Altoids ROMP(Random Oscillating Magnetnetic Pendulum) by Stormed
That's right, ALTOIDS. You can even smell it a bit! Everything is portable and can be fitted into a tiny package when you're done playing with yourself _. Then, after playing with the ROMP, you'll get a little toy that you can place in your pocket(well, if they are large enough, it's not THAT small). This is all made from household items and maybe a tool which you can borrow from your neighbor or something.
 
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Step 1: Materials and Tool you need.

Plenty of room for improvising. I used some tools just to make it a bit faster, since I don't want to spend too much time on this.

Materials
-Altoids Can/Base of sorts
-Broken Antenna. A dowel or something similar will do fine, although probably less portable
-Rope/String/Shoelace?
-Magnets. I used NeoDymium magnets from an old hard drive, they seem a bit TOO strong for this purpose, so I suggest weaker magnets for the base, and maybe, a strong one on the string.
-2 Paper Clips. I made the mistake of making them too long, therefor attracting the pendulum to the antenna. This is OPTIONAL, since hot gluing it will work fine, and probably better, although sacrificing portablility.
-Hot Glue sticks. For gluing the pole's base, use hot glue or somthing strong to hold it togethe.

Tools
-Drill. Power drill or hand dril is fine, although use something to make it drill straight, else it'll slide off. Basically, something to make a hole big enough for the antenna/pole to fit through.
-Hacksaw. A power saw is acceptable if your antenna is the strong kind(with layers inside of it so it's thicker), but a hacksaw is great for cheaper, thinner antennas.
-Hot Glue Gun. To attach holder for pole/antenna.
-Marker. Use it to estimate measurement, since there is no true need for a ruler here, you can estimate the lengths you need and it'll work out fine. You can just estimate using your hands too.
-Bench Grinder or File. Cutting the antenna WILL leave the sides roughed up, and you need to file/grind it down or else it'll cut you.
Neodudeman says: Sep 10, 2006. 5:05 PM
Holy crap trebuche. You freakin read my mind. Like. seriously. stop.
trebuchet03 says: Sep 10, 2006. 5:32 PM
It's telepathy dude... 1.3 megapixel - so the pictures are a little fuzzy sometimes :P
Stormed (author) says: Sep 10, 2006. 5:52 PM
According to the camera, it's 4.0 MP. I used the macro setting and my hands aren't the steadiest so it blurred a bit. I am interested in the perpetual motion thing though.... Not sure about turning it into a pendulum though...
trebuchet03 says: Sep 10, 2006. 5:59 PM
oh no :P I was referring to my telepathy... A piss poor attempt at a joke :D As far as perpetual motion... its really not possible... even a perpetual motion pendulum is not infinite and it needs a power source to keep it going....
Stormed (author) says: Sep 10, 2006. 6:10 PM
lol, no wait, I got it now xD. Yeah I know it's not possible without power because of tiny distances that will slow it down over time. Still not sure about a pendulum though ;p. Well, at least not one like what I made, going in any direction, if it was one direction, I think it could work well but w/e.
ARVash says: Nov 2, 2006. 5:18 PM
yeah perpetual motion machines are impossible.. but really frickin long motion machines aren't :P. I'm sure you could trick a friend into thinking it were if you got it going long enough.
a480641 says: Apr 2, 2012. 5:13 AM
well im not sure if its perpetual or not but there is a giant foucalt pendulum in the indiana state museum that if i remember correctly turns it's trajectory with the earths rotation
manmelvin says: Mar 26, 2007. 2:57 AM
what in the world is a romp ???? is it like a pendulum thinggy
JAZ97 says: Mar 22, 2010. 7:07 PM
yeah is called ROMP because it stands for random  oscallating magnetic pendelum for give me if i spelled wrong but its practsicly a pendulum thats it only using magnets.
Stormed (author) says: Sep 10, 2006. 4:28 PM
Comments and questions from literate people only. _
Cubie2 says: Sep 11, 2009. 8:56 AM
Yeah no kidding. But good job I think I might make one.
Ora says: Jun 4, 2008. 5:48 PM
Seems like you filtered out pretty much everyone with that statement.
Cryptonat says: Nov 18, 2008. 2:32 PM
I do concur.
hexmuj3 says: Feb 5, 2008. 4:15 PM
cheeeeeeeessssssss! =P
bedbugg2 says: Oct 25, 2007. 2:27 PM
who doesnt like magnets!
bam151515 says: Jun 19, 2007. 3:46 PM
i feel stupid
lemonie says: Jan 1, 2007. 3:36 PM
(Being pedantic) Neodynium - (it's not a brand name or registed trade-mark)
cowanbm says: Sep 18, 2006. 10:10 AM
Anybody interested in making a "perpetual motion" version of this should read the "Omni Pendulum" article in the Aril 2006 issue of Everyday Practical Electronics.
Jack Daniels says: Sep 10, 2006. 4:22 PM
wow these are popular.
trebuchet03 says: Sep 10, 2006. 4:56 PM
yeah really.... now if someone would make a perpetual magnetic pendulum - but that's going to require some electronics skills :P
Ian01 says: Sep 16, 2006. 6:44 PM
SunSwinger
bluerover says: Sep 15, 2006. 1:39 PM
Maybe I'll spell check before I post next time
bluerover says: Sep 15, 2006. 1:38 PM
I just "knock one up" from a 12V muffin fan and an old project box. Hot glued the fan in the box after trimming down the blades. Hot glued two magnets on he fan and used a aluminium tube 1/16 dia for the post and 1/32 ABS rod for the pendulum. With a piece of ferrite magnet taped to the end. Powered from a signal generator with a triangular wave at .03 hz it swings with a wonderful lively pattern. Since this was all items from my desk it might qualify as an Office toy too.
FrenchCrawler says: Sep 10, 2006. 7:31 PM
Sorry bout the misspelled name, I've fixed it now. Your version scares me. Good job, but scary looking. The magnets could use some filing down and you may want to figure out a way to make it a bit more compact (maybe a smaller antenna?).
Stormed (author) says: Sep 10, 2006. 8:12 PM
lol yeah. I wanted to have a strong structure so I used a longer antenna. And yes, those are scary magnets. Results from multiple Neodymium magnets snapping together and breaking up into odd and sharp looking shapes, but don't worry, they're safe ;p. I looked around the internet and, if you try using sphere magnets, the results might be more enjoyable _. Probably would do well on the inside of the can so the magnets won't roll over.

These were the only magnets I could find so that's what I used. After seeing how much time it took me to write up the steps, don't expect too much stuff from me xD. I just found my old speaker magnets, so might use those(but these are actually danerously sharp).
abend says: Sep 13, 2006. 8:05 AM
You can get little rare earth magnets out of the laser focusing subassembly of CD-ROM drives. They usually use a pair of small (but strong) magnets and a pair of coils to position the lens. Granted, you'll need to tear up 5 drives to get the 10 magnets that your photos show.
Stormed (author) says: Sep 13, 2006. 7:57 PM
Of course, just being normal hard drive magnets it's also pretty small. Since I played with them for months, the magnets broke up into 11 pieces. 1 went missing, the rest stuck, and I have too much magnetic dust in my room to be healthy!
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