Author Topic: Automated Cabinet (Read 47131 times)

Green Giant · « **Reply #40 on:** January 30, 2012, 11:01:14 am »

Progress is looking insane as always.

I really look forward to the robot you will build to play this beast so we can all sit back and watch the automatons in action.

So, is your cab an autobot or decepticon?

darthpaul · « **Reply #41 on:** January 30, 2012, 06:57:46 pm »

Quote from: TopJimmyCooks on January 29, 2012, 08:39:29 pm

Surprised I hadn't seen this until now. one thing I would consider on the guns is to have them slide out on racks Robocop style rather than flip down. Also, the guys doing rotating gates on their joysticks need to look into your worm drive actuators- those are perfect for that application, especially if there's a smaller version.

Very interesting stuff. something I would seriously consider is using this cab as a prototype and working out all the bugs and questions, then maybe redoing the cabinet in a final version. I'm very interested to see how the cp panel drive works.

The guns are pushed upward by a servo, they don't flip down. The CP drive after much trial and error is working pretty well, I'm just waiting for DaOldman to put the finishing touches on CPRotate to fully automate it.

Le Chuck · « **Reply #42 on:** January 31, 2012, 01:31:55 pm »

This build continues to amaze me.

I added a wiki entry about 4way to 8way servo use here. I cited your work and put links to this build and your tutorial. Feel free to add/fix anything I missed. I figure after this build you'll have a lot of wiki-ing to do so wanted to save you the time on the part that I understand at least. Thanks man!

yaksplat · « **Reply #43 on:** January 31, 2012, 01:58:17 pm »

Needs more stepper motors and worm gears.

I think i just have a thing for worm gears.

Looks great so far. Very impressive.

drventure · « **Reply #44 on:** January 31, 2012, 02:30:58 pm »

Quote from: yaksplat on January 31, 2012, 01:58:17 pm

Needs more stepper motors and worm gears.

And ball screws. Never heard of them before I started looking into linear actuators.

darthpaul · « **Reply #45 on:** January 31, 2012, 07:01:27 pm »

Quote from: drventure on January 31, 2012, 02:30:58 pm

Quote from: yaksplat on January 31, 2012, 01:58:17 pm
Needs more stepper motors and worm gears.

And ball screws. Never heard of them before I started looking into linear actuators.

I would be lost without those ball screws

darthpaul · « **Reply #46 on:** January 31, 2012, 07:13:40 pm »

Quote from: Le Chuck on January 31, 2012, 01:31:55 pm

This build continues to amaze me.

I added a wiki entry about 4way to 8way servo use here. I cited your work and put links to this build and your tutorial. Feel free to add/fix anything I missed. I figure after this build you'll have a lot of wiki-ing to do so wanted to save you the time on the part that I understand at least. Thanks man!

Great work Le Chuck, "Impressive most Impressive".
I've been talking with DaOld Man about including all types of automation in the Mrotate forum and change the name to reflect the new content, I think that would generate a lot more interest and maybe interesting new ideas.

darthpaul · « **Reply #47 on:** February 03, 2012, 05:41:15 pm »

Surprisingly I got the sliding panel to work with only one redesign, a first for this cabinet.
Here we are looking at the underside of the steering wheel panel, I have glued MDF strips to the left underside of the sliding panel to create a groove for the servo arm to ride in.

I originally wanted to attach the servo to this same panel but there wasn't enough room for the servo to retract the panel fully, so I just mounted the servo to the cabinet, it ended up being easier to do it this way.

I attached to the end of the servo arm a little rotating cylinder I got out of an old VCR to ride in the groove. As the servo arm rotates, the cylinder rides along the groove pulling or pushing the panel as it goes, depending on which way the servo is turning.

The servo has no problem at all opening and closing the panel and I would be curious how large a panel this would work on.

severdhed · « **Reply #48 on:** February 05, 2012, 12:11:50 am »

this is just beyond awesome

darthpaul · « **Reply #49 on:** February 05, 2012, 02:34:28 pm »

OK, I'm just about done with the concealed steering column, I just need to wire up a micro switch so the actuator waits until the servo has opened the door. I could program my bat file to wait 2 or three seconds between the command to open the door and start the actuators but I think the micro switch is safer. If there is one thing that must be taken into account when automating things is, if something doesn't work, it can cause something else to break. The best example is my rotating CPs, if the brake doesn't unlock, the panels won't rotate, a micro switch tells CPRotate the panels are unlocked and can proceed to rotate.

