Thread: My 3 axis skull...in progress

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Very nice job! And so much room in those skulls!

I have started a new thread with all my new videos from 2009 in it instead of posting them each here.

You can see them all here:

http://www.halloweenforum.com/hallow...os-2009-a.html

Thanks!

I can't believe I read 179 pages of posts. Now I need to build this dam thing, I'm vested way to far not to.

Time to start ordering parts

-PB

SKULLS!!!

There is a pre-order special going on right now at Graveyardskulls - Animatronic Skulls for your Halloween Haunt to get the second generation 3 axis skulls in time for Christmas!

What could be a better gift?

Seriously, check it out if you are interested.

Many have asked the question, "What's the difference between the Second Generation 3 axis skull and the Classic Design?". I will attempt to answer that question here. There are many factors and many differences. You have to weigh the advantages and the cost in your own mind to see if the tradeoff is worth it for you and your application.

1. The Second Generation 3-Axis Skull uses a completely different method for moving the axis rod. It uses rack gears which provide a higher torque transfer of power from the servos to the skull resulting in less wear and longer servo life. It also helps to hold the skull in it's position much better even when the servos are not energized.

2. Because of this new design, the motion is much smoother and more realistic with the second generation design. It is also pure linear motion. With the classic design, the movement of each axis has an effect on the other two Axes which prevents you from getting pure linear motion in any direction. There is always a pull to one side or another as each axis affects the others. With the Second Generation design, each axis is completely independent of the others preventing the "Binding Up" that can sometimes occur in the classic design when attempting motion in more than one axis at the same time.

3. The Second Generation 3 Axis Skull design is more reliable than the classic design in that there are no linkage arms that can pop off, and the rotate is done as "direct drive" straight fromn the servo. In the classic design, the Rotate tab becomes loose after hours of use and can slip causing the skull to not respond to rotation commands and eventually become misaligned. This can not happen with the Second generation Design.

4. The second Generation 3 Axis Skull is also easier for the end user to service should a servo fail. Simply Unscrew and unplug the bad servo, Put the gear on the new servo and screw down the new one, then plug it in. No hassles with linkages and complicated alignments. Also, when you change out a servo in the classic skull, it is easy to alter the position of the servo horn which changes all the servo settings for that servo causing it to behave differently to existing routines created with the old servo in place.

5. The portability of routines is much eaiser with the Second Generation 3 Axis Skull. If you create a routine on one Second Generation skull, it can be used on any other Second Generation Skull without having to modify or tweak the routine. This is because there are no real variables in the length or linkages or what hole is used in a servo arm or any of those thngs which cause each servo to have their own unique set of servo settings within VSA as is the case with the Classic Design.


All that said, the classic design is still a good design and if it is your only skull, these things may not be a big concern for you and you may want to save money by purchasing the Classic design. However, if the items mentioned above are important to you, we believe that you will appreciate the benefits of the new design and it will be well worth the extra cost.

I'm hoping someone can help me out. I bought a graveyardskull last July I believe. Well, I finally got the money for the usb cable and brookshire program so I'm ready to roll. Unfortunately, their site is once again down and I have no idea on how to hook this thing up. I've got the lynx board that plugs into the computer cable and I'm sure the servos hook into that. What I'm confused about is how do I hook up this power cable that looks like it goes to a laptop to anything. There is no instructions to go wiith this. Do I have to cut the ends off the power supply and if so where do I hook up the cables?

I've read up to page 60 and there is only one diagram that I can roughly figure out. I'm not an electricition by any stretch of the imagination and this thing is way to expensive to just try to feel my way around. Can someone please post some photo/diagrams that a person of 5 can understand? Thanks guys.

Growler, try this site it is the manual for the ssc-32 controller. It looks like the terminal block labeled #4 or -vl+ on the board is for the power for the board, meaning it runs the board. the other 2 terminal blocks look like they are for the power for the servos -vs1+ and -vs2+. Here is a link to the manual for the board . Hope it helps

http://www.lynxmotion.com/images/htm....htm#ssc32feat

Please send me a PM and I will be happy to help you out tomorrow, or whenever works for you.

Bob

I am really upset that Graveyardskulls are not selling component parts anymore for the skulls. I was waiting for the store to reopen to order some stuff to build my own 3AS. I can't afford to buy a complete one, and was going to build my own buying some of the more difficult parts like the shaft kit and bracket, and also the servo plate. What was the thinking behind deciding not to sell parts? Im sure there are others like me who want to buid thier own, but wanted to buy some of the parts instead of making them.

I was thinking the same. I can't afford a full skull this year due to me getting married so was hoping that they would have the parts so I could build one over the year a little at a time. Hopefully they will add that section.