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PLA transparent to infrared

Discussion in 'Printing Filament' started by Ziggy, Nov 26, 2014.

  1. Ziggy

    Ziggy Moderator
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    An interesting (and potentially useful) property of PLA is that it is transparent to infrared at the 940-950nm frequency range used by many popular IR Remotes.

    For example the IR remote receiver modules made by Vishay (TSOPxxxx types) work very well in a printed PLA enclosure. I have only tested white and grey PLA in an enclosure 1 mm thick, but don't see any reason other PLA colors would not be just as transparent to infrared.
     
    #1 Ziggy, Nov 26, 2014
    Last edited by a moderator: Nov 26, 2014
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  2. Peter Krska

    Peter Krska Active Member

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    IR is invisible to the human eye, so how would you use this?
     
    #2 Peter Krska, Nov 26, 2014
  3. Mike Kelly

    Mike Kelly Volunteer

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    If you want to make an IR remote control or something controlled by IR
     
    #3 Mike Kelly, Nov 26, 2014
  4. Peter Krska

    Peter Krska Active Member

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    So the iR goes thru the PLA as if it wasn't there?
     
    #4 Peter Krska, Nov 26, 2014
  5. Mike Kelly

    Mike Kelly Volunteer

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    Correct. It's like on remote controls they have those black covers over the IR led's. Same principle
     
    #5 Mike Kelly, Nov 26, 2014
  6. Ziggy

    Ziggy Moderator
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    It's possible an IR camera would work also through PLA. I don't have a way to try it though.
     
    #6 Ziggy, Nov 26, 2014
  7. Mike Kelly

    Mike Kelly Volunteer

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    I've got an IR camera I could experiment on if you'd like
     
    #7 Mike Kelly, Nov 26, 2014
  8. SteveC

    SteveC Well-Known Member

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    Camcorders are pretty sensitive to some remote IR frequencies. It is a good way to test the batteries in your remote. Funny I just tried my wife's Iphone 5S and the back camera does not pick up a remote LED but the screen camera does.
     
    #8 SteveC, Nov 26, 2014
  9. Mike Kelly

    Mike Kelly Volunteer

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    Yeah I don't think the rear camera picked up IR since like the 4 or 4s. The front one isn't as nice and will pick it up
     
    #9 Mike Kelly, Nov 26, 2014
  10. SteveC

    SteveC Well-Known Member

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    My guess is that you would get too much scattering through the plastic to for a clear image. Think about trying to see an image through XT or some translucent filament. It would be good for just transmitting the modulated IR signal for remote control though.
     
    #10 SteveC, Nov 26, 2014
  11. Peter Krska

    Peter Krska Active Member

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    I was considering Magic. How could you use the properties of the transparency to trick people?

    I thought of one. You hide an IR remote into a harmless looking trinket and it triggers the TV to turn off. Great in crowds, like in a bar when everyone is watching the overtime game and all the tv's turn off! Now who did it? It wasn't me!!!
     
    #11 Peter Krska, Dec 2, 2014
  12. SteveC

    SteveC Well-Known Member

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    TV-B-Gone kit: http://www.adafruit.com/products/73
     
    #12 SteveC, Dec 2, 2014
  13. Ziggy

    Ziggy Moderator
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    I need the TV-B-Gone model that turns off the Kardashians :rolleyes:
     
    #13 Ziggy, Dec 2, 2014
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  14. Mike Kelly

    Mike Kelly Volunteer

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    Pretty sure you mean Barrett M82 that turns off the Kardashians...
     
    #14 Mike Kelly, Dec 3, 2014
    janot928, SteveC, (deleted member) and 2 others like this.

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