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DIY Valentine’s Day Laser Cut LED Night Light
Project Overview
For this project, we created a Valentine’s Day-themed LED night light featuring a 3D illusion of two hearts pierced by Cupid’s arrow. The design is made possible by a WS2812B LED strip positioned at the base of a laser-engraved acrylic sheet. The base itself is constructed from 20mm x 20mm 20-series V-Slot aluminium extrusion, giving it a sturdy and sleek look. The LEDs are powered by a 5V AC-DC adapter and controlled using WLED on a WeMos D1, allowing for customizable colours and effects to set the perfect mood.
This project is great for adding a warm, romantic touch to any space or as a unique, handmade Valentine’s gift!
Usual Warnings and Disclaimers
The author of this document is not liable or responsible for any accidents, injuries, equipment damage, property damage, loss of money or loss of time resulting from improper use of electrical or mechanical or software products.
Assembling electrical and mechanical machine components like power supplies, motors, drivers or other electrical and mechanical components involves dealing with high voltage AC (alternating current) or DC (direct current) and other hazardous items which can be extremely dangerous and needs high attention to detail, experience, knowledge of software, electricity, electro-mechanics and mechanics.
BEFORE MAKING ANY CONNECTIONS OR DISCONNECTIONS POWER MUST BE REMOVED FROM THE DEVICE AND THE CONTROLLER. FAILURE TO DO SO WILL VOID ANY AND ALL WARRANTIES.
All Errors and Omissions Excepted - feedback is, of course, welcome!
Bill of Materials
Electrical System
- LED Strip (WS2812B or similar, controlled via WLED)
- WeMos D1 Mini (for running WLED)
- 5V Power Supply (capable of powering the LED strip)
Structure & Design
- 3mm Laser-engraved acrylic sheet (transparent, for 3D illusion effect)
- 20mm x 20mm x 150mm 20-series V-Slot aluminium extrusion (for the base)
- 150mm V-Slot Clear Cover (For holding the acrylic securely within the V-Slot)
- 3D Printed WeMos D1 Case (for mounting electronics inside the base)
- 3D Printed End-Brackets
- 2 x M3 V-Slot T-Nuts
- 2 x 8mm M3 Button Head Bolts
- 2 x 10mm M5 Cap Head Bolts
Assembly & Build Guide
1. Preparing the Acrylic Panel
Using a laser cutter, we engraved the design of two intertwined hearts with Cupid’s arrow onto a clear acrylic sheet. The engraving process ensures that light from the LED strip refracts through the acrylic, creating the 3D glowing effect.
2. Building the Base
We cut and tapped a 20mm x 20mm 20-series V-Slot aluminium extrusion to 150mm, forming a sturdy base. This not only gives the night light a modern and sleek aesthetic but also provides excellent durability.
With the extrusion ready, we printed the electronics box and the two end brackets using PLA filament. They were then installed onto each end of the extrusion using the 2 x 10mm M5 Cap Head Bolts.
The electronics box was mounted to the bottom of the extrusion using 2 x M3 T-Nuts and 2 x 8mm M3 Button Head Bolts.
Finally, we removed the adhesive backing from the WS2812B LED Strip and attached it to the bottom of the V-Slot channel. When doing so, make sure to first route the wires through the 3D-printed end-bracket.
3. Wiring & Electronics Setup
The WS8218B LED strip was connected to a WeMos D1 Mini microcontroller using a soldering iron. The microcontroller was then connected to a 5V power supply via a DC Jack, ensuring a stable power source for the electronics.
We then installed WLED onto the microcontroller, a powerful open-source LED control software. To do so, we first connected the WeMos D1 to a PC using a USB cable. Next, we used the WLED Web Installer to flash the WeMos D1 with the WLED Firmware.
Note: If the WLED web installer does not detect your controller, you may need to install additional com port drivers. In the case of the WeMos D1, this would be the CH340 USB Driver.
Now all that was left to do is to neatly place everything into the 3D-Printed electronics box.
4. Configuring WLED
Once everything was wired up, we turned on the electronic system and configured the WLED settings to create a soft, warm glow effect, perfect for Valentine’s Day.
In particular, we set the IP/Local Address of the WLED Controller as well as assigned the LED GPIO to the signal pin. The signal pin is the GPIO pin that you connected the WS2812B LED Strip to. We recommend using GPIO16 as it’s commonly unused.
Key WLED Features Used:
- Customizable Colours & Effects – Users can adjust brightness and colours to set the perfect romantic mood.
- WiFi Control – The light can be controlled via a smartphone app or web browser, making it easy to switch between effects.
- Pre-programmed Animations – We set up slow colour fades and pulsing effects for a cozy ambiance.
Final Thoughts
This Valentine’s Day LED night light is a fun and rewarding DIY project that combines electronics, laser cutting, 3D-Printing, and creative lighting effects. Whether you’re making it for yourself or as a special gift, the end result is a beautiful, glowing decoration that adds warmth and charm to any space.
We hope this guide inspires you to build your own! Let us know if you have any questions or improvements.
Happy Making & Happy Valentine’s Day!