Spirograph help

Haz_622 · Jul 5, 2008

Hi, I would like to make a spirograph to use with my laser, Does anyone know any guides, or have any tips? I know i need 2 motor's, 2 mirrors, and a battery, But how can i control the speed of the motors to change the effects? I would like to make this as cheaply as possible

Jules · Jul 5, 2008

Check out my thread right below this. A potentiometer with a transistor will do it if they are small motors. You can brute force it with a rheostat. Pulse Width Modulation is an option. A lot of people use small computer fans that have a manual speed control. Make sure you wire at lease one of them so you can reverse the direction of rotation.

Jules

Haz_622 · Jul 5, 2008

Would any of these be suitable
http://www.maplin.co.uk/Search.aspx?criteria=potentiometer&source=15&SD=Y

I would prefer to get my supplies from that store if possible, as there is one near me, so i do not have to wait for deliveries.

GooeyGus · Jul 6, 2008

all you need is a simple potentiometer in series with each motor. 100ohm would be ok, but you wont be able to fully stop each motor. 1kohm should be able to stop the motor depending on your power supply, but would be more sensitive when you adjust it.

EDIT: FW00A from the link you provided should be fine. You'll need one for each motor. If you use three motors you will get a wider range of designs.

Also, I've found that motors from cd rom drives are great. The motor that pushes/pulls the cd holder in and out are the motors that I used. I used three of them powered by a 9v battery and it works great.

jayrob · Jul 6, 2008

Haz_622 said:
Hi, I would like to make a spirograph to use with my laser, Does anyone know any guides, or have any tips? I know i need 2 motor's, 2 mirrors, and a battery, But how can i control the speed of the motors to change the effects? I would like to make this as cheaply as possible

rog8811 did a nice job with a small build... It's not too easy to get it all in the small project box that he used though. But check out his thread....he even has a link to a video tutorial!
Jay
http://www.laserpointerforums.com/forums/YaBB.pl?num=1186862602/0

Haz_622 · Jul 6, 2008

Ok would this setup work -

1 motor wire straight to the battery, The other wire to a potetionmeter, then that wire to the battery? And then rep[eat with other motor

Jules · Jul 6, 2008

If you use a 1K pot, wire one side to (+) 12 or a nine volt battery then wire the wiper (middle terminal) to the motor, then the other side of the motor to ground. To get a little fancier, wire a DPST switch to allow you to reverse the motor. Try Type "H" form here:

http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=2341&C=Maplin&U=SearchTop&T=toggle switch&doy=6m7

You can use a 10K pot and a 2n3906 transistor too like this

Jules

Jules · Jul 6, 2008

Here is how you wire the switch

Haz_622 · Jul 6, 2008

Do the mirrors need to be at angles?

Jules · Jul 6, 2008

Yes, there needs to be a slight angle to the mirrors. I used Hot Glue on mine and guestimated the angle. Try and make them the same on both (or all three if you are doing three) My youtube video shows them in the opening.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5TDTlyhr3HU

Jules

daguin · Jul 6, 2008

Jules said:
Yes, there needs to be a slight angle to the mirrors.

Make sure it is a "slight" angle. If the angle is too large the beam will go off the edge of the next mirror. When using three mirrors this angle is compounded.

Peace,
dave

Haz_622 · Jul 6, 2008

Thanks for all the help, I have finished it =]

Just incase you were wondering, The motors are mounted on tin cans

Haz_622 · Jul 6, 2008

And here s a picture of the spirograph, sorry the picture isn't too great, that is in a well lighted room

Jules · Jul 6, 2008

Nice Job! Congrats on your Spirograph

f22warzone · Jul 27, 2008

all right so what do you do with the 3rd leg of the pot? do you attach it to the negative end of the battrie or do you just leave it blank like he did?

daguin · Jul 27, 2008

f22warzone said:
all right so what do you do with the 3rd leg of the pot? do you attach it to the negative end of the battrie or do you just leave it blank like he did?

As with all things magikal, it is best if you get as many of the elements involved as possible.

You have the hot lead wired to positive, so you have fire.

You have the negative lead wired to ground, so you have earth.

You should leave the third lead wired to the air, so you have wind.

It is NOT advisable to include the element of water to a spirograph.

I hope that clears things up for you

Peace,
dave

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