The Mini Tree Maker!

[james70818]

Well this is my first year of building my display. So last week I started making my 8 channel mini trees that have 1600 lights on them. The first thing I noticed was that rotating that tree gets old real fast! With over 60 different mini trees to make I had a lot of rotating in my future. So I built the Mini Tree Maker!

I took the 4th axis rotary table off of my mill, a 1/4" flex shaft used with my remote control boats, and an drill.


Then I mounted a piece of plywood to the rotary table.


The drill with a zip tie on the trigger then it is plugged into a cheap harbor freight foot switch for a router.

[slovanredneck]

Wow... 8 channel mini trees!!! I was impressed with the group buys but this is impressive also. Are you planning on recording your display this year? I'm interested in how your first year turns out. I can only imagine the time that you have invested so far. My family is already getting a little cranky from the countless hours in my first year and I'm not going as big as you are.

[james70818]

Wow... 8 channel mini trees!!! I was impressed with the group buys but this is impressive also. Are you planning on recording your display this year? I'm interested in how your first year turns out. I can only imagine the time that you have invested so far. My family is already getting a little cranky from the countless hours in my first year and I'm not going as big as you are.

Thanks, I will make video's as I go and of the final product. You can go to YouTube.com and see the Mini Mega trees. I am at work right now so I cannot go and post a link to the video. But do a search for James70818 and you will see what I have done so far. I have a video with three trees that is really cool but will have to post it later.

James

[kychristmas]

... 8 channel mini trees that have 1600 lights on them...

How big are these Mini's? I have 3ft Minis and while I could have gone to 600lights, I can't imagine fitting more than that on them.

Very impressive. I guess if I gave up a few other hobbies, I might be able to compete. OK, Probably not!

Oh, I love the machine. Of course, not all of use have a rotary axis hanging around. If I do more mini's, I might consider something like this.

[dirknerkle]

I am constantly amazed at the creativity and resourcefulness of DIYC members!

[james70818]

How big are these Mini's? I have 3ft Minis and while I could have gone to 600lights, I can't imagine fitting more than that on them.

Very impressive. I guess if I gave up a few other hobbies, I might be able to compete. OK, Probably not!

Oh, I love the machine. Of course, not all of use have a rotary axis hanging around. If I do more mini's, I might consider something like this.

These trees are 5' tall. They have 700ct white, in 5 segments. The top has 50, second has 100, third has 150, and fourth and fith have 200 each. Then Red, Blue, and Green have 300 each. I am only making 6 trees like this.

I was going to make the entire tree spinner out of wood with a cheap spice rack from wallmart. Then I had the brain fart to use the rotary table.

Thanks, James

[Aussie Ryan]

Wow, 60 trees with 8 channels each?

[CaptKirk]

Wow that is just under a full DMX universe itself just for the mini's! Yikes! Looking forward to the videos!!

[james70818]

Wow that is just under a full DMX universe itself just for the mini's! Yikes! Looking forward to the videos!!

Ask and you shall receive! Here is a good video that showed last years stuff http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t8rs7jRWtMg Used over 400 channels then and will be over 1000 this year

[mlkren]

Ask and you shall receive! Here is a good video that showed last years stuff http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t8rs7jRWtMg Used over 400 channels then and will be over 1000 this year

That was AWESOME! Great job James, can't wait for the 1000 channels.