Here is the setup I'm using to raise up the steering column. I'm using a cable attached to the lever that is used to push out the gas and brake pedals. As the lever is pulled back by the actuator, the cable is being pulled, which runs through a pulley up to a lever, as the cable pulls one side down, the other side will pivot up, pushing a rod up, which pushes the steering column up, got all that

I have everything put back together, just need to do some touch ups
This is how it looks closed

And open, the circles are red not orange.

Here is how I am going to make the steering wheel detachable. I'm using the three bolt holes in the steering shaft as my guide for positioning the wheel on the shaft. I used an MDF spacer, drilled holes matching the shafts holes, enlarged the holes on the bottom just enough to recess the nut than epoxied sheet metal to the bottom for addition strength. I glued a bolt into a large knob which will screw into the steering shaft to secure it.

And here is how it looks mounted.

DaOld Man · « **Reply #50 on:** February 05, 2012, 03:24:11 pm »

Wow...

darthpaul · « **Reply #51 on:** February 05, 2012, 04:11:31 pm »

It's coming along.

DaOld Man · « **Reply #52 on:** February 05, 2012, 04:50:38 pm »

Id say it is indeed.
Those white panels on either side, (left is directly below the shifter), are they going to light up?

darthpaul · « **Reply #53 on:** February 05, 2012, 05:11:47 pm »

That would be cool but because the shifter raises and lowers in the left one and the fight stick rotates through the one on the right, I didn't see a way of doing it. They are both open at the top as well and light would shine up though it. I have been trying to think of a way to have some type of cover over them that would open and close when the need arises but nothing has come to mind yet.

Le Chuck · « **Reply #54 on:** February 05, 2012, 06:34:05 pm »

You're talking about the shifter hole right? Why not a trapdoor? I would think that you wouldn't even need an additional servo, it could be a simple three peice lever deal, when the shifter is in the down position it keeps pressure on the bottom lever pusing the trapdoor flush, when raised the trapdoor swings down. I'm sure it's totally more difficult than that and you have zero room but from my armchair its an easy fix!

Awesomesauce by the way. Total and complete awesomesauce.

Green Giant · « **Reply #55 on:** February 06, 2012, 02:26:59 am »

So random question.

Do you apply your insane automation skills to other stuff around your house?

When I picture you eating breakfast all I can think of is Pee Wee's playhouse.

darthpaul · « **Reply #56 on:** February 06, 2012, 07:10:45 pm »

I like to keep things hidden or out of the way, I have a bunch of built-ins in my house.

darthpaul · « **Reply #57 on:** February 17, 2012, 05:19:53 pm »

One of the hazards of automating things;

I'm pretty sure I know what happened, I hope. I was concerned that the cable was going to be the weak link, it looks like I was wrong, it appears to be plenty strong.
I have also decided to redesign the front, the tops of the two columns are now going to be hidden, one under a sliding panel and the other will be covered with a flap that will swing up powered by, what else, another servo.
I decided to mount the shifter on the front door instead of in the column, it will be easier to work on if the need arises.
Here is the picture of the actuator that will raise and lower the shifter.

darthpaul · « **Reply #58 on:** February 19, 2012, 07:42:24 pm »

I have decided to redesign the front panel to better conceal the top of the two columns and made them blend in better.
The opening for the shifter is now going to have a sliding panel just like the steering column, both will open at the same time with one servo.

I decided to have two rails support the sliding panel, this allowed me to make the panel wider top to bottom because the opening for the shifter needed to be larger than the steering column.
The column on the right is going to have a hinged flap that will open up through the use of a servo, to allow the Flight Stick to rotate through as the panels rotate. I still need to trim the hinge or the Flight Stick will hit it.

While this weekend has been productive, it just seems like everything takes 5 times longer than I thought it would.

