Following on from this thread, I have started making EPS files to upload to www.ponoko.com so I can start making the central bits. So far I have made the rings and some square bits from the rotating part (and the one and only ring on the static part).

I have also found this site that seems to do acrylic rods at a reasonable price (£10ish for 2 meters). If anyone finds a better site please feel free to share the info here .

On that site I found rods at useful sizes of 5mm and 8mm diameter (I was originally working at 5mm and 7.5mm so I will need to to adjust my EPS files). I also need to figure out how big the central pole is, as I have forgotten since I made the 3D model lol

My next step is to create the white and black plastic parts (including the flags at the top). I will post more here later when I get home, including some screen grabs of my EPS files.

Cheers
-Marc

Here is a JPG of the first file (still needs a bit of tinkering).

click for larger

The big circle is for the static section, the outer rim is 23cm and the inner is 21.5cm (diameters) the holes are 5mm dia.

The 2 smaller circles are for the paddle cage. The outer and inner rims are 14cm and 12.5cm respectively. Also the holes are again 5mm.

The square bits are 1.2cm wide and 20cm long. The holes are 8mm diameter, but I forget for the moment how far apart they are. These pieces support the rods for the rubber paddles.


The next stage is the black and white things that I've been calling rulers on the sides where the mesh is. That should be simple enough.

Also I have a cunning idea about how to do the flags at the top

More to come on this... Hope people find it interesting.

-Marc

Bugger... Photobucket is on maintenance...

Oh well, while the numbers are in my head... the rulers are 21cm long by 2.5cm and the black ones have 2cm square holes in the centre.

The flags are 11.5cm by 9cm...

Images to follow.

Edit:


As you can see, this template is a bit big for whats happening inside, but the smaller one is just too small... I suggest that if using these templates it would be best to modify them so that they could cut out more pieces and the cost could be shared between more people who want to make one of these...  So if anyone is interested give me a yell


-Marc

Quote from: rassilonsrod board=console thread=1193037993 post=1193074970

More to come on this... Hope people find it interesting.

-Marc

Great stuff Marc!!!     I find it very interesting.  Keep the posts coming.

Only thing I am curious about is how the whole thing is supposed to move once assembled.   

Well I narrowed it down to about something like this

up - 2 seconds
pause--1second
down - 2 seconds
pause--1second

and the roatatey thing takes about 12 seconds to go round...

something like that

-Marc

Quote from: rassilonsrod board=console thread=1193037993 post=1193292263Well I narrowed it down to about something like this

up - 2 seconds
pause--1second
down - 2 seconds
pause--1second

and the roatatey thing takes about 12 seconds to go round...

something like that

-Marc

I get that bit.  What I meant was the actual mechanics involved to be able to make the whole thing not only go up and down, but to spin as well.  What drives the beastie???

But what you have for timing seems logical, the interior spin would take about twice as long as the up and down movement.  So every time the column completes one up and down movement the interior makes half a turn.

Quote from: handofomega board=console thread=1193037993 post=1193343144
I get that bit.  What I meant was the actual mechanics involved to be able to make the whole thing not only go up and down, but to spin as well.  What drives the beastie???

But what you have for timing seems logical, the interior spin would take about twice as long as the up and down movement.  So every time the column completes one up and down movement the interior makes half a turn.

Well I reckon there's an old record player in the middle with a few gears to slow it down. Plus the usual crank affair underneath

To quote Dave Lister... I dunno, but its gonna be fun finding out

On the subject of timing though. I don't think the rotation time is actually divisible by the time taken to go up and down... I just remembered that I had to adjust it to make the animation easier.

I think the rotation takes slightly longer than 2 ups and downs...

-Marc

I would definately be interested in getting bits for a future rotor build depending on cost.  What is it looking like to get this stuff laser cut?  PM me or post here, I am VERY interested.

Karsten

It ran to about £70 for the first image I think...

Could get the cost down, but the problem is that you need 3 different materials and 2nd two won't fit on a smaller template.

However if we make the template good for several people to cut their bits out (ooh er!!) then it might make it more ecconomical.

-Marc

EDIT: I think it would certainly be easy to make the 2nd two templates good for 2 lots of parts. And maybe if we go for the biggest of the 3 templates, we could get the cost down even more.

I'm in the UK now so I don't have any of my stuff with me... = Can't make any more templates until I get back to Finland (Will be back in play on Nov 5th).

Well keep me in the loop on this,  I had intitially wanted to try a hartnell rotor for my build but decided against it as it seemed to complicated at the time.  But I am interested in attempting this at some point.  I'll keep an eye out but PM me if I ever miss anthing

Karsten

Absolutely

At the very least, when I come to get the pieces printed for myself I'll see if you're ready to make a deal

-Marc

PS, Have to say... I'm really glad you guys are interested in this. I put a lot of work into the research and it makes me feel great that its appreciated

Oh trust me, it is..I for one am glad you are taking the time to do the research on this.  It really benefits everyone and for that I am grateful.

Karst

I suppose you guys probably have these screen shots from "The Time Meddler" but thought you might like a look as they are the clearest I have seen of the inards. Shows some damage even by this relatively early time. Looks something like sellotape on the outer housing and I don't know what that spare rod is doing?

http://www.grahamgough.com/columnInards/index.htm

Nice captures, new to me.  Cheers.

Quote from: graybags34 board=console thread=1193037993 post=1205099843I suppose you guys probably have these screen shots from "The Time Meddler" but thought you might like a look as they are the clearest I have seen of the inards. Shows some damage even by this relatively early time. Looks something like sellotape on the outer housing and I don't know what that spare rod is doing?

http://www.grahamgough.com/columnInards/index.htm