This is a light up Minecraft ore block utilizing cheap USB LED lights that I got from aliexpress. It plugs directly into any old 5v USB charger. You customize the ore by coloring a piece of paper which makes up the shade, into any ore you want! Or you can even make each side a different color.
Printed parts:
All parts printed in 0.2mm layer height with white PLA. I then painted with enough coats to make it opaque to light. If you use grey filament you could probably leave unpainted.
Block: Print the block upside down, no slicer supports needed. Each of the 5 sides has two supports built into the model (see picture). You can quickly clip these out with flush cutters.
Key: After printing, it might be just oversized after accounting for squish out of the plastic at the corners. I clip each corner with flush cutters to help it fit. You could also file/sand the sides flat.
Cover: Print with the flat part down. This part includes one bridged section. Hopefully your printer can handle this. Afterwards, I used a small file to remove any drooped plastic and allow the key to fit. I snipped the corners of this part just like I did with the key, so it snaps into block without bulging corners keeping it from a good fit.
Paper shade:
Use the PDF to print the template and cut out the shade as shown in the picture. Color it with markers, paint, whatever works and still lets light through, and fold it flat to stuff it inside the block and then unfold each flap onto the sides of the block (I used tweezers).
Assembly:
The USB light comes apart, all plastic parts are removed just leaving the USB port with circuit board. You could also make this part with some bare USB-A ports, LEDs, and current limiting resistors.
The USB-A port then slides into the cover, and the key is pressed in and locks the USB-A port into place. This may be a semi permanent step depending on how tightly the key fits in. With the paper shade in place in the block, snap the block onto the cover and you're done.
RawDR
