A 3D-printable hexagonal mirror array that reflects sunlight and allows you to write dot pictures and messages is open source.



Ben Bartlett created an array of hexagonal mirrors that can reflect the sun's rays in any pattern and can be created by 3D printing. This 3D-printable hexagonal mirror array was created to apply for marriage to a lover to commemorate the 8th anniversary of dating.

GitHub --bencbartlett / 3D-printed-mirror-array: 3D-printable hexagonal mirror array capable of reflecting sunlight into arbitrary patterns
https://github.com/bencbartlett/3D-printed-mirror-array

Bartlett, who says that both his partner and himself are genuine technical geeks, created a 3D-printable hexagonal mirror array to commemorate the 8th anniversary of dating, and used it to 'MARRY ME?' I come up with the idea of reflecting it.

A photo of the moment Bartlett applied for marriage



Message of 'MARRY ME? (Will you marry me?)'



This is the actual 3D printable hexagonal mirror array created by Mr. Bartlett. There are three materials: 1 inch (about 2.54 cm)

hexagonal mirror tile , PLA filament used in 3D printers, and adhesive. Creality 3D Ender-3 V2 3D printers are used for output 3D printers, but 'FDM 3D printers with an accuracy of about 0.1 mm should be able to create without problems,' Bartlett wrote. ..



Bartlett comes up with the idea of arranging multiple hexagonal mirrors so that only any mirror reflects sunlight to the ground, allowing the reflection of light to bring messages and pixel art to the ground. .. Determine the angle of incidence and reflection on the mirror, and create a hexagonal column as a 3D model for arranging the hexagonal mirror. Since the mirror will be placed on this hexagonal column, the cross section has a rim.



Create a foundation by arranging multiple hexagonal columns. The red line is the edge formed on the cross section of the hexagonal column.



Bartlett decided to create a single dot of light with the light reflected by multiple mirrors, and create multiple dots to form letters and icons. At this time, if the reflection angle of each mirror is set (left) so that the sunlight intersects, the light overlaps at a certain distance, but if it exceeds that, the light scatters and a beautiful spot of light can be created. It will be gone. Therefore, Mr. Bartlett set the reflection angle of the mirror so that the reflected light of each mirror is lined up in parallel (right).



Bartlett created a dedicated algorithm to allow the reflected light to create letters and icons. By assigning 'which mirror produces which dot' using this algorithm, it is possible to avoid the case where the reflected light intersects as much as possible as shown on the left of the image below. On the other hand, if you randomly assign 'which dot to create' to each mirror, the problem that the reflected light intersects randomly occurs as shown on the left of the image below.



Bartlett created a base on which 37 mirrors could be placed to substantiate the idea so far. The following photo shows this output with a 3D printer, a mirror placed, and sunlight reflected. We have succeeded in projecting the heart well. However, the hexagonal column in the base part output by the PLA filament is slightly distorted when the filament dries, which causes the reflection angle of the mirror to shift and makes it impossible to create a beautiful reflection image. To solve this problem, Bartlett takes a method of lowering the temperature of the base part where the output of the 3D printer is placed.



Another problem is that the base of a 3D-printable hexagonal mirror array consisting of multiple hexagonal columns is so large that it cannot be created with a single output using a 3D printer. Therefore, Bartlett adopted a method of dividing the base part into several parts and gluing them together. By creating a seam on each base, we have succeeded in increasing the structural strength of the base without affecting the reflection angle of the mirror.



Based on these, the base part of the hexagonal mirror array is output. 'It took about a week to output the entire model,' Bartlett said.



Then, 196 mirrors are lined up on the base and fixed with adhesive.

When using cyanoacrylate adhesive during the test, a large amount of vapor was generated when the adhesive hardened, and there was a problem that this vapor adhered to the mirror part, so when fixing 196 mirrors Operates a fan to minimize the effects of steam from the adhesive.



Bartlett said, 'The mirror installation was completed the night before the proposed proposal, so we couldn't actually test if we could form a proper message at sunset, but fortunately. I was able to output the reflected light as I wanted. '

All the source code created by Bartlett to create a 3D printable hexagonal mirror array is published on GitHub under the MIT license.

GitHub --bencbartlett / 3D-printed-mirror-array: 3D-printable hexagonal mirror array capable of reflecting sunlight into arbitrary patterns
https://github.com/bencbartlett/3D-printed-mirror-array



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