Interest Doctor Who 12th Doctor's Sonic Screwdriver, Confession Dial & Sonic Stand

Hey everyone!

I'm gauging interest in another 3d printed sonic screwdriver kit, as well as a 3d printed kit for the confession dial, plus a stand add-on that can hold the sonic inside of the confession dial. Since my last run had a lot of delays, snags and other issues (sorry about that!), I've decided this one will be an unlimited run and the models will be made available directly from Shapeways instead of me ordering all the parts to send out. This will have a number of advantages:

- It will simplify things drastically.
- Less time between ordering and receiving your kit.
- People can grab them at any time they want instead of having to get in on the run since they'll be available on Shapeways indefinitely!
- If anything goes wrong, Shapeways will work on a solution with you directly.

For starters, here's a Solidworks render of the mock up "assembled & painted" sonic screwdriver:



The model was built using screen grabs from the show and Peter Capaldi's interview where he shows off the prop, and the measurements were adapted from the prototype diagrams that BBC released.

This is how it stacks up to the other sonics throughout the years:



In addition to the 3d printed parts for the model itself, 5 lengths of 5mm (3/16") clear acrylic rod will be required to finish the look. These will be available directly from me or you can acquire them by your own means.

Now, the most exciting part - another member is creating an electronics package and I'm designing the model specifically for their package! Since it will require 5 LED's to light up properly, this won't be a simple gutted CO toy or Build Your Own Sonic core job, but I am planning to design an inner housing for the electronics and other components that will mean easy(ish) installation of them into the model and convenient access to changing out the batteries with a removable back half of the sonic. I may even entertain the idea of pre-assembling the full housing so it will be ready to slide into the sonic body during assembly.

EDIT: 13doctorwho has created the interest thread for his electronics kit. Follow the link below to express yours and stay in the loop!

Electronics Kit for the 3d printed 12th Doctor's Sonic Screwdriver

As of now, preliminary pricing of the sonic model puts it in the $70-$80 range for the 3d printed parts.

On to the confession dial...



There will be two versions available - one that is printed in two parts for a 'static' closed version, and a second to be printed in four parts with removable 'lid' and inside details, including the orb in the center with Gallifreyan markings. The surface details throughout will be recessed for ease of painting.

Preliminary pricing puts the simple version at $36 and the full version at $50.

The orb will be removable so that a stand, based on the port of the TARDIS console where the sonic first appeared, can be inserted in it's place. Here's a render of the stand as implemented into the dial along with the sonic in place.



The port stand will come in nine parts including translucent rings for the two areas that are lit up in the show. I'm working on a design to accommodate a simple light and battery back scheme into the stand as well but this will be a more DIY job on your end should you choose to implement them.

Preliminary pricing puts the parts for the port stand add-on at around $46.

I'll also be working on some variations of a stand attachment that will be less bulky and cost less so I need some feedback concerning this design. Thus far I've had a few ideas and suggestions from other members - a more shallow version of the port you see above, the castle inside of the dial as seen in the show, a more generic part that simply holds the sonic upright but fits into the design scheme of the dial itself, etc. I'd love to hear some other ideas!

Since this run will be unlimited and available directly from Shapeways, there will be no need to sign up once the sales thread goes live but feel free to chime in with suggestions and comments here if you want to be a part of the design process. I'm hoping to order the parts for prototyping in January which will give us about a month to discuss things here until that time comes. After I have a chance to prototype the parts and a final design is reached, the parts will be available immediately from Shapeways and I'll open the run thread with links to all the options and some basic 'how to' information to help you with your builds. For anyone that ordered my 8th Doctor's sonic kit, you can expect something akin to the finishing guide PDF I provided with a complete run down of my own process and tips/tricks for your own builds.

Wow here's a project that attract my interest!
Do you know approximately how much would cost a complete pre assembled sonic with electronic? Ready do use with our cosplays.

Shanks25 said:

Wow here's a project that attract my interest!
Do you know approximately how much would cost a complete pre assembled sonic with electronic? Ready do use with our cosplays.

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I won't know until I finish the final design and price out the prints. And I still have to see what the other member is doing with their electronics - they'll be selling theirs separately to be incorporated with any 12th Doctor's sonic build - I'm just choosing to design my kit around his package so there will be a easy DIY option for people to get both to work together seamlessly for their own builds. I may be able to get a few from him for the purpose of being able to offer pre-built/painted sonics but that remains yet to be seen.

It would also depend on how many members wanted this option. I'd be happy to do some pre-built/painted sonics for a bunch of members but it would be better if I had a good number of people who all wanted one to bring the price down on each. At that point it's more about the time I'm putting in - but for those, if they do happen, I would start a limited run.

Ok, I'll follow up on this, cause i'm very interested! ^^

Watching this because I'd be in for a completed set, myself.

Definitely interested in that sonic and electronics package!

Interested Pending Final Price.

Interested depending on final price =)

Awesome to see some interest!

I'm just finished implementing a twist lock joint for the rear portion that covers the section that would house the batteries. Conveniently, the corner of the square end covers the entry point for the peg once it's secured.



So the top half would be inserted into the bottom half at a 45 degree angle then twisted clockwise into place. The emitter shaft section is held in place by the hook assemblies on either side of the body, both on the inside and on the outside, making the sonic easy to disassemble without compromising the structural integrity.

Would the final model have the "brass" core scaled to the 13mm that was mentioned in the main thread?

This is brilliant! DEFINITELY interested!

- Aeric

Bluebox303 said:

Would the final model have the "brass" core scaled to the 13mm that was mentioned in the main thread?

