Author Topic: Looking for narrow LED strips  (Read 1932 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Offline Thomas73951

  • Thread Starter
  • Posts: 28
  • Location: UK
Looking for narrow LED strips
« on: Mon, 07 June 2021, 15:05:46 »
I was just wondering if anyone knew of any LED strips that could be used in a keyboard case like the image below. Or are most LED strips wider than 9mm?




Thomas :)

Offline nevin

  • Posts: 1646
  • Location: US
Re: Looking for narrow LED strips
« Reply #1 on: Mon, 07 June 2021, 15:40:28 »
i have some of these
https://keeb.io/collections/frontpage/products/rgb-led-strips-sk6812-ws2812b-compatible
which are only 5.5-5.6mm wide
if you're planning on standing them on end so the led is facing the outer edge. though most side/underglow leds face the bottom (not the side - outer edge of the keyboard)
Keeb.io Viterbi, Apple m0110, Apple m0120, Apple m0110a, Apple 658-4081, Apple M1242, Apple AEK II, MK96, GH60/Pure, Cherry g84-4100, Adesso AKP-220B, Magicforce 68

Offline fpazos

  • Posts: 166
Re: Looking for narrow LED strips
« Reply #2 on: Mon, 07 June 2021, 15:45:27 »
One led is 5 x 5mm. There are some smaller leds as 3,5mm. But these should be soldered somewhere. You could use a horizontal strip.

I can't imagine what you are trying to do.
 

Offline nevin

  • Posts: 1646
  • Location: US
Re: Looking for narrow LED strips
« Reply #3 on: Mon, 07 June 2021, 15:47:54 »
spec sheet for the WS2812B
http://cdn.sparkfun.com/datasheets/BreakoutBoards/WS2812B.pdf

so probably most any strip based around the WS2812B should work (one of the most popular ones used for underglow in keyboards)
« Last Edit: Mon, 07 June 2021, 15:50:00 by nevin »
Keeb.io Viterbi, Apple m0110, Apple m0120, Apple m0110a, Apple 658-4081, Apple M1242, Apple AEK II, MK96, GH60/Pure, Cherry g84-4100, Adesso AKP-220B, Magicforce 68

Offline darzzy

  • Posts: 34
Re: Looking for narrow LED strips
« Reply #4 on: Tue, 08 June 2021, 19:35:27 »
I'm not sure what width of LEDS you need, but if you are looking for thin LEDs, there is a 1.5mm wide LED strip on aliexpress. The only downside about this is that there's only one length they provide when you purchase the LEDs, 1M.

Link: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005002554592301.html?spm=a2g0o.productlist.0.0.1f455b1cUyVug0&algo_pvid=null&algo_expid=null&btsid=0b0a555d16231984973146676e0345&ws_ab_test=searchweb0_0,searchweb201602_,searchweb201603_

Offline Thomas73951

  • Thread Starter
  • Posts: 28
  • Location: UK
Re: Looking for narrow LED strips
« Reply #5 on: Thu, 10 June 2021, 16:30:57 »
Thanks all for the information, I think what I'm trying to achieve is something like this with sideglow:



I have also realised that frosted acrylic sideways is not frosted, so the original plan won't quite work, oops. The image above looks like its diffused but idk how.

i have some of these
https://keeb.io/collections/frontpage/products/rgb-led-strips-sk6812-ws2812b-compatible
which are only 5.5-5.6mm wide
if you're planning on standing them on end so the led is facing the outer edge. though most side/underglow leds face the bottom (not the side - outer edge of the keyboard)

The LED strips without massive spaces around the LEDs are a good find and might work. So your saying that with sideglow, the LEDs usually face down? Because if so I can remove the extra space I made around the PCB.





Offline nevin

  • Posts: 1646
  • Location: US
Re: Looking for narrow LED strips
« Reply #6 on: Thu, 10 June 2021, 17:03:03 »
Quote
The LED strips without massive spaces around the LEDs are a good find and might work. So your saying that with sideglow, the LEDs usually face down? Because if so I can remove the extra space I made around the PCB.

yes, always facing down

you can use any acrylic, just give it a good light sanding (including edges) and you have "frosted".

- space them in closer to the center of the board for a more even look, get too close to the edge and you really get differences in brightness and can easily pick out where the leds are located.
look at the image you posted. it's not really apparent in the edge, but if you look at the reflection, you can see what i'm talking about.

do a google search for "pcb underglow" and look at the images for examples of how it's typically done.
« Last Edit: Thu, 10 June 2021, 17:05:00 by nevin »
Keeb.io Viterbi, Apple m0110, Apple m0120, Apple m0110a, Apple 658-4081, Apple M1242, Apple AEK II, MK96, GH60/Pure, Cherry g84-4100, Adesso AKP-220B, Magicforce 68