Tuesday, January 24, 2012

Make An Xray Screen

Displaying X-rays at home is easy with a simple X-ray screen.


You may have X-rays that you want to view at home, or perhaps you would like to display X-rays in an artistic way as a decoration. In either case, and inexpensive and fun solution is to make your own X-ray screen. Making an X-ray screen is really no different from making a simple light box. Use a lighting kit or kits that can accommodate two light-emitting diodes (LEDs) or compact fluorescent light bulbs, which will reduce the heat output. These kits can be found at any home improvement store.


Instructions


1. Cut the wood to the correct dimensions for your box. The back piece should be the same size as your plastic screen. The screen should overlap the sides exactly. The sides should frame the bottom and top at the correct length and width. The depth should be deep enough to accommodate the lighting kit and bulbs with a little room to spare.


2. Assemble all of the box pieces and the plastic cover to ensure the dimensions are correct. Make corrections if needed.


3. Assemble the back and sides of the wood box with standard wood screws and a little wood glue. Leave off the plastic cover until later.


4. Drill a hole at the bottom of the box and thread the light kit cords through it.


5. Mount the light kits to the back of the box so that the bulbs are fairly evenly spaced within the box. Test that the bulbs are working before proceeding.


6. Glue the tracing paper to the inside of the plastic sheet with spray adhesive. This will help filter the light and make it more even.


7. Put the screen in place and drill two holes at the top and the bottom of the screen, going through the plastic and into the top edges of the box. Secure the screen with wood screws.

Tags: X-ray screen, plastic cover, that bulbs, wood screws