Anyone else building a frame for a 12 ribbon CCR tree?

[Frank Farmer]

I have had some bad experiences with the color ribbons breaking when being flexed, so I decided to build a frame for my CCR tree instead of connecting it to rope or flexible piping.

I finished building the tree today and now I'll work on the star at the top.

This frame is built from 3/4" square aluminum tubing. With the cross braces I have, this thing is very sturdy. I screwed the pieces together with stainless steel screws. The cross member at the 10' level (even with the buildings roof edge) will be physically connected to the building. The controller will be mounted to the wall just to left of the tree on the wall.

The tree is now 18' tall, but will be 20' tall when the star is added.

Here is a couple of pictures, I'll take more as I progress on this project. Hoping to have it completed by Halloween.

[k6ccc]

That sounds pretty stout and should work fine for you.

I am looking at something similar for some pixel strips that I just received.

[somersetkaraoke]

That looks fabulous, could you give the dimensions please, and how easy or how exactly you join the tubing together.

Can you also take a look at a link here in the UK, to see if this is the correct stuff for me to make my 12 x CCR tree.

http://www.aluminiumwarehouse.co.uk/p17650/Aluminium_Square_Tube_(6063T6)_%3Csmall%3E%3Csup%3E3%3C/sup%3E/%3Csub%3E4%3C/sub%3E%3C/small%3E_in_x_%3Csmall%3E%3Csup%3E3%3C/sup%3E/%3Csub%3E4%3C/sub%3E%3C/small%3E_in_x_16_swg/product_info.html?cart_qty=12&spID=17652

Many thanks

Paul

[Frank Farmer]

I've received several PM's for details, so I'll just put them here.

Hope this helps.

This is the measurements for the tree...

[Frank Farmer]

The PDF file for the star is too big to upload, I'll resize it tomorrow and send.

[crowninb]

i hope to expand to 12 some day but i am wondering if i could copy this design and just put the 6 ccr i have up first. i was told to space 2 feet at bottom instead of the 1 foot+ i assume that would work correct?

[Frank Farmer]

That is correct, you would end up with a tree the same physical size. Then you could always add the extra ribbons/tubing later for a 12-ribbon tree later. Just don't plan on doing any text scrolling with the 6-ribbon tree, the resolution isn't there and the text is difficult to read.

[Frank Farmer]

Got my CCR tree up last night. Here are some pictures, I'll shot some video tomorrow night.

[hakat]

This looks fantastic. I am waiting for my 12 CCRs to arrive in the next week. You mentioned that when you put the ribbon onto rope it twisted and got damaged. Did you have to replace the whole ribbon?Do you intend taking this structure apart each season? How close can you stand to view the whole display?

[Frank Farmer]

Thanks!

I have not put my ribbons on rope, just because I've read where others had so much problems. I did have a ribbon that I was trying different things with and ended up with several broken pixes due to the trace breaking or components coming off the ribbon. So I know how fragile they are. Since I'm putting up 12 of them, I didn't want them breaking. It is possible to remove a pixel and by-passit or replace it but then you have weatherproofing issues to resolve.

My frame is designed so that I can remove the supporting structure on the back and the poles with the ribbons can be safely placed somewhere. I also plan on making another supporting structure that will allow me to put them up horizonally to use as a marque for other holidays.

I need to stand back at least 12 feet to view the completely and without getting blinded, THESE THINGS ARE BRIGHT!

I'm hoping to shoot some video tomorrow night.

[Frank Farmer]

Here is a picture of my controllers, two matching sets, one for each set of 6 controllers.

[jagerbombjack]

I truly like the idea of one power supply.  Can you share the DC connector size?  I am planning on incorporating my 12 controllers into one weather proof box.

Thanks

[k6ccc]

Early in this thread I mentioned that I was going to build a frame for 12 pixel strings that I Was going to do in a tree arrangement.  A while ago I put together a web page that showed how it was built:

http://www.k6ccc.org/pixeltree/

I had originally intended to put 1 inch PEX pipe on the frame with the pixels lighting up the inside of the PEX (that looks great), but I could not get the pieces of PEX straightened out, so using the steel cable was a fallback plan.

 

I ran a 7 1/2 minute animation only "show" for Christmas that can be seen at this URL:

http://youtu.be/uClNUjMiym8

[Ron Boyd]

Jim, What's the spacing on your pixels?

[k6ccc]

I assume you mean along the cable.  2.5 inches which makes it 122.5 from the center of the top to bottom pixel.

[sysco]

jim nice job does the unit strut make a semi circle at the top  and can you tell me the outside measurements of the star starting at the top and moving on down the left side and back up the right side to the top thank you Blair

[k6ccc]

The two vertical pieces of unistrut are 15 feet long and at the top, they are just short of meeting (think of a capital "A").  The top is behind the upper point of the star.  Maybe I'll add a few more pics to the web page...

 

Brian describes the star on this page:

http://superstarlights.com/SuperStarConstruction/CosmicColorRibbons.php

 

I light it different than Brian did, but the plastic of the star is Brian's kit.

[Frank Farmer]

jagerbombjack

 

The power supply is from Jameco electronics (other vendors have them too). I'll attach a link. This wattage power supply is more than enough for 6 CCR's, but probably not 12. You will need at least a 450Watt supply to run all 12. You could also get two of these power supplies and put then in the same case, each power 6 CCR's.

 

I just purchased some power jacks from Radio Shack, Link below.

 

 

 

power supply:

http://www.jameco.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?freeText=244743&langId=-1&storeId=10001&productId=244743&search_type=jamecoall&catalogId=10001&ddkey=http:StoreCatalogDrillDownView

 

power jacks:

http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2103614#tabsetBasic

 

 

 

[jagerbombjack]

Thanks Frank!  That saves me a great deal of time:)

[Frank Farmer]

Finished product videos:

 

http://youtu.be/jS2ZKc1Pu0E

 

http://youtu.be/cxf0wKS2PNk

 

Click and watch from the youtube site, sometimes there is a delay when watching via the forum.