Thread: Animatronics for Dummies?

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Hey all.....does anyone know if something like, "Animatronics for Dummies" or something similar exists? After reading tons and tons of threads on here, it is becoming apparent to me that every single one of you are either electronic engineers or born with a capacitor and resistors in your baby bottles! Servos, DMX controllers, brushless speed controllers, 16 channel titanium tip q-based thing-a-ma-hocker base relay, (ok, I made that last one up!), my head is spinning! If anyone has any suggestions where I can learn animatronics from step 1, please let me know! Thanks!

Hi Nox.
Skeletalremains has written a great piece on basic pneumatics.
It starts with the very basics and goes on to controllers etc.. It is very well written and easy to follow for those who may be slightly technophobic. It's the nearest we have to an "Animatronics 101".
You can check it out here...
Beginner's Guide to Props and Pneumatics
Any problems, just holler. There are plenty of "Fear engineers" here ready to help you.

I would also suggest that you keep reading and following threads. Once you read it enough, it begins to make sense....believe it or not haha
Also ask questions. Everyone on here is great about answering questions and giving detailed info.
Halloweenbob is personally responsible for getting like 90% of the 3 axis skulls working for members who wanted to try making one. He had a thread that kind of took on a life of its own due to all the questions and answers. And he's just one of many who take the time to share and educate.

Meeps

Originally Posted by Nox Arcana

Hey all.....does anyone know if something like, "Animatronics for Dummies" or something similar exists? After reading tons and tons of threads on here, it is becoming apparent to me that every single one of you are either electronic engineers or born with a capacitor and resistors in your baby bottles!

Just thought I'd let you know that you're not alone, Nox. I personally know nothing about electronics, so I mainly stick to store-bought items; it would be cool to know how to do animatronics, but it really doesn't matter that much to me. I'm sure that, even though there's a good amount, not everyone here is mechanically-inclined, like you stated, so I wouldn't be too hard on yourself

Joe Stone web page use to recommend this
Animatronics: A Guide to Animated Holiday Displays
Edwin Wise
Simulated Reality Systems, LLC - Main Page


Still need to buy it. In the meantime look over some of his files that are archived here
Index of /howto/prop-1/programs/wbn

A lot of us might be engineers, but like most jobs, you do not always use your education at work. It is like a foreign language, if you dont use it you lose it. I think the learning curve is pretty easy for us, but getting all the toys to play is not so easy. We have the same problems everyone else has convincing the wife that this project is worth doing, then never finishing.

Hmm, that name has a ring to it... I wonder if anyone has ever approached John Wiley & Sons (The publisher who owns the "Dummie's" franchise) about writing this? Seems to me that there is enough talent on this forum to write this book. Maybe we could put together a list of topics that people would like to see in this book? I am going to start a thread in the How-To forum about this to see what interest there is.

As far as the basics for making animated motion, this web site has some good information.

Mechanisms and Movement

(Click on "mechanisms".)

I'm another one that is mechanically challenged. The arty side I've got covered, but motors and electronics are still over my head. I tend to glaze over and start drooling whenever I try to read the threads about controllers and circuit boards... but I keep trying.

I've been very lucky that there are some fantastic folks on these boards that are more than willing to give you tips, help, and sometimes even offer to build stuff that sounds interesting (DaveintheGrave, I'm talking about you! ).

If the websites and tutorials don't seem to help, do ask questions - you'll get lots of help on here!

if it makes you feel better, some of us that understand the robotics side, dont have a lick of the artsy stuff.

I cant even use my hand as a template and cut it out on a pumpkin

Originally Posted by DetroitGrass

if it makes you feel better, some of us that understand the robotics side, dont have a lick of the artsy stuff.

I cant even use my hand as a template and cut it out on a pumpkin

So you simply designed a robot to do it for you! LOL

I like many others wish there was a book that explained it all!