[Oak Lane Cemetery]

Figured out a simpler way to make the heart I want to put on our witch's' table beat. I had been fiddling with actuators and solenoids to try and make a mechanism that would push out on the sides of the heart to make it move more realistically, but everything was either too complicated and failure prone, or just didn't work. Went back to the drawing board today started tinkering with the little 50rpm motor I first bought for it. This time instead of trying to make a mechanism or linkage I decided to try something super simple and just make the motor lift and drop itself with a small arm. The rocking motion jiggles the heart in a nice rhythmic pattern that looks surprisingly pulse-like. The only thing lft to figure out is how to ensure the motor stays sideways within the heart. I'm thinking I'll add a flexible foam or plastic fin to the backside of it to keep it in position, but still let it move freely.

 

[theundeadofnight]

Figured out a simpler way to make the heart I want to put on our witch's' table beat. I had been fiddling with actuators and solenoids to try and make a mechanism that would push out on the sides of the heart to make it move more realistically, but everything was either too complicated and failure prone, or just didn't work. Went back to the drawing board today started tinkering with the little 50rpm motor I first bought for it. This time instead of trying to make a mechanism or linkage I decided to try something super simple and just make the motor lift and drop itself with a small arm. The rocking motion jiggles the heart in a nice rhythmic pattern that looks surprisingly pulse-like. The only thing lft to figure out is how to ensure the motor stays sideways within the heart. I'm thinking I'll add a flexible foam or plastic fin to the backside of it to keep it in position, but still let it move freely.

That looks great , simple solution that works fine . It would be a nice addition to an Edgar Allan Poe themed haunt for The Telltale Heart .

 

[Oak Lane Cemetery]

Well, as things would have it, after some further testing problems with this setup became apparent. I made the arm that rocks the motor out of plastic and rounded it and sanded it smooth, but it does grab a tiny bit as it lifts the motor. This causes the motor to very slowly walk itself forwards until it eventually either contacts the curved wall of the heart and tips onto it's back, thus becoming useless, or it grabs the latex wall, bunches it up under the arm and jams. I tried a few things to limit the walking action, but everything I attached to the motor in an attempt to steady it only made things worse. Tried a fin, a loop of zip tie, a thin strip of foam and coating the side of the motor with silicone to make it more grippy. The only thing I can think to do now is to attach the motor to one side of a hinge, then bolt the other side to the table to lock it down. This would likely transfer the vibration noise from the motor to the table and be noisy as he ll . Before I go that route I'm going to try a window actuator, slightly modified and see what kind of action I get from that. Back to the drawing board I guess. Why are the seemingly simple projects the ones that bite you in the rear?

 

[mysterymaiden]

This is really fantastic! What a unique idea for the pulsing - it really does have a double pulse look to it

 

[Malicious]

Well, as things would have it, after some further testing problems with this setup became apparent. I made the arm that rocks the motor out of plastic and rounded it and sanded it smooth, but it does grab a tiny bit as it lifts the motor. This causes the motor to very slowly walk itself forwards until it eventually either contacts the curved wall of the heart and tips onto it's back, thus becoming useless, or it grabs the latex wall, bunches it up under the arm and jams. I tried a few things to limit the walking action, but everything I attached to the motor in an attempt to steady it only made things worse. Tried a fin, a loop of zip tie, a thin strip of foam and coating the side of the motor with silicone to make it more grippy. The only thing I can think to do now is to attach the motor to one side of a hinge, then bolt the other side to the table to lock it down. This would likely transfer the vibration noise from the motor to the table and be noisy as he ll . Before I go that route I'm going to try a window actuator, slightly modified and see what kind of action I get from that. Back to the drawing board I guess. Why are the seemingly simple projects the ones that bite you in the rear?

That heart beating looks great..... too bad the simple way always seems to come with complications!

 

[Zombie4*]

Super cool!! I will be watching your progress on this one!

 

[Oak Lane Cemetery]

Round 2 of beating heart mechanism testing. Tried a car door actuator (was way too noisy) and then tried the motor configured differently. This time instead of having the motor rock I mounted it to a small base so that it was off to one side. Now when it's in the heart the motor arm hits one side of the heart, which causes the pulsing action. It works, but I worry the arm will eventually damage the latex of the heart and wear a hole in it. I've got a leather washer on there loosely so it can turn as it hits the side instead of rub, but I worry it's not enough. Going to get a bearing to replace the washer with so it will roll smoothly and the smooth metal should be easier on the latex. If that works I'll proceed to trying to deaden the motor buzz more and figure out the best way to mount it to the table.

 

[Zombie4*]

The movement from the motor is so realistic!

 

[Plant175]

It’s amazing to see your thought process and the stuff you come up with

 

[cadcoke5]

If the heart is latex, you are just going to accept that it will wear out. Though you can greatly increase its lifetime if you glue some fabric onto the inside with contact cement. Cover as much of the latex as is practical. I like the idea of a large rubber washer at the attachment in addition to the fabric.

Personaly, I like the look of the power lock. It isn't as realistic, but it is a more prominent movement.

-Joe

 

[Oak Lane Cemetery]

Progress has been made! I'm close to buttoning this one up and calling it done. I kinda messed up and used RTV silicone to create veins on the heart, which made it impossible to clear coat with Plasti-Dip or Gorilla patch and seal. Both just peeled right off of the silicone areas. Solved the problem by just clear coating the entire heart with clear silicone diluted with Naptha. Not quite as wet looking as I wanted, but I can spray it with silicone lubricant to get that effect. To lessen wear on the latex I replaced my loose rubber washer with a steel bearing. The bearing rolls nice and smooth against the rubber and the smoothness of the metal should not cause much abrasion. As for the obnoxious amount of buzz from the motor, I found that by using a speed control and reducing the speed of the 50rpm motor to about 25rpms I could greatly reduce the motor noise. It still has some buzz, but at about 8ft it gets drowned out by ambient sounds. As of now, if no other problems arise, I just need to run my wires down through a hole in the tabletop, make a weatherproof box to house the speed control on the underside of the table and wire things up.

 

[Naughty Monkey]

I would think that ambient music with a heart beat sound would drown out any mechanical noise. Great job figuring out the mechanics!

 

[Oak Lane Cemetery]

I would think that ambient music with a heart beat sound would drown out any mechanical noise. Great job figuring out the mechanics!

I run an ambient track over the entire display of creepy whispers and other sounds ("Demonic Whispers" from Gore Galore) as well as audio of bubbling, boiling sounds right there with the witch for her cauldron so I'm pretty sure it won't be heard. Even with no audio running I live in a city so there is the near constant rumble of cars, music, dogs barking and nighttime insects that will likely cover it. Several people have suggested adding beating heart audio, but I'm not a fan of the idea. I feel like it might come off as a bit cheesy and unrealistic. (Like a heart sitting there beating is realistic)

 

[Oak Lane Cemetery]

Wrapped this one up today after way too much work on getting this thing to work. Seemed simple and easy when I started, but after so much tinkering and fiddling I'm glad to finally have it figured out, done and ready to store until Halloween!

 

[Zombie4*]

Most excellent job!! I wish I could see in person!