Backlight for Medium Displates

Description:
This 3D-printable project adds a fully customizable LED backlight to your medium-sized Displates, powered by an ESP32 running WLED. The design is modular, easy to assemble, and ideal for setups using a gallery rail or nail mounting.

Overview

The system prints in two parts that simply snap together.
The result is a clean, backlight that highlights your Displate with adjustable effects via WLED.

Materials Needed

• 5V RGB LED Strip: TODO:: [Link]
  

• 5V Power Supply: TODO:: [Link]
  

• ESP32 Board: Runs WLED

⚠ Original builds used an ESP8266, but it is now considered deprecated for new WLED projects.
Recommended: ESP32 for full compatibility and performance.

• M3 Screws: For mounting the ESP32
  

• Three colored wires (e.g., red, black, yellow): Power, ground, data
  

• Per Displate: 1 upper and 1 lower Frame part.
  

Optional:

• 3D-printed spotlight module (for front illumination)
  

• 1x 3-strand white cable for daisy-chaining multiple panels to one ESP32
  

• Perfboard & silver wire for clean internal wiring (recommended)
  

Tools Required:
Soldering iron, sandpaper, glue, voltmeter, wire cutter/stripper, and a device with USB for flashing the ESP32.

Variant: Create a 3D “Popout” Effect

Two versions of the model are included, each with a different height profile:

• The center unit is slightly taller, pushing it a bit further off the wall.
  

• The left and right units are shallower, creating a subtle 3D depth effect that makes the center Displate visually “pop” forward.
  

This layered effect, emphasizing the piece in multi-panel setups.
If you’re only mounting a single Displate, the thinner model works perfectly on its own.

("Please Remind me to Add the Models")

Mounting Options

• Using a Gallery Rail:
  Mount the hook facing the Displate. This balances the panel nicely against the wall. Gallery Mounting is a great Option if you want to avoid drilling holes or rearrange artwork often.
  The spotlight chassis also includes a filament cutout path for clean cable routing, so it Hangs Straigt.
  

• Using a Nail or Wall Hook:
  Mount the hook facing the wall for traditional nail-based hanging.
  

Assembly

1. Snap the Two Pieces Together
   Choose the correct orientation:

   • Hook toward the wall for nail mounting

   • Hook toward the Displate for gallery rail mounting
     

2. Attach the Magnet
   Glue the Displate magnet to the front of the center piece.

3. Install the ESP32
   Use the dedicated holder at the bottom of the center piece and secure the board with M3 screws.

4. Wire the LED Strips
   Follow the standard multi-strip wiring guide.
   In my setup:

   • The center unit contains the ESP32.
     

   • The left and right units connect to it via thin white wires, which are barely visible once mounted.

5. (Optional) Add Spot Lights
   Just cut the LED Strips running around the Frame, at the Location of the Spot Light Location, and Extend it via Cables, so a Piece of LED Strip can be mounted Inside the Spot Light.
   Be aware of the Direction of the LED Strip.
   

6. Flash and Configure WLED
   Install WLED on your ESP32.
   The software provides full RGB control, animation presets, and segment configuration.

Optional: Add Front Display Lights

You can also mount front-facing spotlights for accent illumination.

In my prototype:

• I cut the LED strip and ran wires through the hollow spotlight chassis, adding four LEDs to light the artwork directly.
  

• They tend to focus most of the light toward the top of the image, so I recommend:

  • Doubling the number of LEDs for stronger output
    

  • Adding aluminum foil inside for reflection
    

  • Using a diffuser for softer, more uniform lighting
    

Files & References

• WLED Firmware: https://kno.wled.ge/
  

• Model Files: https://cad.onshape.com/documents/6a1376014283c4b6776e19ac/w/e5eba0a22fadd1db13ed7887/e/71bce6949ab8665be41ad8b8?renderMode=0&uiState=6a25299edf3c9c9b5a2fd8bc

Please Ignore the Shity Wiring on the Pic, was one of my First Electronics Projects ever. It science has been Improved.

I got Inspired by this Idea:

Completly remodeled the 3D Model from Scratch.
It additonally Features:
- Mounting Point for Microcontroller
- Already Split in Half in the Model for beeing better Printable
- Has Optional Spot Lights
- Has a DC Jack Mount Holder
- Has Holes to Extend with Multiple Displates to the Side
- Has a Wall Hook