DIY LED horizontal 8x10 enlarger

albada

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thanks so much, this is great, really appreciate this Koraks!

Another approach which costs much more is to buy the Intrepid enlarger:
Intrepid Enlarger

Then use only the controller and lamp. Remove the diffuser from the lamp, and build your own diffusion chamber with the lamp at the top and diffuser at the bottom. The only work you will need to do is building the diffusion chamber; all the electronics can be used unchanged.

Mark
 

blacksquare

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I am planning to build an LED light source for my enlarger and came across your extensive answer. Thanks you very much for info like this.

I don't mind working with filters, for now I would go the easier way with warm white COB LED.
Do you have any idea how to diffuse light from small LED like this?

I have a very simple enlarger where there is a large round condensor, just frosted glass over it, and then an opal bulb was used which moved up and down on a rod in the lamp housing to provide even illumination at different magnifications.

 

koraks

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Do you have any idea how to diffuse light from small LED like this?

An easy way is to place a diffusor (e.g. milky plexiglass) at a good distance from the light source. You'll have to experiment how much distance you need to get even illumination for your setup.
You can reduce the loss of light by putting the LED on one end of a diffusion chamber and the diffusor at the other end. If the inner walls are white, they'll reflect quite some light onto the diffusor.

If you can't make enough distance between the LED and the diffusor, you can work with two diffusors in series, at some distance from each other. You'll lose some more light, but you can get away with a smaller physical package.

I have a very simple enlarger

You could try to end up with a hybrid diffusor-condenser setup where you project a diffuse light source onto the condenser. Again, you'll have to experiment to get the distances etc. right.
An easier method would be to replace the condenser with a diffusor at the end of the tube, at a short distance above the film stage. It will no longer be a condenser enlarger that way, but that's not necessarily a problem.
 

blacksquare

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Thanks for the quick reply.

I will definitely try it. I can get COB LED in various power from local shop, although it need a power source, but I have no problem with that.
I don't mind getting rid of the condenser, I have a smaller enlarger with a color head a and I'm happy with it.
I'll just have to add some weight to balance it out. That condenser is really heavy.
 
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