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Well since my model isn't built around the same principles as the real deal it's hard to say for sure but I think the answer to your question, in terms of scale and proportions, is a theoretical yes. If you look at this section cut of my full model, you can see how a 13mm wide tube would fit nicely up the entire middle of the sonic if I did build it around such a brass tube.



Aside from the extra bits sticking in, which are there on account of the various joints I used for assembly, 13mm seems to be the right diameter for the center opening through the whole form. I'm sure the brass core extends from the base of the sonic up to the body section but obviously not into the main emitter shaft as there wouldn't be room for it up there with the acrylic rods running through.

Some more progress on the port stand - housing for 6 LED's around the inside diameter, angled at 45 degrees to light up the side and top ring. Optionally, one could place a layer of tin foil along the bottom to reflect more light. Shown here in section for a better view of the inside.



The housing is designed as clips that will hold 5mm LED's snug at the right angle and leave enough room behind them for the leads to be wired, shrink-tubed, etc. I haven't determined an exact location for a battery pack or switch.

Count me in!! I missed the boat on the Dark Eyes sonic, but I will not miss the chance to get one of these. I'm a novice at doing wiring, so definitely interested in a completed version. Take my money please!!

macman27 said:

Count me in!! I missed the boat on the Dark Eyes sonic, but I will not miss the chance to get one of these. I'm a novice at doing wiring, so definitely interested in a completed version. Take my money please!!

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The plan for the electronics package is to make it as easy as possible to incorporate the parts into the model so that anyone can do it - I still don't know the full details of how complete the package will be but as I mentioned earlier, I may be offering assembled electronics packages as part of the kit if I can.

Also, Re the 8th Doctor's sonic - once I'm finished with this one, I'm also planning to rework that one to make it publicly printable - that is, the original required using a 'print it anyway' option where they'll print it even if parts break and send it anyway. I designed it so that it could break in certain places and still be usable but this wouldn't be an option for others to purchase it from Shapeways since the PIA option is only available to designers - but with some reworking, it could be possible to design a version that is printable by anyone. I just need to revisit the files and rework them. It will end up costing a bit more than the original run and there will still be other parts required to finish it (the sonic core, wood grips if you wanted them, acrylic rod for the lighting up, etc.) but I know people have been asking for it since the last run concluded so I thought I'd give it a shot once I'm finished designing this one.

So long story short, you may yet be able to grab a Dark Eyes sonic in the near future

Definitely interested in the full Sonic Kit... Might be an idea to wait untill the Christmas episode though the sonic might have a trick we don't know about yet!

Yeats said:

Definitely interested in the full Sonic Kit... Might be an idea to wait untill the Christmas episode though the sonic might have a trick we don't know about yet!

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Yeah, I'm holding off on prototyping until January for that reason! Next series would be too long to wait but 'tis wise to delay things until after the X-Mas episode, at the very least.

For anyone curious how I prepare the parts for printing, here's the Solidworks assembly file with all of the parts.



I looped them together into three groups and believe it or not, this shaved about $20 off of the cost for the complete set. The reason for this is that Shapeways charges a per part labor fee so if all 16 parts were printed separately, even within one file, it would be nearly $24 of labor costs alone, not including their material/machine space costs.

What this means is that when you order your kit, you'll need to cut the loops to remove all of the parts from each one. The bottom pieces are all sprued by a single long piece that attaches to the end cap on one end and the slider switch on the other, so that one will need to be cut in the middle somewhere to remove all of the other pieces, then the sprue will need to be broken off from the end cap and the slider. I made sure to attach it at points that wouldn't interfere with construction or appearance.

It's basically 'save $20 and do a tiny bit of post production cleanup' - totally worth it, I think.

Quick question for those interested in a light-up version of the port stand. Here is a section view of the stand showing the sonic in place:



I'm trying to find an ideal location and method for implementing a tactile push switch into the base so the sonic will light up the base when inserted - but have it designed in such a way that it only does so if you push the sonic all the way into the stand. The idea is that people may want a cool light up stand but not want it to illuminate all the time when the sonic is inside.

There are probably a number of ways to do this but here are the two I was thinking:

1) Design a housing for the switch that can be slid in and out of place - slid into place it will be in the right location to activate the lights, out of place it won't make contact.

2) Strategically place the switch so the sonic will sort of rest on it if not pushed in (ie the weight alone won't be enough to activate the switch) but with a bit of pressure on the sonic, it will be enough and it will sort of 'lock' into place and activate the lights.

Thoughts? Ideas?

Also, one additional thought - I can cut the price down by making the inside portion that holds the sonic more akin to a frame, rather than completely solid - say, starting from the portion surrounding the knurled part of the sonic and down to the bottom. This shouldn't be a big deal since the inside isn't readily visible, and not visible at all when the sonic is inserted, but it will take away from the solidity of the model itself if one was to peek inside. Anyone like the idea of cutting out some material for a lower cost in lieu of appearance, however minimal?

Okay, I think I found a solution.

When the sonic is inserted, it will rest up against that small angled piece (blue) that juts slightly into the space where the butt of the sonic will fit. As the sonic slides in, it gradually puts outward pressure on that piece, pushing it into the tactile switch to the left (red). Once the connection on the switch is made the lights will go on, but the weight of the sonic alone shouldn't be enough to push it in far enough to activate the circuit - only when the sonic is pushed in all the way will it do so.



The area where the button itself sits is open on the bottom and sides so it can be installed after wiring the button, batteries and LED's. A small bit of glue will hold it in place, but I'm going to add a small lip to secure it just for good measure.

Simply awesome. I'm in...