Tunnel-gun Tutorial

[FireMyLaser]

Tunnel-gun: Fancy version of time-tunnel.

This is my second tunnel-gun, this one adapted for Aries. It's pretty ugly but works great, made completely from scratch, even the mirrors and battery holder.
See this like an idea-starter to make your own.

[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pVUs_HSJ1UY&feature=channel_page&fmt=18[/media]
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pVUs_HSJ1UY&feature=channel_page&fmt=18
Low speed is awesome for raves!

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Here is the how-to part.

Get a plastic tube (mine was 35x75mm). Cut it with a dremel like this.

Glue the motor with mirror to the top halve. Glue the static mirror slightly raised and angled. Now raise the top halve just enough so the spinning mirror don't hit the first beam. The angles of the motor/mirrors may take some time to adjust.

Cut some rectangular plates to cover the empty space. I used a pot to adjust the speed but it's optional, as well as a switch if you like. I made my own battery holder, don't do that, get a real one and save time.

To make it fit on your laser, tape some masking tape around the laser head a few turns sticky side out. Then make allot of turns sticky side in so the thickness gets around 3-4mm. Make the fitting longer than needed and cut the unnecessarily tape off. Take your time while doing this!

Glue the fitting in place and add one lap off tape on the inside. This will make the laser fit snugly.

This is how the beam should travel, may take a few adjustments to get it good.

I'm terrible at tutorials so ask questions!


Just one more thing: I HATE WINDOWS MOVIE MAKER, I HATE WINDOWS MOVIE MAKER. WINDOWS MOVIE MAKER SUX!


Thanks for looking!

 

[ColdStl]

Nice pics! I've been wanting to make one of these for a while, and now I'm going to.
I imagine goggles are required for any one on the receiving end of the tunnel? Or will that ruin the affect?

 

[FireMyLaser]

With goggles you wont see a thing. As long you're inside or outside the tunnel it is safe.
When you're crossing from one side to another make sure to close your eyes and don't take too long.
A direct hit from a distance should be fine, but it is an unnecessary risk.

 

[jake21]

nice job [smiley=thumbsup.gif]

 

[FireMyLaser]

Cool thanks.

 

[tony70516]

hey guys i just made a spirograph for my laser, how can i hook up a pot to one of the motors? do i just go right from battery to motor?
and my pot has 3 links at the end, and two coming out the bottom. which ones do i use?
please help thanks a lot
nice tunnel by the way

 

[FireMyLaser]

So it has five leads? I guess the two leads are for support on the circuit board, just ignore them.

Connect one of the outer leads to the middle lead and from there to the battery. Connect the third lead to the motor. Then complete the circuit. Bare in mind the the pot need to be around 100-1000 ohms to work good.

 

[Ryo]

Very nice.

 

[robjdixon]

Do you want this in my compilation thread?

 

[FireMyLaser]

Yes sure.

 

[Elektrotechniker]

Jesus! How come I never saw this? Nice build fml, +1!!

 

[Seany]

Awesome thanks for the info (Y)

 

[Scotty 757]

Nice job. On a pointer would you just make a smaller scale? I'm guessing it works on every pointer and portable but I'm not sure.

 

[Lacrosse]

Yah Scotty it should be fine with a pointer imo u might not even need to use smaller just angel the mirrors the right way and should be good. correct me if im wrong just talking a guess here.

 

[daguin]

Nice job. On a pointer would you just make a smaller scale? I'm guessing it works on every pointer and portable but I'm not sure.

You can go even smaller by using the "vibrator" motors from cell phones

Peace,
dave

 

[Flaminpyro]

That is what I'm using !

You can go even smaller by using the "vibrator" motors from cell phones
Peace,
dave

@ FML very nice tunnel gun :yh: a couple years ago I made a simmilar device but no motor or battery it worked on tap tap and so it was much smaller and slipped on and off the end of a pen laser. in place of the motor was a skinny 1" long coil spring if you get the right length it sets up a harmonic when you tap it lightly and the tunnel can take on some wonderfull shapes, BTW they are never a true round shape some time they go through round but they are alwaws moving and changing there shape... I have one mirror right now that dose that and it is on a motor shaft, very cool effect I will try to get videos.