Upcycled Luminous Laser Tube Lamp

At the workshop we've been seeing a lot of heavy use on the laser cutter recently so there's been a couple of laser tubes that have been worn out. They look too cool to throw away though so I've made this lamp design to make better use of them. Inspired by the sleek, retro aesthetic of the '90s sci-fi era, this lamp transforms old laser tubes into a beautiful art piece. The bright, red LED light mimics the vibrant glow of vintage tech, while its organic design invites a futuristic touch. More than just a light source, this lamp is a statement piece that enhances your space with its unique blend of form and function.

Constructed from salvaged laser tubes, this lamp is not only a functional piece of lighting but also a practical planter holder. The tall, 1-meter height creates a welcoming environment for plants to grow, adding greenery to any room. The base features two wells, perfect for growing various plants, making this lamp a self-contained, eco-friendly solution. Its energy-efficient red LEDs provide bright, warm light that is both durable and gentle on the environment. Whether you're seeking modern design, practical utility, or a sustainable addition to your home, this lamp is a must-have for anyone with easy access to type-CR laser tubes. If your laser uses type-T or type-W laser tubes and you'd still like to use this lamp then let me know, I can tweak the design to allow that.

I decided on red for this design because it fit best with the 90's aesthetic I was going for, but the LED filaments are available in a range of bright colors, or for a more practical light source they're also available in 2700K white and at maximum of 15W of output this design can function as a primary light source, or with a suitable choice of limit resistor it can be operated all the way down to 1W where it provides a subtle accent effect. 

Things you'll need to make this

• 1 x Laser tube Lamp - Mounting Base.stl
• 1 x Laser tube Lamp - bottom plate.stl
• 2 x Laser tube Lamp - Locking block.stl
• 2 x Expired/broken type CR (50mm diameter) laser tubes
• 2 x 1200mm 24V LED filament tape (2mm diameter) color of your choice
• 2 x 2W resistors, value depends how bright you want the lamp, 10Ω will be very bright, 50Ω quite dim, less than 10Ω is not recommended
• 1 x 24V 1A Power supply with 2.5mm center-positive barrel jack connector
• 1 x 2.5mm barrel jack socket that fits in an 11.5mm opening
• 3Kg of plaster or cement
• 5 x M5x10x7 Heat-set thread inserts
• 5 x M5x15 cap-head machine screws
• 2.4m of 0.25mm enamel copper wire
• 1m of 1mm² insulated wire
• Some solder
• Glue that works on your filament of choice

Tools you'll need

• Rotary tool with diamond cutting wheel
• Eye protection
• Respiratory protection
• Nitrile/latex gloves
• Soldering iron

Assembly instructions

1. Print the printed parts in whatever colors you like. I'd suggest something that will compliment the color of the LED filament you've chosen and the more dense the filament is, the better then effect will look when printed. Translucent or pale colors are best avoided and silk filaments give a nice effect.
2. Stand the mounting base up on a box or other support with the tube sleeves pointing down. Mix up your plaster or cement and fill the base starting at the point and keep filling until the level comes to just below the barrel jack socket opening (you need to leave enough room to get wires through the holes in the ribs) and allow to set for at least 48hrs. Wear gloves and work outside as this can be messy, try hard not to get plaster/cement on the outside of the mounting base as it may be hard to remove. Filling the base is important otherwise the lamp will be very top-heavy and prone to falling over, never a good thing with a lamp made mostly of glass! If the plaster is very slow to set then you might find you get condensation inside the tubes, if that happens then take the base plate off and allow the plaster to dry fully before reattaching.
3. Using the rotary tool and diamond wheel, cut off the output ends of the 2 laser tubes as shown in the picture, leave at least one hose fitting for the locking blocks to engage with but trim off anything else at that end of the tube that's wider than the body of the tube. I suggest working outside and wear eye and respiratory protection as there is some risk the tubes might shatter and the dust produced by cutting is harmful if inhaled.
4. Solder 1.2m of 0.25mm enamel copper wire to the positive end of each LED filament tape
5. Solder a small barb of wire to the positive end of each LED filament tape so that it will be retained inside the tubes.
6. Insert one LED filament into each laser tube with the positive end of the filament at the closed end of the tube, ensure the barb has engaged with something inside the tube so it won't fall out. A long, thin metal rod may help you to get the LED filament all the way to the end as it can be difficult.
7. At the open end of each tube solder a length of insulated wire onto the enamel copper wire and tape the wire to the LED filament so that they won't snag or tear (see picture)
8. Slide each tube into the sleeves in the mounting base, being sure to feed the LED filament and wire through the opening at the bottom and not to catch or crush it
9. Insert the locking blocks into the slots in the mounting sleeves and glue in place to permanently retain the laser tubes
10. Lay the base and tubes down on a flat, stable surface and wire up the base
    i) Install 2.5mm socket
    ii) Solder the negative ends of both LED tapes to the negative terminal of the socket
    iii) Solder one end of both resistors to the positive terminal of the socket
    iv) Solder the insulated wire coming from each tube to the ends of the resistors (one resistor per tube)
    v) Use electrical tape or heat-shrink sleeve to insulate the joints but do not cover the resistors
11. Install the 5 heat-set inserts into the 4 pockets around the rim of the mounting base and the one pocket in the center. There are special tools to do this but a temperature-controlled soldering iron set to 170C will do the job. Ensure the inserts are below the surface when finished and the inserts are straight in the holes.
12. Screw on the bottom plate and stand your Laser Tube Lamp upright, connect the power supply, add plants if desired, Done!

3D printing settings

• Printed in 3DQF Eco-PLA
• Printed with a 0.4mm nozzle
• 0.2mm layer height
• 4 walls!
• 25% Cubic infill