Disparky Posted January 28, 2017 Author Share Posted January 28, 2017 4 hours ago, mpageler said: Just curious, did you happen to use Trackskull to program some of the servo movements, particulary the head? Hello, This is the first time I've heard of Trackskull. Does it work well? I used PCMACS to program all motions. Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mpageler Posted January 29, 2017 Share Posted January 29, 2017 (edited) Started research animaatronics and came acrros a youtube where they programed the head movings via Trackskull softrware. They still programed the mouth/arm via sequence editor for more sutle movements., Here's the video link for Trackskull Not inexpensive to captre head movement but sure looks like it would save a ton of time. $50 for the trackskull software and $100 for a Trackir camera. Software allows you to export to LOR. Bet you could use the software to capture the main mouth movements and then tweak them in SE. Looks like each pan/til takes 2 servos? Saw some "3-axis servos" which took 3 servos. I L Edited January 29, 2017 by mpageler Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Disparky Posted January 30, 2017 Author Share Posted January 30, 2017 (edited) Looks like fun to program in that way. I'm a bit ol' fashioned and prefer my slider consoles and rotary pots. I typically use a Mackie MCU Pro and a Korg nanoKONTROL2 together depending on the animation being programmed. For the Halloween displays and skeletons I use a basic USB rotary pot console I built myself and PC-MACS software. I think it's great to have so many options for animation and lighting. LOR for example, one day I'd like to see how well I can control animation with SE or some variant but It would require an adequate means to record animation data in real time. I'm talking analog and digital functions with the ability to use USB Midi devices as well as joystick control. Never cared for on-screen buttons or sliders. I need to have a real console for programming so I'll need SE to see it and let me map my buttons, sliders, flywheel, etc.. Am I asking too much? haha.. Seriously, it's nice being able to use the console flywheel to move back and forth along the time line while watching the animation or lighting scroll along "Live". The show programming software I use doesn't do pixel mapping.. yet.. so I'd like to see SE be able to handle both. that'd be sweet. Edited January 30, 2017 by Disparky 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mpageler Posted February 1, 2017 Share Posted February 1, 2017 I should stay focused on lightgs but this animatronics sutff is just too cool. Watch some more youtubes and got a grasp on how you did the skull. Was still very fogging on the arm movement. Did you use the same pan/tilt servo mount for both the head and arm or did you go with a smaller one for the arm. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cgiambruno Posted February 3, 2017 Share Posted February 3, 2017 This is what I'm working on for 2017. I want to thank Bob Brocovich for the you tube tutorial on how to make the pillars. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mpageler Posted February 3, 2017 Share Posted February 3, 2017 (edited) With this tread, started research aninatronics and have discovers, you really don'\t want to go cheap on componets such as 3axis, pan/tilts and servos. For 3axis kits, monsterguts and triaxialskulllabs are worth the look see. An animatronic skeleton would work good in my light dispaly. Right now, I have a static witch figure that cackles for a few seconds, in between each song. Just an 8 second sequences that I add inbetween each full song sequences in show scheduler. So for a skeleton, could envision a 30 second sketonton song/monolog. Maybe for christmas, I could throw a santa hat on the skeleton. Edited February 3, 2017 by mpageler Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caniac Posted February 3, 2017 Share Posted February 3, 2017 that's been done to a skeleton singing face so why not a realish skeleton, go for it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sax Posted February 16, 2017 Share Posted February 16, 2017 Your singing skeletons look awesome. I love it. The "lamp" face was fantastic. Great work. You mention what servos you used for the arms and legs...but what did you use for the mouth, head and eyes. I assume you only put the skeletons out on Halloween. Here in the NW we get a lot of rain. So I am always trying to find water proof components. It would be a shame to create and program and then have it rain on Halloween..... Sax Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mpageler Posted February 16, 2017 Share Posted February 16, 2017 I hate this ythread I now have an animatronic skeleton on the to do list...thanks a lot. Thought I was just about done in spending significant money on the display. Firs up, a skeleton for static display in 2017 and then add the animation for 2018. Nice quality used skeletons show up on EBAY peridically. While a frugal DIY'er, just might bite the bullet and get the Monsterguts.com, complete 3-axis skull kit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dibblejr Posted February 17, 2017 Share Posted February 17, 2017 4 hours ago, mpageler said: I hate this ythread I now have an animatronic skeleton on the to do list...thanks a lot. Thought I was just about done in spending significant money on the display. Firs up, a skeleton for static display in 2017 and then add the animation for 2018. Nice quality used skeletons show up on EBAY peridically. While a frugal DIY'er, just might bite the bullet and get the Monsterguts.com, complete 3-axis skull kit. They had some really nice stuff 90% off the Halloween store that would have been great props for this. