This DIY Lightsaber Proves That Spinning is Indeed a 'Good Trick'
YouTuber Jacob Uy's latest video shows off the entire build process for his second edition lightsaber that he originally created with a few friends from college. Just as before, this device uses a magician's cane and LED strips attached to a motor to simulate the automated extension and retraction—along with the prototypical plasma-like glow—you see in the films. There were several issues with the original design. First, the hilt was too bulky to accommodate the motor and rolled-up LED strip. Plus, the DIY lightsaber would release far slower than they did in the movies. The single lighting array created a dead area in the center of the blade, an effect more akin to the Darksaber than other laser swords powered by a kyber crystal most fans are used to.
Uy previously told Gizmodo of his plans for his homemade lightsaber sequel, and—judging by the video—the new rendition has made good on those back-of-the-napkin designs. The second edition DIY device contains an extra LED strip, which, combined with a special motor inside the weapon's outer hilt that spins a new inner hilt, generates a glow that looks both dangerous and beautiful. A custom bearing over the top of both inner and outer shells keeps the entire device from flying apart.
The visual effects artists at Industrial Lights & Magic created the lightsaber effect by using a hilt attached to rods covered in a reflective tape. The VFX team then rotoscoped the glow onto each individual frame and added the classic swishing, twanging sound effects in post-production. Those rods were also attached to motors that spun at high speeds, which helped generate that pulsing glow in the final movie that's now so iconic to the franchise. Uy said the spinning actually creates a gyroscopic effect in-hand—something that fans of deep Star Wars lore may find especially interesting. Sure, a blade made of plasma would ostensibly seem weightless, but the extended universe of Star Wars lore describes how the blades' constant motion makes them feel more physical than they appear. The fiction describes how this sense of mass requires no small amount of physical strength or connection to the Force to wield.
There is a fair amount of extra engineering work that went into this blade compared to the YouTuber's first version. The device now includes a clutch that can engage or disengage the gears that hold the magician's cane in place. This means the device can extend far faster than before and still maintain its ability to retract. There's a separate motor that can control the tension of the LED strips and engage that clutch. It all combines into a blade that looks and acts closer to what the average Star Wars fan expects. To boot, it's far more accessible than that Disney-made extending blade the media giant showed off four years ago at the now-defunct Galactic Starcruiser experience.
Uy said the next version of the lightsaber will include a full metal hilt, plus he plans to fix the issue that creates friction and slows down the retraction mechanism. You can make one yourself if you want to buy the files from the HeroTech site with a subscription. However, the YouTuber mentioned he may make the next rendition more simplified. Eventually, you may not need much mechanical expertise to create your own perfect extending DIY lightsaber.
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