Thread: Pneumatic prop help.

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I built a FCG last year and understand the fundimentals of gear motors. Came out great.

This year I'm building a trash can pop up. I ordered a single moving cylinder kit with 12 throw, picaboo 105, infared sensor, and other things to add to the can lights, etc. I only want the thing to pop up with sound, flash a stobe, some fog and return. Now I'm pretty sure I will get this done without a problem this year. The picaboo handling the sound and 2 outputs (fog, light).

Now I understand single and double acting cylinders...what I do not understand is how to program a cylinder to open and close and sync with sound and such. Such as a creature crate or other device. I need to know how to do this for next year projects. Now I haven't received the picaboo 105 but if this unit can do such things it will be a big bonus..if not I'll go a different route.

Finally does anyone know how to soildify a rubber torso and head so I can encase it in the cylinder. I'm guessing foam but what will work best.
Thanks guys.

this is the most common way> the cylinder as controlled by the air solenoid which is basically an electronic valve,
with a single acting cylinder when air is sent to the cylinder it extends and retracts when air is taken away, the solenoid sends the air to the cylinder when electricity is sent to the solenoid. the picoboo fi-105 controls 120v so you need either a 120v solenoid or a solenoid with a power supply.

so you would connect the solenoid to the 120v out on the picoboo, when you program the picoboo you simply record the sound you want to play into it, when you press the first button on the piccoboo the first outlet comes on and the second outlet with the second button, so you would put the picoboo into program mode and it will playback the sound you then press the buttons as you want to trigger the cylinder and light,fog, etc you then save the routine and when triggered the picoboo will play back the sound with the button presses automatically.

the programming should all be in the manual, so you simply plug the solenoid
(or the solenoid power supply) into the picoboo outlet, then you plug lights, fog, etc into the second outlet. record the sound you want, program the unit. and enjoy

So let me get this straight. The picaboo 105 has a 12 volt in which would have my beam sensor attached to it. I can program sound directly into the unit. Then the solonoid would take one of the two outlets on the controller. Let's say the solonoid is in outlet 1 and the other things on outlet 2. Here are a couple questions:

Is it safe to plug a fog machine and light to outlet 2 on the picaboo? These would be activated as soon as the solonoid is powered.

Not so much concerned with this prop but during programming on outlet 1 (solonoid) can you do more then just a simple one motion going through the full extend an retract motion. Say, you wanted it to be open for 2 seconds, close for 1 then reopen again for 3 etc. Can this be done with the picaboo?

About a week to go before I play around with it but I want to know it's limits.

Originally Posted by Industen

So let me get this straight. The picaboo 105 has a 12 volt in which would have my beam sensor attached to it. I can program sound directly into the unit. Then the solenoid would take one of the two outlets on the controller. Let's say the solonoid is in outlet 1 and the other things on outlet 2. Here are a couple questions:

Is it safe to plug a fog machine and light to outlet 2 on the picaboo? These would be activated as soon as the solonoid is powered.

Not so much concerned with this prop but during programming on outlet 1 (solenoid) can you do more then just a simple one motion going through the full extend an retract motion. Say, you wanted it to be open for 2 seconds, close for 1 then reopen again for 3 etc. Can this be done with the picaboo?

About a week to go before I play around with it but I want to know it's limits.

the trigger input has 3 contacts: a ground, 12v out for supplying power to the sensor, and in for the sensor to trigger. your sensor should have 3 wires that connect to these, the manual should tell you which one goes where.

the outlet is really 2 separate outlets with individual control so the solenoid for the cylinder goes to one, then you can connect a light and fog controller to the other, the reason i say fog controller is that the fogger needs constant power to stay ready to fog so you would have the fog machine plugged into the wall so that it will keep heating even when not triggered, the fog machine will have a controller with it, most likely a simple switch and ready light, you would have to open up the remote and connect a relay with a 120v coil to it, then when you activate outlet two the light would come on and the relay would trigger the fogger. here is some info on using a relay to control a fog machine ScareFX: Modified a Gemmy Remote
but be careful the remote switches 120vac most of the time so never work on, or open the remote while the fog machine is plugged in.

to answer the last ? yes this is possible, while the sound plays you simply press the buttons for what you want to do and it records it, so say you wanted to have the light come on and the fogger fog and then the lid open and close, you would just press and hold the button for outlet 2 and then press and release the button for outlet 1 a bunch of times. when you press the button the corresponding outlet turns on, and turns off when you let go of the button, so you just press and hold for 2 seconds then release then press again for a second, etc


and since this involves electricity i have to add, this is only a guide of how you can do things, attempt at own risk.