3D-printed mathematical lampshades
Finished lampshade
I’ve been playing with translucent PLA for lighting projects at home. Earlier this year, I built a diffuser/housing for our Lidl LED strip, since the light from the exposed LEDs was too cool and jarring. The design files are on OnShape, although they might need tweaking for the exact strip and required installation area.
A few viral videos have recently popped up in my YouTube feed showing bespoke 3D-printed lampshades. These ondulating membranes struck me as a surface that would arise from sweeping 2D profile as it’s raised and rotated through space. Making one from scratch seemed like a fun challenge (not to mention a nice Christmas present!).
2D profile
I started by graphing the following equation in Desmos (link will take you to the formula).
\[ r = \cos(5\theta) + 0.2\cos(9\theta) + 0.05\cos(200\theta) + 4\]
Something like this with big gentle ondulations on top of which small jittery ridges are overlapped.
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Trying (and failing) 3D with OnShape
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