Propeller sign display

[acewingman]

Not sure if this has been brought up before...

I really like the idea of having an led display but I do not want to wire up over 700 leds. Over the years I have seen many different kinds of spinning led displays and even a few hand held ones where your rotate the display on what looks like a new years eve noise maker. I thought it would be very cool if there was a way to make a display large enough to use outside and started searching the interwebs to see if anyone has done this. I found a couple projects that were interesting and here are the links...

http://www.ponnet.com/projects/propeller/

http://www3.sympatico.ca/surfin.dude/creative/clocks/propclk/blick.html

Maybe this is more work than soldering 700 leds together but I find it fascinating.

[ppohlman]

I too have seem some of those over the years. Most of them were usually dealling with a clock of some sort. I've also seen some that wave back and forth like a windshield wiper on steroids. That would remove the need for managing wires/power on a rotating arm.

Scaling up the device for outdoor use would mean some high speeds at the end of a long arm.

I love the idea!!

[tconley]

also what if a kid walked up to the high speed spinning arm. CAn you say Law Suit

[ppohlman]

Good point tconley. I was thinking more of just injury to yourself, but Law Suit due to injury to others would be even worse.

Maybe something that could be placed in a window. You could probably make some cool animations with it.

[BuzzLightyear]

Easy enough to put a plexiglass widow frame around it.

Buzz

[mark]

here's a couple of more

http://www.ladyada.net/make/minipov3/

http://www.ladyada.net/make/minipov2/

[grages]

Scaling up the device for outdoor use would mean some high speeds at the end of a long arm.

I love the idea!!

I really like the idea also, but why the long arm?

two colors or more would be cool.

[rlilly]

also what if a kid walked up to the high speed spinning arm. CAn you say Law Suit

I'm sure a UL listed fan shroud would be part of the design.....

[ppohlman]

I really like the idea also, but why the long arm?

I guess it depends on how big of a display you're puting together. If you're wanting something that is .. say.. 6'-8' tall, then you've got an arm that is about 4' in length. With something spinning around at that speed, a 4' long arm is pretty long. At least I think so.

[grages]

I guess it depends on how big of a display you're puting together. If you're wanting something that is .. say.. 6'-8' tall, then you've got an arm that is about 4' in length. With something spinning around at that speed, a 4' long arm is pretty long. At least I think so.

I think I was thinking it was using lasers. More like this idea (http://www.doityourselfchristmas.com/forums/showpost.php?p=3221&postcount=1) posted by DynamoBen. It could be very small this way.

Shawn

P.S. Imagine Red and Green Lasers

[acewingman]

I was thinking along these lines as far as size goes...

http://www.ledcontrol.narod.ru/eng/index.htm

here is a video...Right click and save as (http://www.ledcontrol.narod.ru/video/autoroof/9.avi)

...and here is the windsheild wiper design that is about the right size...

http://www.ledcontrol.narod.ru/eng/handnew.htm

[Entropy]

here's a couple of more

http://www.ladyada.net/make/minipov3/

http://www.ladyada.net/make/minipov2/
Note that Ladyada also sells "SpokePOV" kits designed to do similar things on bicycle spokes.

(Take a look at her store, http://www.adafruit.com/)

Such a bicycle-spoke approach would probably help with many of the safety concerns some have raised.

[Reddy_Kilowatt]

I'm about 85% done with a 2 panel LEDTRIKs that I started last fall. My house is about 30' from the street and I'm a little concerned about the Best Hong Kong LED's narrow 20 Deg. viewing angle. A POV Display like this would have a 360 Deg. view.

32 RGB LED Magic Ball

<object width="425" height="355"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/93HcgS4W_8g&hl=en"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/93HcgS4W_8g&hl=en" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="355"></embed></object>

The project can be found here (http://home.versatel.nl/edithenwilliam/william.htm) in Dutch. :confused:

This and more POV examples from Hackedgadgets (http://hackedgadgets.com/2006/06/13/top-5-spinning-led-displays/)

[Wayne J]

I'm about 85% done with a 2 panel LEDTRIKs that I started last fall. My house is about 30' from the street and I'm a little concerned about the Best Hong Kong LED's narrow 20 Deg. viewing angle. A POV Display like this would have a 360 Deg. view.

32 RGB LED Magic Ball
The project can be found here (http://home.versatel.nl/edithenwilliam/william.htm) in Dutch. :confused:

This and more POV examples from Hackedgadgets (http://hackedgadgets.com/2006/06/13/top-5-spinning-led-displays/)

Now that is something I would love to make!

[NogginBoink]

Dangit you guys... I already have too many projects on my plate!

[tonypgst]

Very cool. This place is going to suck up all my extra money for a few years to come. I've already had to cut back on my golf outings. These posts should be flagged with a warning alerting everyone on a budget to stay away. :)

[Josh]

I think RJ is, or will be working on a design like this.