Are fiber optics any good ?

[DeBriquesEtDeBlocs]

Hi, for MOC I need to propagate light where the light cable cannot go. I was going to use a silvery or golden brick to reflect the light at 45° but then I did the search for fiber optic and found out that lego had created such part.

But it doesn't look like real fiber optic, more like a transparent and bendable plastic.

It seems that it was intended to light itself up, but what I want to do is propagate the light through it. It is going to work well enough ?

[Mirandir]

Hi, for MOC I need to propagate light where the light cable cannot go. I was going to use a silvery or golden brick to reflect the light at 45° but then I did the search for fiber optic and found out that lego had created such part.

But it doesn't look like real fiber optic, more like a transparent and bendable plastic.

It seems that it was intended to light itself up, but what I want to do is propagate the light through it. It is going to work well enough ?

Haven't tried that specific fibreoptic cable. But I've tried the "exo-force" variant. Don't think there is much differences when it comes to light-characteristics though. And I can say that it's not a very good quality fibre. When "fed" light from that PF-light through one of the ends there is a noticeble fade in the color. Near the PF-light it'll be white and on the other end it's a lot more yellow. The light will also loose some strenght passing through the fibre.

[Front]

I think the main problem is to transmit the light from your source and directly into the cable. It's my guess that PF light does not make a concentrated beam, but more or less create some kind of spherical light. To transmit light through the cables (exo-force-cables) light has to reach the cable concentrated and at not a too big angle.

[Mirandir]

I think the main problem is to transmit the light from your source and directly into the cable. It's my guess that PF light does not make a concentrated beam, but more or less create some kind of spherical light. To transmit light through the cables (exo-force-cables) light has to reach the cable concentrated and at not a too big angle.

Nope. The pf-lights are spotlights and nowhere near the spherical light that the old 9v-lights gives.

[Blakbird]

Hi, for MOC I need to propagate light where the light cable cannot go. I was going to use a silvery or golden brick to reflect the light at 45° but then I did the search for fiber optic and found out that lego had created such part.

But it doesn't look like real fiber optic, more like a transparent and bendable plastic.

It seems that it was intended to light itself up, but what I want to do is propagate the light through it. It is going to work well enough ?

I have many of the fiber optic elements. They transmit light very well, but they are really designed to be inserted into a specific light source which concentrates the light. These fibers only come in one length though, so you might have trouble unless your light source is very near your destination.

[DeBriquesEtDeBlocs]

What about the light's color of part 6637 ? is it only red ?

[Siegfried]

I used to work on a Radar that used plastic fiber optics to transmit the trigger pulse to the transmitter. (For those wanting more details it was for electrical isolation reasons, and the Radar was SPS-49.) What's my point? For short distances plastic is good enough!

Can you expand on your planned usage?

[Oky]

What about the light's color of part 6637 ? is it only red ?

Yes, and that's the main problem here. If you want white/yellow light, then I don't think that part 6637 will be useful to you. The Lego Fiber Optics Cables on the other hand might. You are right, they are more plastic than real fiber glass, but it works pretty well. You may lose some of the light on the way, but it comes out pretty good on the other end IMO. However, the end of the Fiber Optics Cable that connects to 6637 is very thin and does not connect with any other Lego piece as far as I know. If you would find some way to mount that thin end of the cables in front of the PF lights, I guess they might be useful to you. But I agree with others that the "Exo-Force variant" has the same effect, but is much easier to use. I think it's the best purist solution for your problem and I can recommend it.

[DeBriquesEtDeBlocs]

I got some fiber optics from exo forces sets, the cable is much more flexible than I thought and that's a good new.

However the beam is very concentrated, what part could I use to spread it again ? (It's for a car headlight.)