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Console from long ago

Started by Theta Sigma, May 18, 2009, 10:05 pm

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Theta Sigma

May 18, 2009, 10:05 pm Last Edit: Jul 15, 2010, 10:56 pm by Scarfwearer
Here's a video of a console that I made back in the late 80's when I was a teenager.  I've recently pulled it out of storage for my 6 year old to play with, and he talked me into making some improvements.  The time rotor is new, as are the sound effects.  Yes, the sound effects are coming from the console itself!  It only has 4 sides, because of space restrictions, but I plan to make a 6 sided "5 doctors" console for him sometime in the future.  

th_console.jpg
"I just put 1.795372 & 2.204628 together." - 4th Doctor

karsthotep

May 26, 2009, 07:08 pm #1 Last Edit: Jan 14, 2010, 12:35 pm by scarfwearer
Hey Omega, yeah I'd love to get my hands on some liver mush.  I watch Bizarre foods with  Andrew Zimmern on the travel channel and he was there for the festival, was making my mouth water, I will PM you with my info so you can hook me up with some mush duuuuddee <lol>  Also Kevin has been an immense help in helping me get together what I need to get my time rotor mechanized so If anyone needs pointers get in touch with him.  he has helped immeasureably.  Karma point for Kevin.

Karsten
I want notes, lists and answers by the time I finish this here Juicy-a-Box! WARNING: I am Thirst-ay! And it is Fruit Punch! And it is Delicious!"

rnojek

I too would like to build a 4 sided console but am having problems with the dimensions. If you could possibly help me out with the panel sizes, I'd would appreciate it.
-Rod

DoctorWho8

May 18, 2009, 11:35 pm #3 Last Edit: Jul 15, 2010, 10:54 pm by scarfwearer
You've just made the 6-panel build guys jealous.
Bill Rudloff

Scarfwearer

May 19, 2009, 12:42 am #4 Last Edit: Jul 15, 2010, 10:54 pm by scarfwearer
Lovely! And I'm jealous because you got your time rotor to go up and down.

Do let us know more about how you made it, and particularly how the machinery works.

Crispin

Theta Sigma

May 19, 2009, 02:20 am #5 Last Edit: Jul 15, 2010, 10:54 pm by scarfwearer
Thanks to all who have commented on this build so far!

Crispin,

I have to give Jarrod credit for inspiring me on the time rotor mechanics.  It's basically his design, but here's the video of it all in motion.  It's just a regular 1/4 HP, 1725 RPM,  AC motor driving a 80:1 Flexaline worm gear box via a belt and pulley system.  The cam mechanism is the arm from an automatic door closer.

In the video, you can also see the custom flasher circuit board that I built to flash the white cold cathode lights that were used in the time rotor.  I'd be happy to post schematics of the circuit if anyone wants them.  All the parts came from Radio Shack.

th_console2.jpg




"I just put 1.795372 & 2.204628 together." - 4th Doctor

Theta Sigma

May 19, 2009, 02:27 am #6 Last Edit: Jul 15, 2010, 10:54 pm by scarfwearer
By the way....this was not the original drive mechanism for this console when I built it back in the late 80's.  The original design was a small gearhead motor that was very noisy, and got overheated quickly.  The motor was not designed for continuous use.  It drove a circular cam with a custom made metal arm attached. 

After seeing Jarrod's design, I became convinced it was the way to go.  So I bought the parts, and assembled the current mechanism.  The only problem is that it all barely fits inside this small console!



"I just put 1.795372 & 2.204628 together." - 4th Doctor

Scarfwearer

May 19, 2009, 10:46 am #7 Last Edit: Jul 15, 2010, 10:55 pm by scarfwearer
Well, my new year resolution this year is to get my console time rotor mechanism working again, so perhaps I'll be all inspired now to get on with it. :)

Crispin

Theta Sigma

May 19, 2009, 12:38 pm #8 Last Edit: Jul 15, 2010, 10:55 pm by scarfwearer
Crispin,

I'll keep an eye out for any good deals on gear boxes.  I got mine off ebay from NCINDUSTRIAL for a mere $70.  The ones with high gear ratios are harder to find though at that low price.  Here's a link to the eBay store. 

http://stores.shop.ebay.com/NCINDUSTRIAL

Also, the door closer arms can be expensive and hard to find, however "Harbor Freight" stores in the US have one for $10.  That's where I got mine from.  Here's a link to the product.

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=96396

Hope this helps anyone looking to motorize their time rotor. 

-  Kevin
"I just put 1.795372 & 2.204628 together." - 4th Doctor

handofomega

May 25, 2009, 10:20 pm #9 Last Edit: Jul 15, 2010, 10:55 pm by scarfwearer
Quote from: karsthotep board=console thread=1154 post=20723 time=1243178923Dude your console is brilliant and I need to talk to you about it. Holy crap.  Lets email, and talk about that..as well as the liver Mush festival in Shelby..think you can hook me up with some liver mush? 


If you need a Livermush hook up Karst, just PM me for my email addy.   I live right around the corner from Shelby and my brother-in-law lives in spitting distance of Mack's Livermush outside of Shelby.  Drop me a line. ;D

handofomega

May 25, 2009, 10:27 pm #10 Last Edit: Jul 15, 2010, 10:55 pm by scarfwearer
Nice to meet you klippard!!!!  Greetings from a fellow NC time traveller!!!!   Looks like you are close to Fayettville, right????   As I said to Karst, I am closer to the mountains myself.  Nice to meet you.  And splendid work on the console BTW!!!!!!!!