1st DIY 4 Reversable-Motors Spirograph

For my 1st soldering Project I made a Spirograph. I wanted to learn how to solder and gain some experience in all of it. It's a 4 Motor Spirograph that I can reverse each Motor as well. I used 100ohm Potentiometers and Front Surface Mirrors.

I got my Basic Plain from HERE.

EDIT: I bought The mirrors from "LarryDFW" PM him and there 2.50$ shipped each CUSA for 2'' Front surface mirrors. :beer: fast shipping, I had to clean them with a lens pen they were all dirty and only 2 of the 6 I got had flaws, (before I cleaned them they came with these flaws) 1 was chipped on the outer edge and Micro scratched (was small and not in the way where I placed it) and the other had a small micro scratch it self as well and it was near the outer edge and also place as to not be in the way. I haven't contacted him about these issues because It's doesn't matter really for Me. But I thought I should post this as I'm pitching him..

But Anselm Helped me with the Wiring.

anselm said:

A little crude, but should be deciphrable ...

M are the motors.
D are the LEDs.
R are the resistors for the LEDs.
R with arrow are the pots for the motors.
S are the switches.
There are some wires from the switches to the LEDs resistors that "cross" over the wire
that feeds all switches. This is only a visual effect, those wires arenot meant to touch.

Click to expand...

The reverse switches aren't in that diagram because I added them. The LEDs I Ruined 2 of them breaking off the tiny wires...and then used Regular Lights but I burnt them out because there rated for 3 Volts but i tried 4.5 volts but it killed them. I'm going buy LED's and wire them in later, It works with them burnt out anyways.

Here was the 1st attempt with the blue LED's, I didn't have the mirrors yet and so nothing cut for them yet...




That was the 1st Soldering job, before I was explained to how to properly solder... So It bugged the crap outta me and I decided to take everything down and solder everything right...

I'm better at soldering now

Here is everything back and re-soldered

I'm going to have to move the mirrors around a little better, this is the 1st Set up, it works but it's so close I'd like to make it better, and the motors wobble a little when going fast and I gotta fix that...


I wanted to use any laser I want with it so I used a few pipe sizes to get it to work.


So I wrap a Section of Foam around the lasers to make them snug when Places inside










I'm going get a slug that fits in the widest pipe that will hold 3 pen styles at the same time should look cool.










The Battery Pack




Big Boys


At Least this LED Still Works... So far...


It Works!!! Yay



After I fix the wobble issue and Move the mirrors some I'll get some video of the Laser on the walls :beer:

Thanks for your Help Anselm and LaserBee :beer:



Up to 2:20 into the video all I'm doing is turning on the 4 motors and then reversing them. On a preset Potentiometer set up I like. Then after that I start moving the knobs. I gotta reset up the mirrors and motors so they make less noise when going max speed.

Personally I like 3:36-3:50 It does a Pinwheel for a second, I'm trying to find that setting.... And then the Shape I play with at 4:30 I like making them go really slow and watch the shape Morph

Re: 1st DIY Spirograph

Man, that looks really good!
I especially like that "ignition on" or "missile launch" covered switch, the other
day I almost bought one of those to put in my car as an ignition switch.:crackup:
Also your soldering job looks 10x better than your first attempt, you can see how
a little technique and the right kind of soldering tin can go a long way.

About the motor wobble.....
aren't they supposed to wobble? Or do you mean the motors themselves
wobble because they're not 100% fixed?
Well that's no surprise, with those HUGE mirrors you got there, that's a lot of mass to spin
around and when things aren't 100% balanced....
At least the first two mirrors would ideally be much smaller.

Let's get some pictures and video of the patterns on the wall.:wave:
I guess right now you are happy like a kid on christmas eve, flipping switches
and twiddling knobs, trying to get some cool patterns.

Anyway, nice job!:gj:

Re: 1st DIY Spirograph

Thanks for all the help and information Bud.

Yeah I'm having fun...:crackup:

Re: 1st DIY Spirograph

love it! i cant wait to see a vid of this going


where did you pick up the knobs for the pots? they are sweet

Re: 1st DIY Spirograph

Both the 100ohm Pot's and the knobs were at a local "Fry's electronics"

Thanks, I wish I had a faster frame rate HD recorder because it makes it look like it has a gap or 2 once in awhile when there is no gap it's perfect :scowl:

I'll try and get a video but so far I can't get it right at the moment.

EDIT: I'm sorry the videos are horrible compared to what you can see, I just can;t give it any justice I'm sorry.... I'll try again later...

Great build!
All these Spirograph builds going around right now makes me want to make one too

Thanks bud, It's a fun build, and for anyone who already knows how to solder and wire things You will be able to put this together pretty fast. It took me a few days because I'm disabled and it took longer to cut the holes etc... I have to limit how much I do other wise suffer the Wrath...

Video Added as I said I would....



I don't really Like the video... but I said I would post one. It was hard in the dark with the bright beam and in the light it looked to fuzzy.... I gotta figure it out more so i can do better designs and find a better wall that i can project from farther away to get to see it all better. I'm to close. And maybe I can figure out the frame rate on my camera and get it fast enough where I can see it all better. But so far thats the best I could do....













I was just turning on the motors and reversing them all the way up to 2:20 mins into it, then I started with the potentiometers the rest of the way.... I wish I could show you what it really looks like, it's so much cooler that what you can see in the video...

Krogith;

Good job on building the spirograph.

Now, I see what you had in mind.

The pot knobs are sharp,

& the video looks great.

I apologise for the scratches.

LarryDFW

LarryDFW said:

Krogith;

Good job on building the spirograph.

Now, I see what you had in mind.

The pot knobs are sharp,

& the video looks great.

I apologise for the scratches.

LarryDFW

Click to expand...

No Problem, there very small and don't effect my unit, I just thought it should be mentioned. Thanks Again bud.

Very, very nice!
What's that rattle, the motors and mirrors? Kinda noisy....

I have so many motors from optical drives laying around, I guess it's time
I build me one of these, too!
I also find your choice of music quite enjoyable, what is that sound?
Reminds me slightly of Fisherspooner, but less pretentious.

Thanks

Yeah the motors "humm/vibrate" when going max speed. I want to take em out and re position them (for a better mirror set-up) and make them not vibrate. And you hear my fish-tank as well...That will be my trademark in my videos the fish-tank noise... lol

The Song is:

Fast & Delirious

By:

Lindstrøm :beer:

very cool... I love spiros, remind me of how I got sucked into this money pit

I wish I had a fry's within a reasonable distance

Have you ever thought of mounting the laser module within as well and making another switch for it?

warrior24769 said:

Have you ever thought of mounting the laser module within as well and making another switch for it?

Click to expand...

I'm sure the Idea is to be able to easily use different Powers and
Wavelengths of Lasers....

Jerry

Yeah, It is nice being able to change the lasers or use a few pen size lasers all at the same time.