MakeTVee's Oversized WS2812B Is the Perfect Coffee Coaster for RGB Lighting Enthusiasts
With three real LEDs and a coin-cell battery hidden inside, this replica RGB LED lights up the room every time you take a drink.
Electronics engineer and pseudonymous maker "makeTVee" has put together a unique coffee coaster, which is a scaled-up yet functional replica of a surface-mount WS2812B addressable RGB LED.
"You are heavily addicted to addressable LEDs? Then this is the right coaster for you," makeTVee writes of the project. "Or use it as a deco object on your workbench. The package is 10001000, so 20 times larger than the original 5050 WS2812B."
It's not just a joke, though: Hidden inside the oversized housing are three actual LEDs — though single-color through-hole versions — designed to mimic the original red, green, and blue emitters inside a real WS2812B. A CR2032 battery provides the power, with a small switch to the side to disable the lights when you're not using them.
MakeTVee has designed two 3D-printable variants. The first requires only a 3D printer, but exposes components and may not survive use as an actual coaster; the second adds a laser-cut acrylic shield to protect the parts and make it more robust as a drinks holder.
"Now," makeTVee jokes, "I have to print a full set."
3D print files for the coaster, as well as instructions on building the lighting circuit inside, are available on Printables under the reciprocal Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