Pinball Wizard · « **Reply #59 on:** February 19, 2012, 08:46:37 pm »

Quote from: darthpaul on February 17, 2012, 05:19:53 pm

One of the hazards of automating things;

So what am I looking at here, Doc?

Green Giant · « **Reply #60 on:** February 20, 2012, 12:27:10 am »

Quote from: Pinball Wizard on February 19, 2012, 08:46:37 pm

Quote from: darthpaul on February 17, 2012, 05:19:53 pm
One of the hazards of automating things;

So what am I looking at here, Doc?

Isn't it obvious?

The thingamajigger which is attached to the doohicky banjaxed his minces.

darthpaul · « **Reply #61 on:** February 20, 2012, 07:45:05 am »

Exactly

!

Pinball Wizard · « **Reply #62 on:** February 20, 2012, 11:59:36 am »

Oh, when you put it that way

drventure · « **Reply #63 on:** February 20, 2012, 12:32:47 pm »

Damnation, this is one heck of a build.

You +really+ need some videos of this stuff!

darthpaul · « **Reply #64 on:** February 26, 2012, 05:44:09 pm »

There will be videos, I promise.
This is taking forever but I'm almost done with the redesign, still need to do some painting, I hate painting, it takes so long, I start rushing and it turns out looking so so.
I have the servo and micro switch hooked up(paper clips come in handy). The micro switch is to tell the control panel rotation program (CPRotate) that the flap is up and rotation can begin.

Here is a pic of what it will eventually look like, I still need to do some painting of the border and also to blend in the seam of the flap with some strategically placed red stripes.

The right side is going to flip open to allow the Flight Stick to rotate through, the octagon on the left and circle have panels that will slid open to allow the shifter and steering column to raise up out of.

DaOld Man · « **Reply #65 on:** February 26, 2012, 07:10:56 pm »

Looking good. I like your new design better than the old one.

Green Giant · « **Reply #66 on:** February 27, 2012, 12:06:50 pm »

Why not just build a robot to handle the painting for you?

DaOld Man · « **Reply #67 on:** February 27, 2012, 12:54:05 pm »

Quote from: Green Giant on February 27, 2012, 12:06:50 pm

Why not just build a robot to handle the painting for you?

Now that may be a very good idea!

kahlid74 · « **Reply #68 on:** February 27, 2012, 03:21:59 pm »

Quote from: Green Giant on February 27, 2012, 12:06:50 pm

Why not just build a robot to handle the painting for you?

Perhaps a retrofitted Roomba with wall suction cups tread so it can climb all over the machine and paint it over the course of a few hours!

darthpaul · « **Reply #69 on:** February 27, 2012, 07:00:57 pm »

Quote from: DaOld Man on February 26, 2012, 07:10:56 pm

Looking good. I like your new design better than the old one.

Thanks, I do too, conceals things better, I am hoping to add some Sith graphics but am worried about that painting thing.

darthpaul · « **Reply #70 on:** March 11, 2012, 12:34:59 pm »

Some pictures of the Auto rotating monitor, it's a 21" Hitachi, the cord is for the Aimtrak.

Low tech windshield wiper motor and a rubber wheel taken off a caster turn the monitor.

Backside of the rotating bezel, I modified the original monitor bezel so it would fit on the monitor now mounted on the plywood wheel, it is held in place with Velcro. I then glued poster board to this bezel, because the bezel had a slight curve, it made it a little more challenging. When I designed the art for the main bezel, I made sure the waste that would be cut away for the screen was printed to look like stars. I cut this waste into strips and glued it on the rotating bezel so it would blend in more with the main bezel.

Aimtrak mounting

The final piece to the puzzle was to automate the flap under the monitor shelf, this is done with a servo. I needed this flap to allow the joysticks to fit under as they rotate, it just needs a little sanding and paint.

