Gabriel, I have been intrigued with this project since you posted it. Im not ready to build something similar, yet maybe smaller. Can you share some details? I am only assuming that the depth from LED to glass is important? As is the LED viewing angle and mcd? I believe the LEDS need to be between 380nm and 400nm?
Thanks in advance for any light
you can shed on this.
bob
Well, I did calculate the angle and the spacing so they would all over lap at the depth from the glass, but other than that I wasn't too worried. I used to be a video lighting guy, so that is kind of second nature to me. Yes, the wavelength needs to be in the appropriate range for the board you are using, but honestly now that I've finished it, I just use it.
As for advice - buy some extra LEDs, as you will probably have a few failures. (When I ordered my lot of 200, I got 204. I wish I had ordered another 20 or so, just so I would have spares for the future.) DON'T try to wire it by hand the way I did. It takes too long, and at that point you may as well buy one of the UV florescent fixtures that Mouser sells. Damn thing took me 60 hours or something. Well, 20-30, at any rate. On the other hand, it works, and it works really, really well. I can usually get away with developing after only a minute or so, but it goes a lot faster if I leave it for 4-5. Oh, and always double up your transparency film - one layer of toner doesn't seem to be opaque enough.
Gabriel