For shaping the glass pieces-- you could cut them to shape and use the stan= dard glass working process of "slumping" in a suitable kiln (and with a sui= table form). http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slumping Could you leave a couple small gaps at the bottom in the Cu and bring elect= ricity in directly by contact with the tape? On Feb 23, 2013, at 5:37 PM, Lyle Hazelwood wrote: > Greetings List, >=20 > 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. >=20 > I have always been impressed with the solutions that this list has > come up with for various challenges. This project has two such > questions: >=20 > 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. >=20 > 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. >=20 > 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. >=20 > 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.. >=20 > Thanks for your ideas! > Lyle > --=20 > http://www.piclist.com/techref/piclist PIC/SX FAQ & list archive > View/change your membership options at > http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/piclist --=20 http://www.piclist.com/techref/piclist PIC/SX FAQ & list archive View/change your membership options at http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/piclist .