Picaxe controlled Pneumatic Coffin Pop Up

**Halstaff** · 03-01-2011,04:21 PM

I'm using a 08 Picaxe built to Fritz's VLC design to control my Vampire Pop up. When the Picaxe is triggered, it activates a relay which causes the audio to begin, the solenoid to activate and it turns on a light. After the routine runs, I've set a retrigger delay of 30 seconds before the prop can be reactivated.
Since this prop will be displayed inside, I'm running the pneumatics from an 11 gallon air tank from Harbor Freight set at 40 psi. It should run all night without having to be refilled.

The complete electronics package ran under $50 which included the 08 Picaxe built up as a VLC (http://www.ipprofessional.com.au/VLC...Controller.pdf), a 50 second audio board (http://www.electronics123.com/s.nl/i...c=8&category=2 ), a Parallax PIR, a small relay board I built, a small clamp on light from Home Depot with a 25W red bulb and a pair of Big Lot computer speakers.
I know I said I wouldn't build any more Picaxe projects for awhile, but I needed this prop running tonight for a party and the 2 stage timer I planned to use is acting up. So guess what I was doing last night.
Now that the electronics, pneumatics and the mechanical components are completed, I can turn it over to my wife to finish. The inside will be lined in red fabric and she'll be adding to the costume.
If anyone is interested in the code, I'll be happy to post it.

**Frankie's Girl** · 03-02-2011,10:04 AM

Pretty cool! I wish I had the know-how to do electronic wizardry like this!

**thisain'tmayberry** · 03-03-2011,10:44 AM

$50 bucks is CHEAP, but what did that coffin set ya back?

**Halstaff** · 03-03-2011,01:59 PM

I got the coffin off of Craigslist. The seller said it retailed for $5400. I paid him $80 for it!
All together, including all the electronics, a real pneumatic cylinder and solenoid, the coffin, mask and costume, I have about $200 in the prop.
It's amazing what you can find and put together if you're willing to spend a little extra time and effort.