Optical Filter In Front Of LED Display...Where to Find? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / projects

author: TheRuler8510
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: February 28, 2015, 04:25:55 am
content: RE: Optical Filter In Front Of LED Display...Where to Find?I am trying to find cheap plastic filter to put in front of numerical LED displays, but I cannot find where to buy them. Any Ideas?I don't even know what they are called so i can't search for them. I have looked under names like, optical filters, gel, plastic, led filters, all to no avail.Help on what they are called and where to find them would be much appreciated.Thanks,

author: george graves
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 28, 2015, 04:30:53 am
content: subscribed

author: edavid
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 28, 2015, 04:49:17 am
content: The original color code for transparent red Plexiglas was 2423, so that's a good keyword to look for.A couple of examples that were found that way:http://www.plasticproductsinc.com/2423-Red-Acrylic-Prodview.htmlhttp://www.eplastics.com/ACRY24230-060PM24X48Note that it's pretty difficult to get the thin sheets that you want for this purpose (0.03" to 0.05").

author: Andreas
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 28, 2015, 05:03:03 am
content: http://www.digikey.com/product-search/en/optoelectronics/bezels/524327plastic bezel red transparentWith best regardsAndreas

author: ajb
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 28, 2015, 06:40:56 am
content: If you just want the bulk material, just about any plastics supplier will have a variety of tinted translucent plastics to choose from. Since you're in the US, TAP Plastics, US Plastics, and even McMaster-Carr would be good places to try.If you want more of a film, lighting gel from manufactures such as GAM, Rosco, or Lee would do. They have a LOT of options, though, so you'll want to get one of their sample books to figure out what will work best for you. Probably only worth the effort if you really need a thin film, or you have very specific spectral requirements.

author: rdl
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 28, 2015, 06:42:48 am
content: Go to eBay and search "transparent acrylic sheet". Plenty of sellers offering small sizes in various colors. If you can tolerate the longer shipping time the China sellers are pretty cheap.

author: kripton2035
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 28, 2015, 07:09:54 am
content: I bought this one some times agohttp://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Transparent-Red-Acrylic-Perspex-Plastic-210mm-x-300mm-x-3mm-One-1-A4-Sheet-/300906933804?ssPageName=ADME:L:OC:FR:3160

author: edavid
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 28, 2015, 05:03:40 pm
content: Quote from: ajb on February 28, 2015, 06:40:56 amI think you'll find that none of them sell display filter thicknesses (1/16" or thinner).

author: TheRuler8510
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: February 28, 2015, 06:12:55 pm
content: There's a dealer on eBay from Taiwan--I think I'll try them.I am looking for green and blue in addition to red. Is it just me or is 3mm too thick? 2mm or 1 mm seems more practical.Thanks for all inputs.Regards,

author: george graves
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 28, 2015, 08:38:07 pm
content: I'd also try theatrical lighting supply.

author: ajb
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 01, 2015, 01:09:52 am
content: Quote from: edavid on February 28, 2015, 05:03:40 pmYou know, I could swear I'd seen much thinner at all of those places in the past, but now that I look again you're correct. I expect that some of the bigger suppliers could special order it for you, but you'd probably need to buy a full sheet, which would cover a LOT of displays--unless maybe you're doing scoreboards or something.

author: cosmicray
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 01, 2015, 03:55:11 pm
content: Quote from: george graves on February 28, 2015, 08:38:07 pm+1 They sell gel type filters in a multitude of colors. Those filters are intended to go in front of 500-750-up lighting elements, so the exact shade (for LEDs) may be a bit lighter than what you would want for stage lighting.ETA: This is one manufacturer ...http://www.rosco.com/filters/index.cfmYou might want to buy one of the sample gel color booklets, then see what works best before buying a big sheet.

author: edavid
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 01, 2015, 04:32:32 pm
content: Quote from: cosmicray on March 01, 2015, 03:55:11 pmGels are not a good choice for display filters... they are too floppy, and the resulting curved surface makes the reflections very distracting.

author: kripton2035
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 07, 2015, 10:19:54 am
content: another idea : buy the box, eat the inside of the box, then use the red box for your displays...

author: digsys
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: March 07, 2015, 10:54:03 am
content: When I used to make huge LED displays, this is the "trick" I used -I find a printing company, select the "base" material, thin/thick lexan/etc, chose a colour dye of the characteristics I need and have them printwhole sheets. Sometimes I have them made to size, with/without border and sometimes I just made large sheets and cut them to suit.You have total control of transmissivity, single/multiple filter, thickness etc etc