Not quite sure what I'll need...

iewed · Oct 16, 2008

I would just like to get a confirmation that this is what I'll need to start building my own spirograph, listed is basically what I want it to do-

Portability is a must, I was thinking along the lines of 2-3 motors, running off of 2 9V batteries, and a pot for each motor. Ideally, I would want it do be no more than 6" x 6" x 4", and I would like to have an opening where you shine any laser through a hole, and then the design would be projected out of another hole.

So as a supply list, I would need-

2-3 Motors
A mirror for each motor
A pot for each motor
1 9V battery
1 On/Off Switch
And a nice project box to keep it all in.

EDIT: With the motor choice, I'll probably just use 1 9V battery in a parallel circuit.

Is there anything wrong/possibly troublesome with my set-up, or am I good to go material wise?
Is $50 for one of these sprirographs overspending?

thesk8nmidget · Oct 17, 2008

looks good so far. i would recommend using some front surface mirrors. under 25mm 17mm is great!

i dont think 50 dollars is overspending at all. i probably spent little less but my next one will probably be upwards in the 100's range

mine is also very compact and that made it a little harder to build.. you are going with a lot more space so you should be completely fine!

and it looks like your parts list is complete. i recommend 100 ohm pots

thesk8nmidget · Oct 17, 2008

heres some pictures

then some 500mw green through it

ArRaY · Oct 17, 2008

Holy Shit! I so want that green laser...! You spirograph is cool, too ;D

DJZ · Oct 17, 2008

Very nice spyrograph!

If you add the circuit from here: http://www.laserpointerforums.com/forums/YaBB.pl?num=1220502809/22#22

It will give you a more linear control over the speed of the motors, also wiring in the DPDT switch (or relay) will let you reverse the motor.

DJZ · Oct 17, 2008

Or you could buy pangolin and a set of scanners and do these types of "spyrographs"

thesk8nmidget · Oct 17, 2008

thanks for the kind words guys and thanks for the link dz

EDIT: nice pic dz....

SHOWOFF lol

DJZ · Oct 17, 2008

I couldn't help it! The spyrographs makes some very cool patterns, and the ones I've seen the guys here build look fantastic. What I don't think I've seen yet though, is multicolor or any type of modulation in the spyrographs. I use to build stuff like that a long time ago, and may still have a few pics around. I'll have to do some digging. Adding a little modulation to the laser in a spyrograph really can enhance some of the effects you can create.

lasersbee · Oct 17, 2008

thesk8nmidget....
do you have a picture of the inside of your spirograph :-?

thesk8nmidget · Oct 17, 2008

dz i am actually about to start building a hand held 3 motor 3 color spirograph i found a great project box that has a clear lid.

i will be adding 3 pots for the motors and 3 pots for the power of the 3 lasers. i may also add 3 little on off buttons to tap that will kind of blank the lasers.

not sure completely but we'll see as the build goes on

dz how do you recommend adding some modulation to a handheld spiro?
all suggests would be great!

and laserbee i dont currently have any inside pictures but i would gladly snap some pictures of it when i get home

DJZ · Oct 17, 2008

Well as I expected, I don't have a good pic of it, but I made this somewhere around 2001. It was just a cheapie little low quality thing I built for a friend. Also there is a pic of what it could do and what the color modulation could offer. Easiest way to do it is with a 555 timer circuit, maybe even run through a JK flip flop so you have a perfect 50/50 duty cycle.

thesk8nmidget said:
dz i am actually about to start building a hand held 3 motor 3 color spirograph i found a great project box that has a clear lid.

i will be adding 3 pots for the motors and 3 pots for the power of the 3 lasers. i may also add 3 little on off buttons to tap that will kind of blank the lasers.

not sure completely but we'll see as the build goes on
dz how do you recommend adding some modulation to a handheld spiro?
all suggests would be great!

and laserbee i dont currently have any inside pictures but i would gladly snap some pictures of it when i get home

DJZ · Oct 17, 2008

Looks like I can only have one attachment in a post?

daguin · Oct 17, 2008

DZ said:
Looks like I can only have one attachment in a post?

If you "host" your images somewhere (like photobucket) you can include all of your pictures by using the "insert image" button above. It looks like a little "picture frame. Copy the URL of the photo to your clipboard, click on the button above, paste the url between the HTML codes. You can space them out and add text between them then as well.

Peace,
dave

DJZ · Oct 17, 2008

Cool, thanks Dave! I'll give that a try.

Going back to the spyrograph thing, of course pangolin can also be used to create the typical "spyrograph" effects! ;D

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=3724252849710706718&q=source:012049937750095638733&hl=en

thesk8nmidget · Oct 20, 2008

please give me more infor on this 555 timer. i would love to include some modulation in my next spirograph.

how would i include it in a spirograph? and can i buy the circuit anywhere?

DJZ · Oct 23, 2008

thesk8nmidget said:
please give me more infor on this 555 timer. i would love to include some modulation in my next spirograph.

how would i include it in a spirograph? and can i buy the circuit anywhere?

I'll look around and see if I can find an old schematic. You really need a driver than can handle the quick on and off, basically something that can handle ttl. drlava's flexmod driver would work perfectly for such a simple application.

Not quite sure what I'll need...

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