My fellow game developer Danny B wanted me to make him an Iron Man Arc Reactor for a Halloween costume he was working on.
http://www.nonentity.com/New/Main/Projects/bullaarcreactor.htm
Not too bad I guess for 2 days worth of work.
I started out with a Forox Animation camera lens attachment, turned down a lip on the inside to allow for the VCR piece I am using as a base for the central area. It was hard to find something to use as a light diffuser, but I found some dirty old broken up half- inch plexiglass.
After cutting the rough shape out, I drilled it with a hole saw and fit it to my lathe. After turning the outside perfectly circular, I re chucked it up and turned the inside so it JUST fits the lens attachment.
Here are the inset holed for the LEDs I harvested out of a Home Depot LED table lamp.
In the lathe again! Thsi time to round off the edges, and rough up a bit with sandpaper so the LED light is diffused throughout the disc.
Wiring up the LEDs. Using the wiring diagram off Instructables.com, I have two LEDs to every 10K resistor. After I got this all wired up, I decided it was too dim, so I replaced the 10K resistors with 2.2K. Much brighter!
Wiring Closeup.
Central area made of motor windings and VCR parts, Unfortunately, I didn't have time to set the central light before I needed to ship it out for Halloween, but Danny's going to send it back to me for an upgrade when I get time.
http://www.nonentity.com/New/Main/Projects/bullaarcreactor.htm
Not too bad I guess for 2 days worth of work.
I started out with a Forox Animation camera lens attachment, turned down a lip on the inside to allow for the VCR piece I am using as a base for the central area. It was hard to find something to use as a light diffuser, but I found some dirty old broken up half- inch plexiglass.
After cutting the rough shape out, I drilled it with a hole saw and fit it to my lathe. After turning the outside perfectly circular, I re chucked it up and turned the inside so it JUST fits the lens attachment.
Here are the inset holed for the LEDs I harvested out of a Home Depot LED table lamp.
In the lathe again! Thsi time to round off the edges, and rough up a bit with sandpaper so the LED light is diffused throughout the disc.
Wiring up the LEDs. Using the wiring diagram off Instructables.com, I have two LEDs to every 10K resistor. After I got this all wired up, I decided it was too dim, so I replaced the 10K resistors with 2.2K. Much brighter!
Wiring Closeup.
Central area made of motor windings and VCR parts, Unfortunately, I didn't have time to set the central light before I needed to ship it out for Halloween, but Danny's going to send it back to me for an upgrade when I get time.
