Building a Real Retractable Lightsaber

We built a real extending and retracting lightsaber from Star Wars! Finished just in time for the Acolyte, I'm so glad I can finally share Project JEDI with everyone. The lightsaber project files, links, and tutorials can be found below:

DISCLAIMER: This lightsaber is a prototype and is potentially dangerous to DIY. While I'm working to change that, I can't currently recommend this for anyone without engineering expertise and the will to troubleshoot for hours.

BIG thank you to Madie and Aaron!

Email : contact(AT)herotech(DOT)engineering

HEROTECH:

00:00 - Lightsaber Intro
01:14 - Blade Extension and Retraction
03:02 - Onshape Ad
04:03 - Compact, To-Scale Hilt Design
06:23 - Realistic Blade and Sound
08:02 - Putting it All Together
09:27 - Demo
10:50 - What's Next?

[NefariousElasticity]

That opening clip looked so good I legit thought it was CGI until watching the clips from testing. That's nuts.

[RedLanternFrank]

I am a 45 year old man. But this had me feel like a kid again. It is so great that you young ppl working on things I thought I would never see in my life time come true. Plz make a red one.
Thank you and your team.
May the Force be with you.

[Sadlander]

When I saw the lightsaber extending in the beginning of the video, I thought _"OK, this is CGI, it must be the goal they're looking to achieve but it will never look that great without video FX"_
I know you want to make it even better but it already looks amazing!
Great job!!

[crysflake]

Finally a retractable blade, barely anyone did this before. Awesome work and hope to see the improved v2.0

[darthtyler]

Disney: we have the world’s first fully retractable, LED light saber. You have to pay to see it.

Herotech:

[ChrisLeeW]

The spinning gives it an electric looking glow, so awesome.

[ctallum]

Super dope lightsaber! Regarding the overheating of the LEDs, you could look into individually addressable LED strips, you could then calculate which LEDs to turn on depending on how far they are extended. That way, only the exterior LEDs are turned on and the inside ones are off.

[Hinato_]

keep up the "web shooter that actually lets me swing" project, I'd love to see the completion

[billverine]

Awesome job, by a group of talented engineers. I saw Star Wars first run in the theatre in 1977 and it blew us away. We were totally obsessed with it and stood in line for a chance to buy the original Kenner action figures. I am amazed at how this franchise is still captivating minds and spurring creativity. When I see young folks doing things like this it gives me hope for the future. Keep up the awesomeness my young friends.

[gabe]

Feels like I’ve been waiting on a lightsaber design like this my whole life 😭.

As a recent engineering graduate, seeing what you guys do is really inspirational and has me excited about getting into the industry and hopefully be apart of a team just as clever!

[creativecanvas]

I’m honestly fine with the side looking semi like a darksaber cause the design is SICKKK 🔥🔥

[jackEdoo]

There's a Disney Imagineer somewhere very mad you made this. No doubt a DIY is more affordable than what they would charge eventually at Galxys Edge. Great work!!!

[calvinmusquez]

Funny enough, spinning the blade with reflective material on it is exactly how they achieved the pulsing, flickering effect on the original lightsabers in 1977.

[AsunaRunsArchives]

The fact it isn’t edited but looks like it is, that’s awesome dude, Disney could never compete.

[steventurner]

I am a 40 year veteran of the prop building industry and I must you have come up with a very innovative solution to the age old problem of the retractable lightsaber. Well done!!!

[GLACIOUS]

So, @9:48 you brought tears of joy to an old man's eyes! I've considered some of the other options mentioned for various reasons but the idea of hiding the tube until just the right moment (Cons and such) never appealed to me. Now, I'm glad I waited! This is doable and much more appealing to my "DIY" self. I'm sure my wife will understand why I suddenly had to purchase a 3D printer. "Subbed" of course!

[christinebeeby]

So impressive. I love that you take such an iconic artifact and use your creativity and ingenuity to create this new millennium version. Wishing you continued success!

[daniel]

What a fantastic work dear Jacob, congratulations to you and your team, I’m also so glad to finally find a video about the possibility to build my own lightsaber than hasn’t to be 4 years or more old. Like the dream died long ago, and here you are. Young pleople. Probably half my age creating one. A as I’ll keep an eye on your work, I m still trying to build my own one. You are a great inspiration. Big respect and thanks.

[stndagsnttyrnny]

Old school star wars fan, I love it. I am a huge Vader fan. The ultimate, powerful villain, who in the end died saving his son. He turned good. Please build a Vader version. I am very certain it will sell. We don't have computers or 3d printing, so build to sell I think would work. I'm not tech savvy, so helping old school collectors would be amazing and awesome. I subbed and look forward to more of you and your crews builds, stay safe. May the force be with you.

[daevydjae]

I'm geeking out over this! Really, really amazing!
Now for a new challenge: Can you make the extension and retraction speeds as fast as those depicted in the prequel and sequel movies? Or maybe start with the speed of Obi-Wan's extension when he finally meets Vader in A New Hope?