DaOld Man · « **Reply #71 on:** March 11, 2012, 04:48:14 pm »

Someones been very busy!
Nice work.
Making a CRT rotate is quite a pretty big challenge, isnt it?
I like the idea of using the otherwise waste on the bezel. Good thinking.

darthpaul · « **Reply #72 on:** March 11, 2012, 06:03:00 pm »

Thank goodness for cabinets like REBIRTH which was part of the inspiration for both my rotating monitor and control panel. If you have a bad back, stick to using an LED monitor to rotate

. I know MRotate has a way to degauss but I couldn't get to the button on the monitor. The way I'm dealing with it is, I'm using a roller micro switch that when it hits a ramp on the rotating panel, it shuts off the monitor. It works pretty good as long as you give it a few minutes before rotating again.

DaOld Man · « **Reply #73 on:** March 11, 2012, 06:06:55 pm »

Mrotate can do that too, using a relay to cut the power to the monitor, but the limit switch is a good idea too.

darthpaul · « **Reply #74 on:** March 11, 2012, 06:13:10 pm »

I like that idea.

darthpaul · « **Reply #75 on:** April 14, 2012, 10:05:41 pm »

Been working hard on this as well as redoing a few things and working out some bugs.
What Sith themed cabinet with a rotating monitor and rotating control panel would be complete without a rotating Sith Holocron. I decided to make a Topper for the cabinet and a Sith Holocron seemed like a good item and while I was at it, I might as well light it up and have it rotating.
I'm using a 6" Lazy Susan and a small geared motor for rotation, I originally used a mouse wheel to drive the Lazy Susan but that didn't work out too well.

Another thing I quickly realized, was that the motor was very loud because the plywood was magnifying the sound of the motor, so I did my best to isolate the motor from the plywood by using strips of rubber. The rubber was from pipe coupling I had leftover from a plumbing project, I also cut a plug from a hunk of rubber to replace the mouse wheel. It was just a matter of pushing it down on the motor shaft and it holds in place with no problems.

The next thing I needed was lights, I'm using 4, 360 degree red LEDs, again I used what was available to mount the lights. I cut the bottom off a 12oz Pepsi bottle, drilled some holes and wired the LEDs up, I used foil tape to hold it in place.

I know it doesn't look very pretty but it works and no one is going to see it anyway.
Finally, I had to build the Holocron, I wasn't trying to make it look like a prop, I just wanted it to be presentable. I cut 4, 1/8" plexiglass triangles, painted them red using glass paint. I found some symbols on the internet and made transparencies out of it and glued that to the triangles. I then cut out cardboard, spray painted it gold and glued that to the front of the triangles and finally put a glass ball at the top.

drventure · « **Reply #76 on:** April 15, 2012, 12:19:40 am »

Quote from: darthpaul on April 14, 2012, 10:05:41 pm

Been working hard on this as well as redoing a few things and working out some bugs.
What Sith themed cabinet with a rotating monitor and rotating control panel would be complete without a rotating Sith Holocron. I decided to make a Topper for the cabinet and a Sith Holocron seemed like a good item and while I was at it, I might as well light it up and have it rotating.

Ok, this started out as a pretty cool build, but a rotating Sith Holocron?

Awesome!

Of course, I had no idea WTF that glowing red and gold thing was. I had to go back through that read the post more thoroughly.

You're going to end up with a genuine flea circus (not a bad thing, I love those)

DaOld Man · « **Reply #77 on:** April 15, 2012, 02:02:32 am »

Good work DarthPaul.. The power of the force is strong with this one!

Good job on the Sith Holocron. If you havent given details, I never would have guessed you built it from scratch!

Now, I hate to be the bearer of bad news but............. WE NEED VIDEOS!!!!

This project is way too awesome for still pics alone!

emphatic · « **Reply #78 on:** April 15, 2012, 03:49:33 am »

Cool stuff.

darthpaul · « **Reply #79 on:** April 15, 2012, 07:52:31 am »

Quote from: DaOld Man on April 15, 2012, 02:02:32 am

Good work DarthPaul.. The power of the force is strong with this one!

Good job on the Sith Holocron. If you havent given details, I never would have guessed you built it from scratch!

Now, I hate to be the bearer of bad news but............. WE NEED VIDEOS!!!!

This project is way too awesome for still pics alone!

The reason I'm holding off on the videos is, I'm kind of a slob when I'm working on things, once I clean things up a little the videos will come.


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