The World's Best Spirograph

[3zuli]

Well, everybody has seen a 2-motor spirograph.
A lot of people built a 3-motor spiro.
Few people built 4-motor one.
I think I remember one 5-motor spirograph
BUT

Nobody has done THIS

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Introducing...​

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THE WORLD'S F1RST 6-MOTOR SPIROGRAPH
(aka the Random Beam Machine 6000 LOL)​

constructed (not mainly) for this contest: http://laserpointerforums.com/f44/contest-win-lpc-826-now-going-thru-may-25th-62682.html

first I planned the layout of the components

then I cut out a piece of pcb 17x17cm and started to hotglue the parts to the PCB (hotglue FTW )

finished motors and laser

I guess this was taken with 5 active motors

then it was time to drill holes, scratch the PCB to make some soldering pads for all the potentiometers and solder them, and then do some insane wiring
I used this circuit:

just one thing here, it would be better to use potentiometers with lower resistance (like 100 or 200ohm). I used 4.7Kohm because I had these on hand (I just realised that we use 3.7V batteries )
I'm using a DX "30mW" green module (actual power unknown)

well, that's it...
TBH, I expected some cooler effects... but I used non-FS mirrors and poor speed regulation, so this is open foor future experiments
and also, if this is NOT the world's first 6 motor spiro, just tell me

 

[Tech_Junkie]

I love it. :beer:

 

[Trevor]

I've always wanted to build a five-motor spirograph.

This... this is just awesome. I can't wait to see pictures.

+1

-Trevor

 

[lazeerer]

I agree. I have only made a 1 motor spirograph.:crackup: This takes the cake.:bday: Cant wait for a video.

+

 

[jeffd]

Very Cool. Cant wait to see the video!

 

[3zuli]

the video is up!

 

[Wolfman29]

Very neat!

 

[anselm]

Not bad, but you are leaking light everywhere and only displaying a small central window
of the effect. You need bigger mirrors on the last 2 or three motors.

Then, you need lots of patience to tune the motors into a somewhat static figure.
I find that tuning by ear can be effective, when the motors are spinning at the same speed
or multiples of each other speed, you usually find some good patterns.
Also, might I suggest you make some of the motors reversible spinning direction?
Opens up a whole new plethora of patterns...

Check out the video I made for my 3 motor spiro:
http://laserpointerforums.com/f42/spirograph-765th-63575.html#post913247

PS: Sorry to burst your "1st 6 motor"-bubble, but:
http://laserpointerforums.com/f51/first-rgy-spirograph-44410.html#post589893