First successful lithopane

[Gadget]

I cut this out of 1/4" corian today with my CNC table using a rotozip as a router.
This is my granddaughter Lucie. The first photo shows the cut in normal light. The second one is backlit. The plan is to put this along with one of my grandson in a lamp as a Christmas gift for my Son and Daughter in law.
Dan

[Brass_Machine]

Wait, so that is the same piece? Just different lighting?

That is very cool. Care to show us how it is done?

Eric

[Gadget]

Yes it is the same piece. Here is a description of the process.
I used my home built CNC table with a rotozip. Made a rough pass with a 1/8" ball mill .08 deep from 0. Then did a finish path with a .041 tapered ball end mill with an overlap of cut by 90% (only increased 10% for each cut). This was done .10 deep from 0 which was set to the top of the piece. The software used to generate the code was Vectric PhotoVCarve. The image was set to reverse the cut so the dark portions are thicker letting less light through. The whole purpose is to take a photo and engrave it onto opaque plastic so when backlit it looks like a photo. Then the panel can be put in in a lamp or shadow box for viewing.
I took some video of the cutting but have to edit it before posting.
Dan

[Brass_Machine]

Thanks! That is very neat. Looks like a photo with the back light.

Eric

[Gadget]

Here is a short video showing how the lithopane responds to light.

[johnbaz]

Crikey Gadjet!!!- it's amazing how it turns into a photograph with the light directly behind it- fantastic!! 



Cheers, John

[Divided he ad]

Now do one by hand Dan!   


Only joking.... That's a very interesting result. Should have the family in awe?? It's got me!   



There must be a market for such things....?  Probably a huge industry in it if you look for it I suppose?



I like Xmas.... Not really for all the "right" reasons, probably?  I like it for the ingenuity it causes and the effort people are willing to go to create that something special 


Between the nut cracker, the puzzle and this (although I don't think I'll be able to replicate this one!?)  it's shaping up to be a fun madmodding Xmas as far as I can see     




Ralph.

[Blade]

Very nice work! That is amazing how it shifts with the light.

[Rob.Wilson]

  cool


Never see one of those before 



Rob

[steamboatmodel]

That is fantastic,
I found the site http://www.vectric.com/WebSite/Vectric/pvc/pvc_index.htm
PhotoVCarve   $149 / £95 / €125 
They also offer Trial Versions of there software to see if it works on your machine.
All I need now is the CNC machine.
Regards,
Gerald.

[Gadget]

I have fitted the light box together. It needs a few tweaks but is nearly done. Enough to show it here anyway. One photo with room lights off, the other with them on so you can sort of see the box.
Dan

[Powder Keg]

Very nice!!!!!