Fiber Optic fret marker questions

[calmb4tehpwn]

So, my plan in to have fiber optics fret markers. I want to do vertical line fret markers, filling the slots with mirror epoxy, in several layers.

I'm asking if this is.. reasonable to expect to work? I plan on doing some test runs once I get the LED stuff.

Any advice from the fiber optics veterans around here?

Thanks, folks!

[joeyl]

I know scottyd used to, I don't see him around much anymore


How To: Fiber Optic Side Markers Part 1!

[calmb4tehpwn]

I know the idea behind dot markers, and that's essentially what I plan on doing, but stopping the LED about 1/8in back, and sawing a vertical line, and doing concentric layers of mirror epoxy, so the light will fill the entire line, as opposed to just a single point.

[joeyl]

the problem is like fiber optic will only light the ends of the tube, not the sides, for your idea you will need individual leds, and make the lights diffuse through the whole slot somehow

[shporsche]

I have seen side light release fibre optics, I had a simular idea for another project

Check these guy's out:

http://www.fiberopticproducts.com/Sideglow.htm

[suraj]

Side glow fibers are definitely an option, but I think it would be difficult as the vertical fret lines would require really tight bends of the fiber, which could break it. Obviously I havent put much thought into it, nothing is impossible..eagerly waiting to see your tests..!!

[ninefingerbass]

You can get fiber optics that also emit light from the side, it can be done, it's not as bright but if you have a powerful lightcourse you can achieve your goal. Basically what you are going to do is to install two light sources, headstock and butt end of the fretboard and create and S shape to keep the light even. That's how I would do it because the light will be lost closer you get to the end unless technolgy advanced in 3 months, which I can imagine happening. Good luck, sounds like a great idea!

[calmb4tehpwn]

My other idea, if using end emitting fiber, if only in worried about strength, is when applying the epoxy, round over each layer before applying the next. It wouldn't have to be that tightly curved, so long as there's a good 3-4 layers. The first layer would disperse the light into the second and so on, -hopefully- getting close to full dispersion by the third. Since it's a tight area I'll be working with, I don't want to spend days working on each fret marker, but I'm excited to get some LED materials and some test wood.

I wonder if I can get my hands on some LED macrobend finders. The red light fiber optics test equipment that will show through a jacket so you can where the dispersion is happening. Those are bright as hell (but might blind me on stage)

I'll draw up some diagrams of what I'm talking about today at work as far as layers of epoxy. I don't think I'm doing a great job of explaining it. Also, I'm becoming increasingly concerned that the mirror finish epoxy wont work due to Fresnel's return law. I want light dispersion at each layer of epoxy, not return, and mirror might just send the light back where it came from.

[calmb4tehpwn]

Though, cutting the end of the fiber at an angle should force a good amount of dispersion, while cutting back almost entirely on return.once it gets refracted, that light has to go somewhere, and not much will be going back down the tube.

I think we can make this work.

[maniac mikej]

what you could always do too is get SMD LEds and mount them under each fretline. I'm installed the biggest ones of the bunch on my friends dashboard. It definitely wasn't fun, but i was also completely undertooled.

SMD LEDs
http://led.linear1.org/surface-mount-leds/

[calmb4tehpwn]

How are they powered? I can see the potential behind the little guys, but I think for now I'll stick with a more traditional approach. There's enough points of failure in this already, being my first build, I don't want to introduce an -entirely- new element. Certainly something to keep in mind in the future, though.

[maniac mikej]

how are smds powered? same as LEDs, just in a different physical form. you'd have to come up with a series/paralle array though, since usually you can only run 5 off a 9v supply.

[maniac mikej]

btw that doesnt mean 5 per 9v, that means 5 per series loop, you can put as many loop in parallel as you desire.

[calmb4tehpwn]

But aren't they sitting at the fret marker? Just run power instead of optic cabling?

[maniac mikej]

yeah, exactly. I installed regular 3mm LEDs on a neck im currently working on. there were 20 of them, so I did 5 loops of 4 LEDs. to make the long runs, instead of using wire, I cut 1/4" shielding tape in half, and made very shallow channels for it using an 1/8" dremel router bit. It's interesting inlaying things from the underside of the fretboard.

[calmb4tehpwn]

That was actually going to be my next question. Once I figure out how to make it look good. Is it better to inlay it into the bottom of the fretboard, or the face of the neck? Same outcome either way, I suppose. Personal preference?

I think I would prefer to make a channel parrellel to the truss rod, but are there any structural considerations with that?

[maniac mikej]

generally i wouldnt, since the truss rod expands against the underside of the board. fwiw i drilled holes straight through for the dots, put the LEds in, and encased them in epoxy. also, if your truss rod isnt wrapped in something, and any wires are exposed, they could short out against it.

[calmb4tehpwn]

I was going to do a seperate channel neck to the truss rod channel. with like 1/4in of wood between the two. Plus, the channel will be filled with epoxy once it's complete, so expansion -shouldnt- be an issue.

right?

[maniac mikej]

yeah thatll be fine. i did the same thing, but in the fretboard itself. that way all the wiring is self-contained.

[ninefingerbass]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TYVKJMVtnJA


This is what you are looking for.