Servo or Wiper Motor?

**Texan78** · 11-18-2008,04:58 PM

I am building a pop up for inside a coffin that is pneumatic. Having the guy pop up is not the problem since I am buying a kit that will do that and will control it is a picoBoo and a kit I am buying. Now what I am wanting to do is have his head turn from a laying position turn the the crowd when it pops up. I am thinking this has to be done with a servo correct or can this be done with a wiper motor. A wiper motor would make it go all the way from left to right and not what I am wanting. If I use a servo how would I program the action for him to turn his head? Would I need to use VSA or is there a way I can do this with the picoBoo?

**1jimbeam** · 11-18-2008,05:18 PM

you could use another small pneumatic cylinder, and solonoid and have the Picoboo control it . With the Picoboo you could have it turn several times in the same sequence.
Jim

**Texan78** · 11-18-2008,05:21 PM

How could I use a cylinder to control the head movement?

**propboy** · 11-18-2008,06:55 PM

There is a how to out there that just put a groove into a pvc pipe and as the prop went up the head turned. It to was in a casket if I recall correctly. It's a regular haunter I'll try to find it
-PB

**spinman1949** · 11-18-2008,10:35 PM

If you mount the head on a piece of pvc that is inside another piece of pvc, the head can then rotate. Down inside the body you use an elbow of pvc and another short piece of pvc to make a crank or lever. Position the lever so it is pointing in the direction you want the head to turn with the head in the straight position. Put a spring on the lever to lightly hold the head straight. Now all you need is to place something in the way of the lever as it comes up with the head. You may want to make the deflector adjustable so you can play with how far the head turns. The head will need to start turning before the body reaches the fully upright position. If the lever is very short, then the head could turn from straight to nearly 90 degrees in a very short distance. Of course the shorter the lever, the more force the lifting force will need to overcome to turn the head. Again some adjustability here may be helpful.

Oh yeah. My first thought was to use a pulley and cable system. Thus the title. I find you can not go back and edit the title.

**Texan78** · 11-18-2008,10:44 PM

Originally Posted by spinman1949

If you mount the head on a piece of pvc that is inside another piece of pvc, the head can then rotate. Down inside the body you use an elbow of pvc and another short piece of pvc to make a crank or lever. Position the lever so it is pointing in the direction you want the head to turn with the head in the straight position. Put a spring on the lever to lightly hold the head straight. Now all you need is to place something in the way of the lever as it comes up with the head. You may want to make the deflector adjustable so you can play with how far the head turns. The head will need to start turning before the body reaches the fully upright position. If the lever is very short, then the head could turn from straight to nearly 90 degrees in a very short distance. Of course the shorter the lever, the more force the lifting force will need to overcome to turn the head. Again some adjustability here may be helpful.

Oh yeah. My first thought was to use a pulley and cable system. Thus the title. I find you can not go back and edit the title.

Hmmmm I got an idea of what you are saying, but I am a guy so I need pictures...LoL

**jrzmac** · 11-18-2008,11:20 PM

Originally Posted by propboy

There is a how to out there that just put a groove into a pvc pipe and as the prop went up the head turned. It to was in a casket if I recall correctly. It's a regular haunter I'll try to find it
-PB

Ah, this is an oldie but goodie, Build your own Lift'n'Turn Piston . You could probably use a regular cylinder instead of a pvc one though.