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Custom Pseudo-Neon Sign Writing with Flexible LED Noodle Filaments

18

2025-05-01 | By Kitronik Maker

License: See Original Project Laser Cutters Other Optoelectronics

Courtesy of Kitronik

Guide by Kitronik

The LED noodles first crossed our threshold in February, so naturally there was Valentine's ‎inspiration in the air when this “Pseudo-Neon” sign was born.‎

This make was developed by Becky and Geoff from the development team for the Fernwood ‎School Design Day in January 2025 and is designed so that you can easily customise your ‎own noodle and diffuser design.‎

This Make Covers:‎

covers_1

We Used:‎

  • Kitronik Flexible LED Noodle Filaments USB lamp kit - 5 pack.‎

  • Matte Black 3mm Value Acrylic.‎

  • Red 5mm Fluorescent PERSPEX®.‎

  • ‎2 x 10mm M3 Pan Head Screws.‎

  • ‎3 x 8mm M3 Plastic Spacers.‎

  • ‎7 x M3 Hex Nuts.‎

  • ‎30cm of Rigid Wire (for planning the shape).‎

  • Some Thin Copper Wire.‎

  • Some String.‎

  • This Design DXF

‎ ‎‎1‎ - Check out the DXF!‎

dxf_2

This is a nice simple dxf with only two components - the pegboard and the heart-shaped ‎diffuser.‎

‎ ‎2 - Laser cut your pegboard diffuser!‎

pegboard_3

While we find it best to make the pegboard from a black material (we used the matte black ‎Value Acrylic) you can experiment with the colour and finish of both that and the diffuser. ‎Our make’s diffuser is made from red Fluorescent PERSPEX®‎.

‎ ‎3 - Soldering the kit together!‎

solder_4

Solder on the switch, the resistor, the USB lead, and the separate red and black wires. Use ‎these notes to help you!‎

Note: The black wire will be the negative wire and will therefore be soldered onto the pad ‎closest to the flat edge of the LED outline.‎‎

‎4 - Plan your noodle’s shape, then form it!‎

shape_5

We used a 30cm piece of wire - the same length as the noodle - to plan the shape before ‎moving on to forming the noodle itself.‎

To secure the shape, we used small lengths of copper wire and looped them over the ‎noodle, through two holes on the pegboard, and then twisted the ends on the back of the ‎pegboard like a twist tie. The best positioning for these ties is at the apex of curves or ‎corners in your design.‎

‎‎5 - Solder the noodle to the PCB!‎

wires_6

Tuck the two ends of the noodle through the pegboard and solder the ends to their ‎respective wires. Red is positive and will therefore be soldered to the tab with the tiny hole ‎in it (see picture).‎‎

‎6 - Mount the PCB on the back of the pegboard:‎

mount_7

Using two 10mm M3 pan head screws and 4 M3 hex nuts, line up the mounting holes on ‎the PCB with two holes on the pegboard and mount as shown. Two of the hex nuts should ‎be screwed on first to act as small spacers, before the PCB and then the second two hex ‎nuts to hold the PCB down.‎

‎7 - Affix the diffuser to the front of the pegboard:‎

affix_8

Using three 16mm M3 pan head screws, three 8mm plastic spacers and three M3 hex nuts, ‎attach the diffuser as shown in the image.‎

‎ ‎‎8 - ‎(Optional) - Add a string!‎

string_9

Add string to make it a wall hanging!‎

‎©Kitronik Ltd – You may print this page & link to it but must not copy the page or part thereof ‎without Kitronik's prior written consent.‎

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