In this STEAM robotics and mechanism project, students design and build a remote-control dazzling light box using LaserMaker. The lesson connects box structure design, one-click box building, ring arrays, decorative light holes, TT motor mounting, LED light strings, 2.4G remote-control components, wiring, laser cutting, and hands-on assembly.

1. Lesson Overview

1.1 Project Goal

Students will design a square light box with decorative light-transmission holes, add motor mounting features, create support feet, draw a rotating turntable for the LED light string, laser cut the parts, wire the control components, and assemble a powered light box that can create a dynamic lighting display.

1.2 Recommended Classroom Use

2. Learning Objectives

2.1 What Students Will Learn

2.2 STEAM Skills Developed

2.3 Responsible Making

Students should test powered parts carefully and follow teacher or lab supervisor instructions when working with batteries, receivers, motors, LEDs, and moving components. The light box should be assembled so wires are protected and rotating parts do not rub against the box panels.

3. Real-World Context: Why Build a Dazzling Light Box?

Light boxes and lantern-style displays are often used in playgrounds, festivals, classrooms, and maker events to create a bright visual atmosphere. When decorative holes are cut into the box, light can pass through and project patterns onto the surrounding space.

In this project, students add a rotating motor inside the box so the LED light string can move and create a changing light effect. The result is a small powered display that combines structure, light, motion, and control.

4. Materials and Parts Planning

4.1 Equipment List

Before modeling the light box, students should identify the electronic components, structural material, lighting component, and hardware used in the project.

4.2 Structural Parts List

The laser-cut structure is organized into the light box panels, chassis, and LED light-string turntable.

5. Lesson Procedure

5.1 Generate the Light Box

Open LaserMaker and click One-Click Artifact from the menu bar. This tool can quickly generate the flat layout of a box structure, which saves time compared with drawing each panel and joint manually.

In the pop-up window, choose the Right Angle Box tool. In the source workflow, the box length, width, and height are each set to 100 mm, and the notch size is set to 15 mm. Preview the flat display map before creating the box.

Click OK to generate the six box panels in the drawing area. The generated panels include orientation labels, which are useful during design and assembly.

Move the orientation labels outside the panels so the center areas remain clear for decorative patterns and light-transmission holes.

5.2 Add Star-Shaped Light Holes

Open the Gallery panel and choose the Pentagram graphic from Basic Graphics. Drag it onto the canvas and resize it to 15 mm by 15 mm.

Select the pentagram and open the Ring Array tool from Advanced Tools. The array preview helps students create repeated star patterns around a center point.

In the source workflow, the Ring Array settings are Start Angle 6°, Step Angle 50°, Number of Copies 7, and Center X 30. These settings create a circular star pattern.

Add another pentagram to the center of the circular star pattern, then group the star graphics together so they can be copied and positioned as one pattern.

Use Copy and Paste to duplicate the grouped star pattern, then place the patterns onto the light box panels.

Place the star patterns on the front panel and other visible panels. The lower panel is used for motor installation, so it does not need the circular star pattern.

5.3 Add the Motor Position and Wire Hole

Open the Open Source Robotics section in the Gallery and select the OSROBOT motor graphic. Drag it onto the canvas so the motor mounting holes can be added to the lower panel.

Rotate the motor graphic by 90 degrees so the TT motor is positioned vertically in the design.

Move the motor graphic onto the lower panel. The motor shaft hole should be placed as close as practical to the center of the lower panel so the LED turntable has enough space to rotate inside the light box.

Because the receiver and battery are outside the light box in the source workflow, draw a small threading hole on the rear panel. In the source workflow, the hole is a 7.5 mm by 5.5 mm rectangle.

5.4 Add Support Feet

The motor and hardware create extra height under the light box, so support feet are added to improve stability. Select a rounded rectangle from the Basic Graphics section of the Gallery.

Place the rounded rectangle at the lower right side of the rear panel and resize it so its width matches the nearby tenon area.

Copy and paste the second rounded rectangle, then place it at the lower left side of the rear panel.

Select the rear panel and the two rounded rectangles, then use the Union Tool to merge them into one connected part.

The front and rear panel tenon structures match, so students can repeat the same process for the front panel or copy the rear panel, remove the threading hole, and use it as the front panel with support feet.

5.5 Draw the LED Light-String Turntable

The LED light string sits on a round turntable attached to the TT motor shaft. Use the Distance Measuring Tool to estimate the available radius inside the light box. In the source workflow, the turntable radius is set to 35 mm, so the circle diameter is 70 mm.

Use the Oval Tool and hold Ctrl to draw a 70 mm diameter circle for the turntable.

Add the TT motor shaft hole by selecting TT holes from Mechanical Parts in the Gallery and placing the graphic at the center of the turntable.

Delete any auxiliary labels, red text, or construction lines that are no longer needed, then save the file.

6. Laser Processing

6.1 Set Tracing and Cutting Processes

The light box drawing uses two main processes: tracing and cutting. In the source workflow, the OSROBOT motor outline is used for tracing, while the remaining structural parts, holes, decorative openings, and turntable are cut.

Before fabrication, students should check the speed and power settings for the selected laser cutting machine, simulate the process sequence, and confirm that tracing happens before cutting where needed.

7. Wiring and Assembly

7.1 Circuit Wiring

Before assembly, review the wiring diagram. The TT motor, 18650 battery, 2.4G receiver, and LED light string should be connected according to the project wiring plan.

7.2 Structural Assembly

First, locate the motor, chassis, and matching hardware. Use screws and nuts to fix the motor to the chassis.

Then locate the front and rear panels of the light box. Assemble the front and rear panels with the chassis, and pass the TT motor connecting wires through the rear panel threading hole.

Next, locate the left and right panels and assemble them to the base plate. Then find the turntable and LED light string. Fix the turntable to the TT motor shaft and place the LED light string on the turntable.

Locate the 18650 battery and 2.4G receiver. Connect the TT motor and battery to the receiver. Finally, locate the upper panel, turn on the LED string switch, and cover the upper panel.

After assembly, debug the light box by checking the lighting effect, rotation, wiring, and box stability.

8. Test, Debug, and Improve

9. Finished Project and Reflection

After modeling, laser processing, wiring, and assembly, students complete a remote-control dazzling light box. The project gives students a full design-to-fabrication experience, including ring arrays, one-click box building, Gallery graphics, graphic resizing, support-foot design, laser cutting, circuit wiring, and assembly testing.

10. Extension Challenge

In the finished light box, controlling the brightness of the LED light string may require opening the box frequently. At the same time, laser compensation and tight finger-joint fit can make repeated opening more difficult.

As an extension challenge, students can redesign the light box with a removable cover, a gift-box-style opening, a more accessible switch position, or a new pattern system that creates more colorful light effects.

11. Equipment Note for Teachers

This project is suitable for classroom laser cutters that support cutting and tracing of sheet materials for small robotics and mechanism projects. For schools, makerspaces, and beginner STEAM labs, projects like dazzling light boxes, LED displays, motorized turntables, and remote-control structures can be completed with a classroom laser cutter such as the Thunder Laser Bolt Series.

Teachers can choose the machine and material setup based on classroom space, material thickness, electronic components, and project size. The same LaserMaker workflow can also be adapted for other CO2 laser machines when students move on to larger light boxes or more advanced powered display projects.