EC Build Lights
Category: Mechanisms/EE
Tools Used: Laser cutting, Soldering
Project date: August 25, 2024
Project Description
Every year, my dorm comes together for a giant build to throw a party in for the freshman during orientation week. This past August, we built a 3-story fort, and I was on the lighting team. I was tasked with designing and building a LED sign to spell out the name of our dorm "East Campus".
The letters are made from acrylic that I laser cut with drill holes to attach them to the 2x4 connecting them to the 2nd floor. I then taped the LEDs to the acrylic, molding them to the shape of the letter, and wired each letter in series. I included the lightning bolt, which is a staple icon for East Campus, and used both red and orange LEDs to highlight different letters, since an "inside joke" of EC is to spell the name as EAsT camPUS.
Additionally, I helped build the fort alongside my lighting project. I helped level the 1st floor, raise posts, and worked on joists for the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd floor. I had a great time with both the construction, deconstruction, and lighting of the fort, and for this next build, I am one of the project leads where I will get to have a heavy hand in designing, CADing, and getting the next fort approved by MIT.
Building
