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Background: In the TV show “Chuck” (NBC Monday 8 PM EST) the hero, Chuck down loads all the governments’ top secrets as a series of encoded images from the Intersect computer.
In season 2 (2009) we got to see the Intersect - a white translucent cube spinning inside a long vertical cylinder, its called the "Intersect Cube. "
Motivation: As a fan of the show I wanted my own working Intersect Cube - but for a lot less money than the official TV show version.
Design Approach: Based on the images from the TV show - a white cube spins inside a long plastic cylinder with two nicely machined aluminum caps top and bottom. Cube and cylinder assembly sits on a round metal base with four blue lights shining on the cube as it spins.
It probably cost the show producers several hundreds if not thousands of dollars to make and required a good machine shop. For my replicate I down sized to 9 inches diameter by 12 inches tall (probably about 2/3 the size of the one used on the TV show) and simplified the design so it can be produced for less than $100 using commonly available materials & tools.
In season 2 (2009) we got to see the Intersect - a white translucent cube spinning inside a long vertical cylinder, its called the "Intersect Cube. "
Motivation: As a fan of the show I wanted my own working Intersect Cube - but for a lot less money than the official TV show version.
Design Approach: Based on the images from the TV show - a white cube spins inside a long plastic cylinder with two nicely machined aluminum caps top and bottom. Cube and cylinder assembly sits on a round metal base with four blue lights shining on the cube as it spins.
It probably cost the show producers several hundreds if not thousands of dollars to make and required a good machine shop. For my replicate I down sized to 9 inches diameter by 12 inches tall (probably about 2/3 the size of the one used on the TV show) and simplified the design so it can be produced for less than $100 using commonly available materials & tools.
The simplified model uses a craft store $5 glass cylinder “flower vase,” a paraffin wax cube, small 6 VDC gear motor, and 4 blue LEDs.
Build Options: This Instructable shows how to build the basic hardware and 2 versions of the Intersect controller.
[1] The "Simple Controller" includes an on/off switch and speed control knob. It requires just a little bit of soldering. The total material cost when built this way is probably < $70.
[2] The "Full Function Controller" features a PICAXE 08M micro ($4) talking to your PC, touch to activate sensor, and programmable speed control. It requires construction of a more complex electronic circuit. Using a Visual Basic App running on your PC, it can more or less simulate the entire "Intersect uploading sequence" as seen in Chuck TV episode Chuck vs the Ring. This includes uploading and playing an Intersect image video on your PC screen ... see if you "flash" afterwards.
[1] The "Simple Controller" includes an on/off switch and speed control knob. It requires just a little bit of soldering. The total material cost when built this way is probably < $70.
[2] The "Full Function Controller" features a PICAXE 08M micro ($4) talking to your PC, touch to activate sensor, and programmable speed control. It requires construction of a more complex electronic circuit. Using a Visual Basic App running on your PC, it can more or less simulate the entire "Intersect uploading sequence" as seen in Chuck TV episode Chuck vs the Ring. This includes uploading and playing an Intersect image video on your PC screen ... see if you "flash" afterwards.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pRGJXG5yQCA
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Construction Overview - You will find it VERY HELPFUL to review the attached PDF file of construction overview diagrams before beginning this project.
I apologize in advance for mixing inch and millimeter (mm) units ... I just find it easier to use mm when resolution better than 1/8 inch is required.
I apologize in advance for mixing inch and millimeter (mm) units ... I just find it easier to use mm when resolution better than 1/8 inch is required.
Construction Overview Illustrations.pdf(612x792) 16 KB| « Previous Step | Download PDFView All Steps | Next Step » |
- @propfreaks
Inspect the code, look for statements like "call serialtxrx" .... these statements will have to be removed AND the data that was expected to be received from the cube will need to be provided in some other way ... perhaps from keyboard input.
I can't provide much detailed help as my own level of VB expertise isn't very high.
Also you are gravely mis-informed about the budget of chuck's prop master. Judging by some of the things on the show, until recently his budget per episode was probably around 100 bucks. They often use off the shelf items for props that are so obscure only a total nerd would recognize them. I think it might be an inside joke of some sort.
So just look on the net for the rubik's cube knock-off in question and you'll have an authentic replica!
e024576 is quite right about the cube, each panel is cut out of a milk plex (gavarelli 2447 if I remember correctly) and the grid is a V angle cut that was put in by a router. The cube also had a small cluster ball of LEDs hand wired and surrounded by cotton batting and other diffusion materials.
if not obvious by now, I worked on the project. ;-)
I based my assessment of the cube on a few images were the intersect cube is shown with the blue lights turned off, please see attached jpeg file.
To me it looked most like a piece of white plastic with a 4X4 grid cut into each cube face.
It is important to point out that there are three requirements for the spinning cube to look good: right optical characteristics, square form geometry, and "centering" of the cube on drive shaft.
Based on my experience, producing a long, small diameter, hole in the exact center of the cube running between opposite corners is quite difficult - at least with a simple drill press. The idea of using wax allows the hole to be "cast-in" place which makes it a little easier.
The reason that the spinning images don't look quite right is that there are small errors in the cube shape as well as the center hole location ... it's the best I could do - for now at least. I'm still looking for a better solution.
I have not been able to find a source for a 4x4 Rubik's translucent cube. Additionally, a Rubik's cube has a special fastener arrangement in the center of the cube which would further complicate the center hole drilling process.
It the end of the day, if you or anyone can demonstrate how to more easily produce a better cube, that would be great.
Thanks for your interest.
Right now I'm working a simple fixture to better hold the cube for drilling - so we'll see how that works out ...
I'm trying to improve the prop here. The case is fantastic, but the cube just doesn't look right and that can be easily fixed.
Your answers could be
* "Dude, I made that."
* Or, "Rubik's Cube."
Building your own stuff is just so much fun too. But you are right that it does take more time and money. Lets be real though, what else could you do with your time. Sit and be bored.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aerogel