Where do I start?

[Jim Curtis]

I am interested in building some "moving" displays, and would like some help on where good info is on servos, how to control, etc. I would love to see videos of others displays to get ideas. Help, please shorten my learning curve.

[kychristmas]

"Moving displays" are a pretty broad item. ctmal has done quite a bit with some Server Control skulls. Most of it can be applied to just about any type of 2 and 3 axis movement.

[ErnieHorning]

I believe "Moving displays" is still pretty new for a lot of people here. I would start by checking in the 'Halloween' subforum of the 'Learning center' forum. http://doityourselfchristmas.com/for...p?16-Halloween

There's also a ton of info on how to make objects move on several Halloween websites. They use servos to make skeletons and other dead, or sorta dead, things move. ()

[DynamoBen]

Halloween props are a great way to learn. With that said it is often easier to figure out what you want to make first and then learn about what is need to do it.

The most common methods for motion control include servos (for smaller items), pneumatics, DC motors, and occasionally stepper motors. The Halloween "crowd favorite" is the automotive wiper motor, which is powerful, inexpensive, and has some limited on-board speed control.

Great Tutorial on Wiper motor use

[KeithW]

For halloween I use a rotisserie motor to pull a string to raise/lower arms on a cheesy grim reaper - real slow, but moves nonetheless.

[tuppet]

I've been playing with a bit of motion control in my non-christmas project, Bernie:
*edit* URL doesn't want to post correctly. Search for tuppetslights and look on the dragon's lair page. */edit*

I'd start by deciding on what you want this to join up with or how you want to control it. For example there are DMX servo controllers around if you're adding to a DMX show, or you can use very basic electronics or even remote controls from RC Cars to interact with your project. If it's a one off stand alone project like mine the arduino is hard to beat, but it does require some C programming skills.

Servos come in a range of strengths and qualities, but for most hobby stuff which doesn't need much of either I have trouble passing up these: http://www.dealextreme.com/p/mg995-t...ro-servo-12832 and for the smaller stuff even these: http://www.dealextreme.com/p/towerpr...essories-12859.


Basically servos have three wires: power (usually 5volt), ground and signal. 1millisecond signal =0 degrees, 2millisecond signal = 180degrees, anything in between is proportional (eg. 1.5ms = 90 degrees). Most servos only have 180 degrees of travel, but you can also get continuous servos which rotate completely.

[ctmal]

I see you're using Renards. If you don't use/want to invest in DMX do a search on this forum for the Renard Servo or the SSSRR. They can control the small hobby servos if that's what you have in mind.

[justinj]

I was planning on doing something animated this year too, I was planning on using my existing Arduino to control general RC servos. That way I can program up the type of movement I want directly into the Arduino, and then just have Vixen trigger the channel over serial (You could also have multiple sequences programmed into the Arduino and have multiple 'trigger channels' pumped over from Vixen)

[Jim Curtis]

I'm not familiar with Arduino ... explain if you would.

[Andy.wpg]

I'm not familiar with Arduino ... explain if you would.

Arduino is a relatively new microcontroller. Very low cost, VERY capable, and has a huge 'fan base'.

Learn more HERE

Have fun!