First spirograph questions

I think laser spirographs are kickass, so I want to build one myself. My plan is to buy

3 x http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.5129
1 x http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.13987
Normal mirrors
9V batteries

I need help though. Will 9V be enough for the 12V fans? How do I hook up the speed controller to the fans and then to the battery?
Also do I need FS mirrors? Normal mirrors seem to work fine.

Grix said:

I think laser spirographs are kickass, so I want to build one myself. My plan is to buy

3 x http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.5129
1 x http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.13987
Normal mirrors
9V batteries

I need help though. Will 9V be enough for the 12V fans? How do I hook up the speed controller to the fans and then to the battery?
Also do I need FS mirrors? Normal mirrors seem to work fine.

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9V will not be enough for the 12V fans to go full speed, it might turn them on but you probably won't get much control with your fan controller thing. I've had this same problem before when building my spiro. I ended up getting an extra 2xAA battery pack and put that in series with the 9V battery to make it 12V.

And for the fan speed controller, you'll probably just need to splice open the wires and figure out which ones power each fan and solder on some wires to hook up to your batteries. The other end of the fan speed controller should be able to just plug into the fans.

FS mirrors will make it look the best but normal mirrors do work well as you said. You might find you get a fade of an extra line when using normal mirrors but I doubt you will, it would be due to a double reflection from the glass ontop of the mirror relfecting back onto the mirror and out.

FS mirrors are relativly cheap though...

good luck,

-Kendall

Are you sure? I tested with a 9V on a old fan, and it spun pretty fast

Then why are you asking?

Then why are you asking?

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