Just a weekend project

[Deleted member 8178]

I've built a three mirror spirograph over the weekend and it turned out good. To control the speed of the motors, I use PWM circuits + one DPST-switch for one of the motors. The motors are from old CD drives, the ones that let the disks in and out of the drive. For mirrors I use harddrive disks. The diode is from a Toshiba Samsung SH-S162, running at 200mA.

Enjoy!



Pics:

Vids:
[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vjXvGiC-hzg[/media]
[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zks-kTcoLGs[/media]

Too bad that my camera doesn't record any sound, because this thing makes the coolest sounds.

 

[Ace82]

Very nice work! I've been working on one using an extra 6ch transmitter & reciever from my RC helicopter.  My method is a little different and isn't nearly as cool.  So the mirrors just spin?

 

[Deleted member 8178]

Glad you like it, you got to post your work when you're done.

Yes, they just spin. A cool effect, aka liquid sky is done at the beginning of the fist vid, but sadly the camera doesn't pit that up very well.


And I forgot to mention that it was running at 12v in the vid, it's suppose to be 9v. That makes it allot easier to control the speed. Something I found out after I made the vids. D'oh!

 

[paper183]

Looks very nice, good job.

How did you cut hard disk platters ?

 

[diachi]

Looks very nice, good job.

How did you cut hard disk platters ?

Thats what I was wondering, aswell as the heatsink ...

 

[Deleted member 8178]

Tough one to find, it's been a while:
http://www.laserpointerforums.com/forums/YaBB.pl?num=1210001832/9#9


I didn't cut the heatsink, I pulled it out from a PC and drilled some holes for the screws. Or did you mean something else?

 

[john_lawson]

Nice A++

 

[phoenix77]

Very Cool, wish I had that kind of knowledge & talent, GREAT JOB!phoenix77

 

[Deleted member 8178]

Haha, thanks guys.

Here's another vid, enjoy!
[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d3BFVeC9dAY[/media]

 

[Ace82]

What if I were to make one with 4 mirrors/motors? My transmitter/reciever is easily capable of powering 4. Is it overkill, or would it have the ability to make even more designs? Of coarse, they don't all have to be on all the time. :-?

 

[paper183]

Tough one to find, it's been a while:
http://www.laserpointerforums.com/forums/YaBB.pl?num=1210001832/9#9

Nice thank you. Now i need some new cutting wheels for my dremel ;D This forum costs me a lot : hehe.

 

[Jimmymcjimthejim]

Nice!
That's an awesome visual effect for some spinning discs

 

[chido]

Very nice work man, glad you got this working.

 

[GooeyGus]

Could one use a computer power supply to power these motors?

 

[laserrod]

Could one use a computer power supply to power these motors?

That would be overkiil. PC PS don't work unless there is a minimum 5v load.

Do what I did with my first lightshow; use a battery or wall wart supply and run each motor thru a DPDT switch for cw/ccw operation and a wirewound or carbon .3-1k ohm rheostat/pot/ varible resisitor to control motor rpm. Too much volt/current could ruin the pots!

Or even better, use LM317 adjustable CC supply found in many threads here on each motor.

Use hot glue gun to mount motors then set with epoxy when satisfied with positioning.


Break up a mirror for 7 years of GOOD luck and glue the pieces on the motors. (That's why I seem to have such bad luck!)

Use plastic or wood rod sliced and drilled for gluing mirror mounts.

 

[laserrod]

Old Old prototype with optic resolving speed control.