Thread: Servo driven animated Butler

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I've finished putting together my butler that will be inside my front door and be one of two greeters I have for my party this year. The other greeter is my Pirate Captain who will be at the side entrance with the rest of my Pirate display
He runs on a total of 6 servos and uses a variety of controllers. A Cowlacious servo driver board for the mouth servo, a REMCO for the eyes built at the annual gathering for the Rocky Mountain Group, one of Fritz42's $10 picaxe micro controllers that controls the head movement and a PIR trigger board designed by Otaku. The 3 axis design uses a metal caster wheel as its basis. It allowed me to utilize the mask from the original butler which I really wanted to use. I used DarkLore's wood body design instead of my usual pvc body since the head is so heavy and am really pleased with how sturdy it is. I'll be using that design more in the future.



Click on the photo to see the head movement mechanism in action.



This prop really required me to get outside my comfort zone and learn some new skills. The things I learned while putting him together will really help me take my haunt to the next level.

Wow! Nice movement. His face reminds me a little of my static Butler "Grimsbee"

Grimsbee is in full Edwardian dress including white gloves. (have a look in my album)

I wish I had your Tec. skills to make him animated!!! I salute you!

I really like your method for the 3-axis. Nothing wrong with thinking outside the box.

Great work, Steve! The head movement mech is pretty damn cool - I haven't seen a design quite like yours before. Definitely an out-of-the-box concept. And that 's a very nice mask, good detailing.

Looks and moves great! I'm jealous!

Thanks!
The neck design is not mine. I got it from Dave's first video at Animatronics To Go. A brief description of the neck mechanism can be found at http://www.halloween2go.com/volume1p5data.htm
I use this design, a traditional 3 axis skull and a mechanical design by Propmaster at http://halloweenpropmaster.com/prop_head_movement.htm
This design allows me to use a mask instead of a skull and I'm able to use a picaxe and Cowlacious board to make it a stand alone prop. Less complicated and cheaper than my 3 axis skull.

You guys are killing me with all these great props!!!
Awesome prop!!

Looks Great Steve. You have been busy ! Glad to see you are getting some of your projects done.

Wow. Awesome butler.. I'd love to have something of that caliber! Fantastic!

Here's the video of the completed butler all dressed up for the big night.