# 3D Printed LED Buckle
## Overview
Light up the scene with this stylish 3D Printed LED belt buckle! This is a 6 piece design that uses GEMMA and three NeoPixels to illuminate the 3D Printed cover. Express yourself by customizing the front design to match your style.
This guide will show you how to customize, assemble and print the buckle that is sure to turn heads.
Prerequisite guides:
- [Introducing GEMMA](http://learn.adafruit.com/introducing-gemma)
- [NeoPixel Überguide](http://learn.adafruit.com/adafruit-neopixel-uberguide)
You will need:
- [GEMMA board](http://www.adafruit.com/products/1222) or [Trinket](http://www.adafruit.com/products/1501)
- [Three FLORA NeoPixels](http://www.adafruit.com/products/1260) or One [NeoPixel Stick](http://www.adafruit.com/products/1426)
- [Thin Wire](http://www.adafruit.com/products/1446)
- [Soldering iron](http://www.adafruit.com/products/180) and [solder](http://www.adafruit.com/products/145)
- [Small LiPo Battery](http://www.adafruit.com/products/1317)
- [MakerBot Adafruit Edition](http://www.adafruit.com/products/1292 "Link: http://www.adafruit.com/products/1292")
- [Canvas Belt](http://www.amazon.com/Canvas-Militarry-Belt-Silver-Adjustable/dp/B00CMFBZLY/ref=pd_sim_sbs_a_6)
# 3D Printed LED Buckle
## Customize the Buckle
You can make your own design by Copying & Tinkering our [Buckle](https://tinkercad.com/things/dYPo6QCZQWt) model on [Tinkercad](https://tinkercad.com/things/dYPo6QCZQWt "Link: https://tinkercad.com/things/dYPo6QCZQWt").
## Artwork, Design and Text
You can create your design in any graphics edit program that allows you to export vector paths in the SVG format. If your design contains any text, be sure to modify the typography so that the counters have gaps. You can check out our [tutorial](http://pixil3d.com/optimizing-typography-for-3d-printing/) on optimizing typography for 3D Printing. Once you have your artwork, import the .svg file into Tinkercad.
## Scale, Adjust and Combine
With your artwork imported into Tinkercad, scale the size of the object if it's not too big or small by using the scale handles and holding down the shift key to constrain the proportions.
Now we need to align the two pieces together. Select your design and buckle cover and click "Adjust \> Align". To do this in Tinkercad, click on each middle points to align each side. Now, select the design and turn it into a hole by changing the color type to "Hole". Now combine the two objects together by selecting both objects with the shift key and select "Group".
## Export
Save and export your design as an STL.
Select both model and click on Group.
Save out the .stl and now we're now ready to print!
# 3D Printed LED Buckle
## Print The Pieces
## Print the Files
Download all of the pieces from [Thingiverse](http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:121270) and the [Diffuser](http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:166320 "Link: http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:166320")[and Lid](http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:166320). Make sure to print all of these pieces.
1. Buckle Base
2. Buckle Cover
3. Base Bottom
4. Base Latch
5. Buckle Lid
6. Diffuser (Transparent PLA)
Each part should be printed using 20% infill to reduce any breakage issues. Set the shell count to "2" so the parts are durable. Try printing each piece separately to achieve the best quality.
You will need to print the diffuser block in transparent PLA filament. The diffuser block can be difficult to remove from your build plate, so try using blue painters tape
The base latch and buckle cover need to be printed with support material. These pieces have pins that stick out that will snap into the bottom and base. You do not need to print with a raft.
The entire print job should take about 2-3 hours.# 3D Printed LED Buckle
## Buckle Build
## Assemble
To make installation easier, snap the latch into the bottom part before gluing bottom to the base.
We used super glue to bond the bottom part to the base. Make sure to glue with the teeth facing towards the inside of the base with the bevels on the side as soon below. Use two small binder clips to hold the pieces together while they dry.
Once dry, slip the belt end under the teeth of the latch and pull back to grip on tight.
# 3D Printed LED Buckle
## NeoPixel & Diffuser Build
Each NeoPixel can snap directly onto the PLA diffuser. You should measure out the length of wire needed to connect the three NeoPixels into a strand.
To make a strand of NeoPixels, you will need to connect each pin together as shown. On the Gemma, use pin D1 to connect to the arrow marked pins on the NeoPixels. Negative connections will be need to be connected to the Gemma ground pin, and positive connections can be wired to the v-out pin.