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sax Posted February 21, 2017 Share Posted February 21, 2017 On 2/3/2017 at 8:21 AM, mpageler said: With this tread, started research aninatronics and have discovers, you really don'\t want to go cheap on componets such as 3axis, pan/tilts and servos. For 3axis kits, monsterguts and triaxialskulllabs are worth the look see. An animatronic skeleton would work good in my light dispaly. Right now, I have a static witch figure that cackles for a few seconds, in between each song. Just an 8 second sequences that I add inbetween each full song sequences in show scheduler. So for a skeleton, could envision a 30 second sketonton song/monolog. Maybe for christmas, I could throw a santa hat on the skeleton. Monsterguts skulls not in stock. Triaxialskulllabs has not been selling for over 3 years. Most sites that had kits no longer offer them. The kit has been tough to find. The lindberg skull is super hard to find. Ebay has them but most are around 80-100 bucks. I wonder if this is why they are not available at monsterguts. Skeletonstore.com has a 4th quality Mr Thrifty 2 piece skull for 9 bucks. skeletonsandmore has a life sized two piece harvey, aged for 25 bucks. Thinking about getting a couple of the $9 heads to play with and see if i can finally put my servodog to use. Been sitting on this for over 2 years. Yes, this thread has motivated me to get in gear. I am just looking at animating some mouths for now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SheCreature Posted March 3, 2017 Share Posted March 3, 2017 If you're setting up again this Halloween I'm a local and would love to swing by and see it 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OzAz Posted March 27, 2017 Share Posted March 27, 2017 Impressive stuff if money is no object and you don't have the mad DIY skills like @Disparky there's always the SkullTronix option Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
htmagic Posted September 7, 2017 Share Posted September 7, 2017 Hi folks! The display is nice but if you want 3 axis skulls, consider Halloween Bob, the original creator of the 3 axis skull 10 years ago. He has nice nice skulls on sale right now at http://halloweenskulls.com/ The eyes move and even light up. And just in time for Halloween he has sequences premade. Plug and play with his 3D printed skulls. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Disparky Posted November 12, 2017 Author Share Posted November 12, 2017 More stuff. I use a LOR servodog for the motors. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
k6ccc Posted November 12, 2017 Share Posted November 12, 2017 31 minutes ago, Disparky said: More stuff. I use a LOR servodog for the motors. Very nice! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sax Posted November 14, 2017 Share Posted November 14, 2017 Your music selection is always on point. The setup makes me feel like I'm entering the living room and I just want to hang out with the skeletons and crew. Great job again this year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HalloweenBob Posted April 30, 2018 Share Posted April 30, 2018 Thanks for the mention in this post htmagic! I do have skulls available at https://halloweenskulls.com, and I will be updating my animatronic singing skeleton group with all new heads this year. Here's a link to a playlist of the group that I call "Sindy Skinless and the Decomposers": I'm happy to answer any questions about animatronics as I do have a bit of experiance. Let me know if there's anything you need help with. Bob 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Santas Helper Posted May 1, 2018 Share Posted May 1, 2018 (edited) Welcome aboard this great forum Bob. I'm sure you'll get hit up with all kinds of questions and such. Including me. And awesome video by the way. Tom Edited May 1, 2018 by Santas Helper Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mpageler Posted May 1, 2018 Share Posted May 1, 2018 Besides Halloweenskulls, believe Monsterguts is the only other dealers with 3axis skull kits. Did check with Frightprops late last year and they have plans for add 3axis products to their inventory, maybe this year. There are several hobbyist who have created controller boards for talking skulls and sell the PCG. They provide a list of parts for the boards that you need to source and then built the board yourself. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Pursel Posted August 21, 2018 Share Posted August 21, 2018 Just found this. Awesome animation !!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poochie7564 Posted October 22, 2018 Share Posted October 22, 2018 Fantastic! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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