Modular Vex Lamp By Chris Reimer and Team NXS The initial idea of creating a modular lamp came from us trying to think of ways the various game pieces we had access to could be used. Our team has pieces going all the way back to Round Up, so there were plenty of objects to choose from. Skyrise had been a favorite game of mine, and the combination of the skyrise pegs and the metal base immediately reminded me of an Ikea lamp that my family owns. Due to time constraints we were unable to fully realize our ideas, but were still able to create the base model. Some of the ideas included running the wires through the skyrise pegs, and having metal plates to transfer the power between the pegs, and having an additional lamp piece that sprouts from the side of a skyrise peg. The issue with using metal terminals to transfer power up the skyrise pegs is that if someone reached their hand into the peg, or a piece of metal fell in, it could easily short circuit the system. Without transferring power directly through the pegs, it greatly decreased the utility of having the extra lamp sections. For creating the cube lamp, the plan was to build a support that the cube could ‘snap’ into, and also have that support hold a lightbulb at the center. Due to the close proximity with so much plastic and the paper lampshade, the lightbulb would need to be an LED light. To create the support for the cube, my plan was to 3D print it. Unfortunately, my 3D printer is not currently working, so that was not an option. My alternative solution was to create a cardboard piece that sticks into the skyrise peg and is taped to the bottom of the cube. Eventually I do hope to use this lamp, so I will continue to refine it and make it more visually appealing and functional. For the lamp shade, I taped tissues to the inside of the cube. These are very flammable, and would not be compatible with an incandescent bulb. The current bulb is an LED light used in photography, which has the benefit of not needing to be plugged in. Future versions of the lamp will not be cordless to avoid the hassle of needing to change the batteries.
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