	translate([iStrutOC.x/2,jStrutOC.y/2,-Protrusion])
	rotate(0)
	PolyCyl(StrutBase[ID],StrutBase[OD]/2,6);

	for (m=[-1,1], n=[0,1]) // RGBA wires through bars
	rotate(mStrutAngle + n180)
	translate([StrutOC.x/3,0,-Protrusion])
	PolyCyl(StrutBase[ID],StrutBase[OD],6);

	# translate([0,0,BallOD/2 + BallPillar[LENGTH] – BallChordM]) // ball inset
	sphere(d=BallOD);

	translate([0,0,2*RGBBody.z + (BallPillar[LENGTH] – BallChordM) – RGBRecess]) // LED inset
	cube(RGBBody + [HoleWindage,HoleWindage,3*RGBBody.z],center=true); // XY clearance + huge height for E-Z cut

	for (m=[-1,1]) // RGBA wires through pillar
	rotate(m*StrutAngle)
	translate([0,0,StrutBase[OD]/2 + WireOD/2 + 0*Protrusion])
	cube([norm(StrutOC)/2,WireOD,WireOD],center=true);

	}
	}

	//——————-
	// Build it!

	if (Layout == "Case")
	Case();

	if (Layout == "Lid")
	Lid();

	if (Layout == "RGBSpider") {
	RGBSpider();
	}

	if (Layout == "Pins") {
	color("Silver",0.5)
	PinShape();
	PinAssembly();
	}

	if (Layout == "Show") { // reveal pin assembly
	difference() {
	Case();

	translate([(CaseOffset.x – Protrusion),
	Contacts[1].y,
	Contacts[1].z])
	cube([(-CaseOffset.x + Protrusion),CaseSize.y,CaseSize.z]);

	translate([(CaseOffset.x – Protrusion),
	(CaseOffset.y – Protrusion),
	0])
	cube([(-CaseOffset.x + Protrusion),
	Contacts[0].y + Protrusion – CaseOffset.y,
	CaseSize.z]);
	}

	translate([0,0,BatterySize.z + Gap])
	Lid();

	color("Silver",0.15)
	PinAssembly();

	if (RGBCircuit)
	translate([StrutOC.x/2,BatterySize.y/2,2*BatterySize.z])
	difference() {
	RGBSpider();
	rotate(180-StrutAngle)
	translate([0,0,-Protrusion])
	cube([norm(StrutOC),StrutBase[OD],2*BallPillar.z],center=false);
	}

	}

	if (Layout == "Build") {
	translate([-BatterySize.x/2,-BatterySize.y/2,BaseThick])
	Case();
	translate([-CaseSize.x + LidSize.x,-(LidSize.y/2 + LidOffset.y),0])
	Lid();
	if (RGBCircuit)
	translate([StrutOC.x + BatterySize.x/2,0,0])
	RGBSpider();
	}

	if (Layout == "Fit") {
	Case();
	translate([0,0,(BatterySize.z + Gap)])
	Lid();
	color("Silver",0.25)
	PinAssembly();
	if (RGBCircuit)
	translate([StrutOC.x/2,BatterySize.y/2,2*BatterySize.z])
	RGBSpider();
	}

view raw Astable Multivibrator Battery Holder.scad hosted with ❤ by GitHub

The original doodles give useful dimensions, plus some details not withstanding the test of time:

RGB LED Radome Spider - doodles — RGB LED Radome Spider – doodles

The actual center-to-center distances for the wire posts come from the battery dimensions, rounded up or down as appropriate, to the nearest multiple of 5 mm, so those are just serving suggestions.

The New Hotness

Astable Multivibrator: RGB LED and Radome Spider