First Spirograph

[poparms]

Hey im doing a project for school, and i need/want to make a spirograph. but i have one problem i can only seem to make 1 shape. I think its due to either the helicopter blades spinning too quickly or the 25 ohm pot not doing that much to the speed.

all i want it to do is maybe make 3-4 diff shapes nothing fancy

http://laserpointerforums.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=41637&stc=1&d=1367708101

edit: also im using a 5mw laser not that it matters

 

[daguin]

If you are only getting one shape, then one of the following is happening:

1) one of your mirrors is exactly flat
2) one of your mirrors is not spinning
3) your pot is not doing anything to the speed of the motor

Peace,
dave

 

[poparms]

the pot works, but i dont think it has enough ohms to cover a wide enough range to change the shape drastically.

since the motor is only 6 volts and i have a 25 ohm resistor.

radioshack sells 5k ohm potentiometers, but don't think that would work at all.

the other stuff works.