SMD LEDs, lightpipes etc - talk to me.

[Gurner]

I've a circuit where I'm pushed for space - I'm presently using a traditional 3mm tri-colour three legged LED (I use this led to display which 'selectable' mode is actually active).

I'd have rather used an SMD led (vs a traditonal led) ....but here's the thing - my circuit board is physically only a few millimetres (just under 1/8") beneath the enclosure's facia - I can't just have an empty hole in the facia (cos that would look sh1t). All the LED lightpipes I've seen are quite long. (I'm a lightpipe virgin - are these things - as I presume - normally sourced with the correct 'throw' .....or do people actually cut the stalks down?!)

what are my options here?

1. My prefered option would be a little diffused 'push in' lens...ie I drill a hole in the facia, push fit in a lens - job done. Going this way I need worry about 'piping the light' ...the SMD LED would have enough ambient light to illuminate such a lens (becuase it's only a few millimetres below) - but nope, I can't find them

2.A Lightpipe that's only about 3mm 'long' (& 3mm diameter) - to date I've not found one.

3. Stick with the intensly fiddly traditional LED I'm already using (eeuuughh)

Any more for any more?

[anchovie]

http://www.toby.co.uk/content/catalogue/products.aspx?series=LEM-11

[Gurner]

Thanks for the URL - I actually saw that very item before I posted. It's not clear from any of their associated literature how to seperate one from the three, and what shape the separated yield a circular head shape? I need it to fill a round hole!)

Edit: When in doubt call the people that sell them - the accompanying drawing does indeed show a perforated line around the head, which apparently means they snap out (I  live & learn with respect to diagramatic conventions & standards). This leaves the puzzle of how to affix it to a fascia - it's got a straight shank - glue? (if so, that doesn't seem very slick in this day & age!!!)

Anyway...even though it's too long, no apparent easy way of attaching to the fascia - from a roll call of one, it for now remains a contender.

[anchovie]

Used something like them at an old workplace - the pipe is cylindrical and has a domed top. The wider part has a concave recess so that it can sit over the SMD LED and the strips are scored so you can just snap them apart to get a single pipe.