Thread: help with jack in the box

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hey guys I really want to make a 3ft jack in the box only thing is is that I can either only figure out how to make it spring open, or how to make it shut. I cant figure out how to make it do both. I really dont what to have to keep shuting this thing all night so I want to pop out and cloes on its own. I have now clue how to do this any ideas?

First answer this. Do you want to do this with electric or pneumatic?

Here's a Tube link that shows the basics of what you want.

Any one have thoughts on the pnematic cylinder that was used in the Tratsh Can prop?

It is hard to tell. If that is a real cylinder, it was not cheap. The throw is huge. It appears to be nearly 2 ft. It could be a door closer, but I have never seen one with that long of a throw. Looks like he has short throw cylinders at the bottom. Nice prop.

you dont nearly need a cylinder that large to do a jack in thebox if you wat ti to slowly creeplily open and shut use a wiper motor if you want ti to spring open and spring shut with force usse a cylinder. you can mount the cylinder to the side of the inside of the box and hook the top throw peice to the lid of hte box and maybe have like 6 inch throw or more if youd like and it will spring open and shut.

Could be a sliding glass door closer. They are rare, but they do exist. I found one made from ABS. Not exactly the safest thing to use.

I would really like for it to be electric and avoid having to use air pressure at all

Could you use a vertical scissor lift mechanism? It would be all mechanical/electrical. The "Jack" prop would have to be fairly light.
You'd have to figure out how to make it popup MUCH faster than this:



Elastic band, and latch?

hmm interesting idea eyegore i have never seen a vertical scciser mechanism. but yes with any mechanical prop it works best oif the lid is light. the lid on my monster in the box is about three pounds and wiper motor moves it like nodbodys bussiness.