Tag Archives: animatronics

Animatronics Tentacle Test

Using 3x SG90s (metal gears).
These performed far better using my Servo tester than the cheap plastic ones.

First version using Openscad, with variables to control how it looks.

This is printed using TPU.

RepeatingBit = 4;
nr = 20;
difference(){
union(){
for (a =[0:nr]) {
    translate([0,0,(a * (RepeatingBit))]) {
        translate([0,0,a*a*1.3])
        
        cylinder ( h=1+(a*1.1), r1=1,r2=7.5+(a*(a/10)), $fn=30 );
        translate([0,0,a*a*1.3+1+(a*1.1)])
        cylinder ( h=3+(a*1.5), r1=7.5+(a*(a/10)),r2=7.5+(a*(a/10)), $fn=30 );
        
        }
}
translate([0,0,0])
cylinder( h=650, r1=2,r2=4 , $fn=30 );
}

translate([5,0,-10])
rotate([0,2.5,0])
cylinder( h=1000, r1=1,r2=1 , $fn=30 );
translate([-3,4,-10])
rotate([-4/2,-3/2,0])
cylinder( h=1000, r1=1,r2=1 , $fn=30 );
translate([-3,-4,-10])
rotate([4/2,-3/2,0])
cylinder( h=1000, r1=1,r2=1 , $fn=30 );

translate([2,3,-10])
rotate([-1.4,0.6,0])
cylinder( h=1000, r1=2,r2=nr*1.3 , $fn=30 );

translate([2,-3,-10])
rotate([1.6,0.7,0])
cylinder( h=1000, r1=2,r2=nr*1.3 , $fn=30 );

translate([-3.5,0,-10])
rotate([0,-1.8,0])
cylinder( h=1000, r1=2,r2=nr*1.3 , $fn=30 );

}

Video with some organic movement

Using a Raspberry Pi, Python3 and a Servo HAT.

Bottom part

New tests for animatronics

Controlling windscreen wipers with Arduino for animatronics.

I was looking for a cheap solution to control movement, for example Halloween puppets.

I used a XY-160D dual 7A high amperage 12V controller to control a windscreen wiper.

Using a Arduino Uno and some simple code, I got movement out of the 12V motor.

Pins used:
Vcc – Arduino 5V
GND – Arduino GND
ENA – Arduino PWM pin
IN1 & IN2 (controls direction) – Two arduino output pins