anyone have CAD drawings of a Luminarc?

EnderG60 · #1 12/11/2006, 07:29 PM

Anyone got them?

I want to try and make one, and then play with the dimensions to get it to fit in my hood and give me a 2'x3' footprint, which would be much easier if I had the CAD files.

Qwiv · #2 12/11/2006, 07:37 PM

There is a patent on the design and a few folks got in a lot of trouble spreading the DIY luminarc design around a year or two ago. Tread with caution

stugray · #3 12/11/2006, 08:05 PM

There is absolutely nothing wrong with reverse engineering something then spreading the word on how its done. This even applies to CAD files.

Now if you try to make a profit off of it, that is is where patent law applies.

The only exception is any device that contains "encryption hardware or software". It is illegal ( in the US ) to even attempt to reverse engineer anything with encryption involved.

So.... if Lumenarc put an encryption chip on their stuff ( even if it didnt do anything ), it would be illegal to attempt to reverse engineer it ( great law huh....? ).

Stu

Tigger240 · #4 12/11/2006, 08:18 PM

if the 98% reflective metal is available to a consumer, which is possible, i would certianly try to diy one.

EnderG60 · #5 12/11/2006, 08:22 PM

well regular luninarcs wont fit in my hood and give me the footprint I want, so I figured Id make something that would.

and if i change the design to yield a different reflective pattern, how is that patent infringment. Only thing I want the luminarc numbers for is to use them to generate some formulas for my design.

if they have a problem with it, then I just wont try and sell more to other people, no biggie.

Qwiv · #6 12/11/2006, 08:26 PM

I am just saying, search RC for DIY Luminarc. I would rather not deal with their lawyers.

EnderG60 · #7 12/11/2006, 08:33 PM

if I was ever on when the search worked I would

if someone was really nice they could PM me with some links i guess...maybe

Letmegrow · #8 12/11/2006, 08:58 PM

Try kentrob11 he made of his own.

speedsport · #9 12/11/2006, 10:28 PM

I would be interested also.

foshizzle · #10 12/11/2006, 11:52 PM

PM me with email address

Tigger240 · #11 12/12/2006, 07:36 AM

fwiw they have a mini luminarc that could fit in your canopy.

EnderG60 · #12 12/12/2006, 09:25 AM

true the mini does fit, but its not high enough to get the 3 foot spread i need.

and agian I dont want to make a luminacr...I want to use it as a base.

Im gonna try and get a wireframe setup at work today off the big one if there is enough time. I was just hoping I didnt have to spend the time on it

Horace · #13 12/12/2006, 09:38 AM

Somone actually has a file that you can print out on a plotter and you can just lay that on the aluminum and cut out each piece. Pretty awesome

. Im not sure where you can get the aluminum though.

EnderG60 · #14 12/12/2006, 09:50 AM

hey i actually got search working and found the basic layon measurements in another thread so this will save some time

Quote:

Originally posted by Aquaduck
Try this: SKETCH

AutoCAD 2000 file

I created my own Autocad file using the sketch as a guide. You can download a free viewer from Autodesk called Voloviewer to open and print the CAD file.

And found another thread that there is no patent, just a traidmark on the name.

EnderG60 · #15 12/12/2006, 09:58 AM

and found this thread that guy did pretty much what i want to do and made a custom sized reflector on paper. I want to do it in CAD though and have it spit out drawings when i enter in the foot print I want.

http://archive.reefcentral.com/forum...hreadid=321468

foshizzle · #16 12/12/2006, 01:29 PM

lowes etc. carries reflective aluminum tubes used to extend skylights

Tigger240 · #17 12/12/2006, 01:37 PM

post your progress with pictures, its manditory

GSerg2 · #18 12/12/2006, 05:17 PM

Quote:

There is absolutely nothing wrong with reverse engineering something then spreading the word on how its done. This even applies to CAD files.

Now if you try to make a profit off of it, that is is where patent law applies.

I don't believe this is correct. Here is a quote from the US Patent Office about what a patent is...

patent - a property right granted by the Government of the United States of America to an inventor â€œto exclude others from making, using, offering for sale, or selling the invention...

Just the act of making or using an item is enough to run afoul of the patent laws. Making a profit is not required.

That being said, I doubt that people are going to be beating on your door if you do it as long as you don't go around posting the fact that you have done it on web forums. ;-)

GreshamH · #19 12/12/2006, 05:56 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by EnderG60
hey i actually got search working and found the basic layon measurements in another thread so this will save some time

And found another thread that there is no patent, just a traidmark on the name.

Knowing the owner of Pacific Garden Supply (Makers of the Luminarc (Diamond)) I can assure you there is a patent for all the reflectors they sell. To say otherwise is spreading bogus information

kentrob11 · #20 12/12/2006, 06:47 PM

I met a guy named Billy Bob Jackson who made a reflector called a Loomihootchie. He gave me a bitmap to print out at your local Kinkos and I cut it out and used it to trace the design onto the reflective sheet metal I bought as a solar light extension tube at Lowes. It cost me about $35 each to make, including the riveter and rivets....

Call it what you will but I aint paying $150 for a frikin reflector! No lawyers are going to be dragging you into court for talking about making a similar object as simple as this. There are plenty of people out there able and willing to buy the real thing for a few DIY'ers to put a damper on anything...

EnderG60 · #21 12/12/2006, 07:07 PM

guy doing the bending already made me one to test out, just have to mount the bulb and play with it. Ill have pics tomarrow hopefully.

do you have an email for someone at diamond? Id like to email them and find out for myself.

either way im going to be making some reflectors for myself that look similar but with different dimensions, which produce different(non square) foot prints.

its pretty easy to make these, its just hard to get your hands on reflective Al and having a break for bending the tabs isnt usually available.

Snarkys · #22 12/12/2006, 08:04 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by EnderG60
if I was ever on when the search worked I would

if someone was really nice they could PM me with some links i guess...maybe

spend the $20 and become a member for a year. Ending the frustration with the search function is worth $1.60 a month.

EnderG60 · #23 12/13/2006, 01:24 PM

eh, there are other things Id rather spend my $20 on....like dremel wheels

Special thanks to dave for bending that up for me so damn fast. and here are some pics, and I didnt feel like messing with the white balance just yet so everything is nice and blue.

Went in very nicely and gets alot more light on the sides of the tank.

Have to rethink my actinics a bit now though, and see about getting a fan in that reflector...

Snarkys · #24 12/13/2006, 02:21 PM

slick

speedsport · #25 12/13/2006, 02:47 PM

How thick is the metal?