Greetings List,

I am planning a one-off, handmade project.
It will be a glass sphere made from sections of colored glass,
assembled using copper tape and solder.. a "stained glass" sphere,
probably three to five inches in diameter.

I have always been impressed with the solutions that this list has
come up with for various challenges. This project has two such
questions:

Are there any inexpensive ideas for shaping the glass pieces? Since
they are assembling into a sphere, all the parts will need the same
shape/radius of bend.

As the parts are assembled, There will be opportunity to install some
circuitry inside the sphere, but no chance for a trapdoor for
batteries. I'm thinking one or more LEDs, likely with a small PIC or
something for dimming/flickering effects. Once the sphere is closed, I
expect to never open it again.. No battery doors, and I don't think
using contacts to the base would work, as a sphere has no locating
points to reference.

Whether internal batteries are charged, or if the lights only operate
when sitting in a base, either way could be OK. I suppose a small PV
panel inside MIGHT be an option, though it will probably only ever see
indoor lighting.

While it is important to make it "nice", low cost is also a concern..
I hope I have given all the important parameters without unnecesarily
limiting creative possibilities..

Thanks for your ideas!
Lyle
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