[Flynn Manor]

Hey Folks... Can anyone help me with the mechanics of opening a two-sided door at the same time. I'm looking to re-create this prop:
Thanks.

 

[J-Man]

Pneumatics would be my route, 2 cylinders.

 

[Flynn Manor]

Thanks J-Man....I was planning on using pneumatics, but only wanted to use one cylinder.

 

[J-Man]

That might be a little tough for that application, it doesn't look like there's much depth and the torso is pretty much taking up the interior space. You may be able to do it with a double action cylinder that has dual rod ends. Mount the cylinder horizontal just behind the torso and attach a rigid bracket to each door. Set it up with the rods extended to close the doors, doors open when the rods retract. The correct angle of the brackets will take a little trial and error to figure out but it could be done.

 

[thenightmarefamily]

make it easy on yourself and use 2 cylinders.

 

[Ugly Joe]

A quick idea for turning a single vertical cylinder into dual horizontal movement.

Cylinder attaches to horizontal rod running most of the length of the crossmember in the cross.
On each end of the rod is a cam.
Opposite corner of each cam is a rod facing the front of the cross - these rods attach to the doors.
Lower front point of each cam is the pivot point.

The cams turn the vertical movement of the cylinder into the horizontal movement of the rods pushing/pulling the doors.

 

[Flynn Manor]

Thanks Ugly Joe! That looks like it would work great.