Once you have your wires measured, cut and stripped, wire them together to test the circut. Test your connections before soldering all of the connections to Gemma by connecting the small LiPo battery to the power port. Use pieces of paper tape to hold the strand of NeoPixels onto the diffuser. The Gemma should have enough wire to fold over the strand of NeoPixels, as shown in the photo below.
The diffuser and all of the components easily fit inside the cavity of the buckle cover. With full circuit powered on, snap the lid onto to the back of the buckle cover. Now snap in the buckle cover onto the base. The buckle should fit up to 42mm wide canvas belts. The teeth on the latch and buckle cover tightly grip onto the canvas and securely fit onto your waist.
To snap the cover on to the base, slightly pull back one of the sides and pop each nub into place.
Now your stylin' with your own 3D printed LED Belt Buckle!
## Featured Products
### Adafruit GEMMA v2 - Miniature wearable electronic platform
[Adafruit GEMMA v2 - Miniature wearable electronic platform](https://www.adafruit.com/product/1222)
**Deprecation Warning: The Gemma bit-bang USB technique it uses doesn't work as well as it did in 2014, many modern computers won't work well. So while we still carry the Gemma so that people can maintain some older projects, we no longer recommend it.**
Out of Stock
[Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/1222)
[Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/1222/guides)
### Arduino GEMMA Board - Adafruit Edition
[Arduino GEMMA Board - Adafruit Edition](https://www.adafruit.com/product/2469)
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[Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/2469/guides)
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[Adafruit Metro M4 feat. Microchip ATSAMD51](https://www.adafruit.com/product/3382)
Are you ready? Really ready? Cause here comes the fastest, most powerful Metro ever. The **Adafruit Metro M4** featuring the **Microchip ATSAMD51**. This Metro is like a bullet train, with its 120MHz Cortex M4 with floating point support. Your code will zig and zag...
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[Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/3382/guides)
### Flora RGB Smart NeoPixel version 3 - Pack of 4
[Flora RGB Smart NeoPixel version 3 - Pack of 4](https://www.adafruit.com/product/1260)
What's a wearable project without LEDs? Our favorite part of the Flora platform is these tiny smart pixels. Designed specifically for wearables, these updated Flora NeoPixels have ultra-cool technology: these ultra-bright LEDs have a constant-current driver cooked right into the LED...
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[Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/1260/guides)
### Lithium Ion Polymer Battery - 3.7v 150mAh
[Lithium Ion Polymer Battery - 3.7v 150mAh](https://www.adafruit.com/product/1317)
Lithium-ion polymer (also known as 'lipo' or 'lipoly') batteries are thin, light, and powerful. The output ranges from 4.2V when completely charged to 3.7V. This battery has a capacity of 150mAh for a total of about 0.6 Wh. If you need a larger battery,
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[Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/1317/guides)
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[Adafruit Micro Lipo - USB LiIon/LiPoly charger](https://www.adafruit.com/product/1304)
Oh so adorable, this is the tiniest little lipo charger, so handy you can keep it any project box! Its also easy to use. Simply plug in the gold plated contacts into any USB port and a 3.7V/4.2V lithium polymer or lithium ion rechargeable battery into the JST plug on the other end. There are...
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[Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/1304/guides)
## Related Guides
- [Adafruit Metro M4 Express featuring ATSAMD51](https://learn.adafruit.com/adafruit-metro-m4-express-featuring-atsamd51.md)
- [Cosplay Glow Fur Raver Bandolier](https://learn.adafruit.com/cosplay-glow-fur-raver-bandolier.md)
- [Trinket / Gemma Blinky Eyes](https://learn.adafruit.com/trinket-gemma-blinky-eyes.md)
- [Zipper Switch](https://learn.adafruit.com/zipper-switch.md)
- [Unibeam](https://learn.adafruit.com/unibeam.md)
- [Glue Stick Light Pipe Sculpture](https://learn.adafruit.com/glue-stick-archway.md)
- [NeoPixel Basketball Hoop](https://learn.adafruit.com/neopixel-mini-basketball-hoop.md)
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- [NeoPixel Ring Bangle Bracelet](https://learn.adafruit.com/neopixel-ring-bangle-bracelet.md)
- [3d Printed Neopixel Tactile Switch Buttons](https://learn.adafruit.com/3d-printed-neopixel-tactile-switch-buttons.md)
- [Charger Charm - 3D Printed holder for Micro LiPo USB Charger](https://learn.adafruit.com/usb-charger-charm-3d-printed-holder-for-micr-lipo-usb-charger.md)
- [MicroLipo v2 Case](https://learn.adafruit.com/microlipo-case.md)