dkoehler42 Posted July 31, 2011 Share Posted July 31, 2011 My brother has this idea it's not difficult to build a popup prop using electromagnets or pneumatic. I suspect it's going to be a bit more difficult than that. I do have access to an air compressor though. Any thoughts, tips, or tricks? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carl G Posted August 1, 2011 Share Posted August 1, 2011 Here is a couple of halloween websites for projects. These people have worked out the kink and shortcuts to building props.www.hauntforum.comwww.halloweenforum.comwww.halloweenmonsterlist.info Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dkoehler42 Posted April 15, 2012 Author Share Posted April 15, 2012 This has been incredibly useful. http://www.monsterguts.com/pneumatics/pneumatic_index.htm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ItsMeBobO Posted April 15, 2012 Share Posted April 15, 2012 Glad to hear your brother was right. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dkoehler42 Posted April 15, 2012 Author Share Posted April 15, 2012 I wouldn't say he was. I'm still doing reading on all this. It's gonna cost a few bucks, but worth it to elevate my game. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
heystew Posted April 15, 2012 Share Posted April 15, 2012 I used linear actuators in my display this year. The one's i used are probably too slow for what you want, but I had to search and find the slowest one's i could for my purpose. They come much faster than this. I purchased these:http://progressiveautomations.com/linear-actuators-c-8.html?osCsid=f2eb222d6e738079a90dbca108ae91b4they were used to drive the light sabers at the opening of our show. See the opening of the 2011 video at http://www.rockyrunchristmas.com/2011video.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dkoehler42 Posted April 15, 2012 Author Share Posted April 15, 2012 That's pretty cool. Must have taken you some time to set up. How do you have the lightsabers built? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
heystew Posted April 15, 2012 Share Posted April 15, 2012 Quick drawing of the wooden frame...[edit] just noticed the overall length is labeled as 9'.. it's actually 10' Attached files Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
heystew Posted April 15, 2012 Share Posted April 15, 2012 quick photo Attached files 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dkoehler42 Posted April 15, 2012 Author Share Posted April 15, 2012 I follow on the actuators, but how did you make the blades progressively light up? It wasn't just all on, more like a fade up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
heystew Posted April 15, 2012 Share Posted April 15, 2012 ahh.. sorry. Those are RGB pixels similar to the Cosmic Color Bulbs/Pixels that are now being released by LOR. Each bulb is individually addressable for on/off and color. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phillip W Posted April 16, 2012 Share Posted April 16, 2012 I know im late to the party on this one but i also purchased some books on making props with pneumatics. so if you still need info let me know. my question is for heystew, you have the one prop i have always wanted to make, the santa sled, whats the trick for that as im guessing the same trick would apply for making my ghosts fly too. im bigger into halloween but promised this year would be a big xmas show. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
heystew Posted April 16, 2012 Share Posted April 16, 2012 Phillip,there are some details on the flying santa in this thread: http://forums.lightorama.com/forum82/31624-2.htmlNote that we ended up moving to a solar powered setup for the sleigh lights since the power cabling was one of the least reliable pieces of the setup.let me know if you have more questions.Dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Preston Meyer Posted April 20, 2012 Share Posted April 20, 2012 Pop-ups are a great scare producer if done properly.The pop up mechanism can be just a simple air cylinder with a long stroke or a mechanism to provide a complex action. most air cylinder controls run dc power (12 or 24 V.) but can be switched by a small relay as they don't take much current.Make sure that the armature mechanism is strong enough as even a small air cylinder can create a great deal of force. Most of the Halloween boards will have a great deal of info on home brew air devices.I'll try to post some of my props that I have built. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dkoehler42 Posted May 13, 2012 Author Share Posted May 13, 2012 A great video I just found that clearly explains some of the how to. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JF1993 Posted August 4, 2012 Share Posted August 4, 2012 I have an old linear actuator prototype in my basement. It was one of my dads creative ideas before he stopped caring about the holidays. Thanks for the diagram. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TJ Hvasta Posted August 5, 2012 Share Posted August 5, 2012 (edited) You can use the pneumatic door closer (like whats on screen doors) and a compressor, but you must limit the air pressure to something like 15-20lbs (or less).. there are several websites that show how to make a pneumatic MIB (monster-in-box) fer cheap, just search for them. Edited August 5, 2012 by TJ Hvasta 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ravenscroft Posted August 13, 2012 Share Posted August 13, 2012 You can use the pneumatic door closer (like whats on screen doors) and a compressor, but you must limit the air pressure to something like 15-20lbs (or less).. there are several websites that show how to make a pneumatic MIB (monster-in-box) fer cheap, just search for them.Yes you can but you are risking the safety of yourself and others that come to see your display. I speak from experience on this one. I ran 3 pneumatic props off of the screen door closers and they worked great until one year one of them decided to escape and flew several feet in the air and came down dangerously close to my car on the other side of the street. I admit that it was a user error, hooked the wrong regulator to the prop, but this could happen during testing or during the show. I decided to only purchase industrial pneumatic cylinders and haven't looked back. It's worth spending the $30 on a comprable size cylinder as the screen door closer just for the safety aspect. I actually made a deal with a guy who does scrapping for a bunch of cylinders, he was clearing out a industrial factory and the owner told him to "take everything in that corner", low and behold in that corner was a butt load of cylinders. I bought a box (18 cylinders) for $100. 8 of them were still in the plastic wrap from bimba and 3 look brand new out of the wrap, the rest need work but are useable. I might be able to put you in touch with him to see if he has more. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TJ Hvasta Posted August 13, 2012 Share Posted August 13, 2012 Aye... commercial pnuematical plungers arrre worth th' money.. If regulators are set low enough, an' poundage limited from th' compressor, (10-15lbs), there should be naught much ta make it go pop.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
magish01 Posted August 13, 2012 Share Posted August 13, 2012 TJ,So if I am boarding my flight and notice the Cap'n be wearing a tri corner hat an spoutin "Arrrgh". I can be pretty sure it be you? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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