The Smell of Molten Projects in the Morning

Ed Nisley's Blog: Shop notes, electronics, firmware, machinery, 3D printing, laser cuttery, and curiosities. Contents: 100% human thinking, 0% AI slop.

The New Hotness

  • Kenmore Model 158 Sewing Machine: LED Strip Lights

    Given a few hanks of the 3528 double-density LED strip lights shown at the top of this picture:

    Various LED strip lights
    Various LED strip lights

    And the solid models for the mounts:

    Strip Light Mount - build layout
    Strip Light Mount – build layout

    Then fast-forwarding through the tedious parts:

    • An hour of 3D printing
    • Cut & stick LEDs to the mounts
    • Peel “waterproof” coating to reveal contact pads
    • Solder pretty cable with silver plating on the braid (it’s probably mil-spec Teflon dielectric RG-174 coaxial cable) to the LEDs
    • Conjure a coax power connector and wall wart
    • Apply foam squares to mounts
    • Affix to sewing machine

    The front LEDs have a jaunty angle along the bottom of the plastic panel:

    Kenmore Model 158 Sewing Machine - LED Lights - front
    Kenmore Model 158 Sewing Machine – LED Lights – front

    You can see why I want cool-white LEDs, rather than these warm-white ones, to match the daylight from the window to the right. The wash of orange light from the incandescent bulb inside the end bell has got to go, too.

    The rear LEDs over the arm may be slightly too close to the opening:

    Kenmore Model 158 Sewing Machine - LED Lights - rear
    Kenmore Model 158 Sewing Machine – LED Lights – rear

    The single-segment strip on the side provides a bit more light for the needle across the opening:

    Kenmore Model 158 Sewing Machine - LED Lights - rear detail
    Kenmore Model 158 Sewing Machine – LED Lights – rear detail

    Now, I’ll grant you that the strips of of black Gorilla Tape aren’t particularly attractive, but the intent here is to find out whether the LEDs produce enough light, don’t snag the quilt, and generally meet requirements.

    We shall see…