RE: fibre optics in gardens

["Steve Morgan" <steve@xxxxxxx>]

-----Original Message-----
From: Vijay Vithani [mailto:vijay.vithani@xxxxxxx] 
>We went to Walt Disney World recently, and at Epcot (I think) saw
fibre
optics in paving stones.
>The effect was absolutely fantastic.
>I was keen to use fibre optics in a future garden project,
especially
in the paving in the patio, or in the flooring in the conservatory.
>Any ideas how this can be done here?

I personally wouldn't fancy trying to drill loads of 1mm holes in
paving
slabs, so I'd suggest casting your own. 

Here's what I'd do: 

Make up a wooden mould (or preferably, several). Make it from a frame
of
2"x2" with a plywood base. 

Drill some small holes if the base to take your selected optical fibre.

Feed the fibres through the base, ensuring that they stand proud of the
upper surface of the mould.

Pour in the concrete and wait. 

When it's set, trim off the fibres flush with the top surface. 

Cut the fibres protruding through the base, being sure to leave them
long enough to connect them to some longer fibres later on. 

Repeat as required.

You'd need to handle such slabs pretty carefully, so as not to break
the
fibres. They'd need to be raised somehow to leave space for the fibres
without exceeding their minimum bend radius.

Then, it's just a matter of connecting them to a suitable modulated
light source and switch on.

Steve

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