LED light pipe guide - Low cost source

[hcglitte]

Hi,
I am trying to source LED pipes for front panels. I can only find it on digikey etc, but not on aliexpress or similar Chinese places.
Has anyone found these from low cost vendors?

[thm_w]

Maybe you can post the specific kind, link to digikey?
If you are buying reasonable quantity you will find them on alibaba.

[hcglitte]

This is an example: https://www.digikey.com/products/en?keywords=LFB025CTP%20

I know you can find it on alibaba. But then you will have to buy a lot I guess, and for lower volume (1000 pcs) shipping cost will even it out.

I would assume this would cost a couple of dollars for 100 pcs with free shipping on aliexpress (if a store stocked them), but on digikey we are talking 30 bucks(!) And that was one of the cheapest panel mount versions I could find...

[cdev]

generic plastic fiber optics are fairly bendable and might save you some money.

Or... https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_sacat=0&_nkw=%22lite+brite%22&_sop=15

[hcglitte]

I would like the custom grooves etc so they stick on the panel. I am just a little amazed that these are not available on aliexpress.
The project can handle the 0.2 USD price @ 500 pcs. But I am sure there must be some cheaper alternative out there...

[hcglitte]

Actually, I will try skip using light guides. The design currently uses TH soldered LED's with LED spacers for controlling height.
The LED's then fit into 3.5 mm holes in the panel which is 3 mm thick.
The panel has an overlay where the LED hole indicators are transparent and diffused.

Using narrow beam LED's (if needed) will most likely direct enough light into the 3 mm thick panel hole and then become spread in the diffused overlay.

My design uses red, green and yellow LED's. In order to reduce unique BOM count I was thinking of using RGB LED's and switch yellow to blue.
Less than one USD for 100 pcs:
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/Wholesale-100pcs-RGB-POWER-TOP-1210-3528-SMD-SMT-PLCC-2-LED-Red-Green-Blue-New/32384196929.html

[tszaboo]

Use digikey to find the right type, order it, test it. Contact the manufacturer to order a bag. It will be cheaper.