Could we make a kitchen mixer light?

When a design request comes from a child this becomes a challenge that has to be taken on.

  1. sketch the shape
  2. duplicate the layers and separate the sections
  3. prototype i.e. laser cut (soft foam) the parts
  4. refine design and work out how the wiring could be done

Initially the idea was to have light in the mixer head only but then this would just shine into the bowl.

The solution? A perspex bowl with lighting below it + lights in the mixer head.

The first foam tests to check the shape:

The next step was to make a trial version in wood – conclusion? Too complex

Refine and re-cut

Stack-up

Add the wiring for the LEDs and microswitch. The LEDs are bright white LEDs from a junk shop light, removed and then placed on strips of prototyping board. These are powered from 5V via a 22 Ohm resistor recycled from the junk shop light and the cable is a 3m cheap USB cable. The USB cable meant that that it can use old USB phone charger as the power supply.

And we’re done 🙂