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Just another arc reactor prop, along with the dozens of others already made and showcased on this site.
This particular one stands out though, with it's central infinity mirror core.
This whole project cost me less than $5, but mostly because most of materials I used were scraps, some hard to come by.
I will included info on parts you can substitute for them.
This particular one stands out though, with it's central infinity mirror core.
This whole project cost me less than $5, but mostly because most of materials I used were scraps, some hard to come by.
I will included info on parts you can substitute for them.
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Signing UpStep 1Parts
For this instructable, you'll need:
-Lights ; I pulled a several white LEDs (5mm) out of an 24-LED light that cost me $3 AUD.
I used a total of 16 LEDs.
I suppose small incandescent bulbs may be used, but these are less efficient, and usually give off a yellowish light (For a steampunk arc reactor, maybe?)
-Ring - I cut up a section of clear piping (origin unknown) and joined the ends with a hot glue gun.
Alternatives include: -Umbrella table ring (http://www.patiofurnituresupplies.com/table-umbrella-hole-ring-p-248.html? osCsid=9de221b0bfeda4be25cd9d5a2cfec222 )
- Hot glue gun molded ring (http://www.instructables.com/id/Build-an-Arc-Reactor-with-Basic-Tools-and-Skills/ )
- Acrylic cut into a ring shape (sanded and coloured in with high lighter to diffuse and colour light)
Coils - I found wire from an old toroid, found in a computer ATX supply. Not sure what guage, but it doesn't really matter.
Outer casing - I used steel from an old cookie tin. Soda cans are a bit soft for my liking, but still usable. Otherwise, any other reasonable thickness sheet metal should work.
Mirror - Find a reasonable sized mirror, I found a perfect circle mirror in this comb-mirror set. (My sister's). Actually, the size of the whole prop was based around the mirror. If you don't have a mirror, you could use the shiny side of aluminium (I'm Australian) foil to a decent-poor affect.
One way mirror/tinted glass - Sound hard to come by? I used the lens from these sunglasses. Not many other alternatives I can think of, other than proper tinted glass or the sticky film you can buy somewhere to tint glass...
Power - I used an old mobile phone battery (li ion) Light weight, small, pretty good capacity. You could use AAA batteries (3, or less with a joule thief) or any other smallish rechargeble battery.
Electronics - A switch, or just 2 pieces of wire you can twist together to turn the thing on.
2 silicone diodes (standard ones, 1N4001, etc. Don't use signal diodes though; I'll explain why later.)
General - Solder, tape, glue, hook up wire, switch, common sense, etc.
-Lights ; I pulled a several white LEDs (5mm) out of an 24-LED light that cost me $3 AUD.
I used a total of 16 LEDs.
I suppose small incandescent bulbs may be used, but these are less efficient, and usually give off a yellowish light (For a steampunk arc reactor, maybe?)
-Ring - I cut up a section of clear piping (origin unknown) and joined the ends with a hot glue gun.
Alternatives include: -Umbrella table ring (http://www.patiofurnituresupplies.com/table-umbrella-hole-ring-p-248.html? osCsid=9de221b0bfeda4be25cd9d5a2cfec222 )
- Hot glue gun molded ring (http://www.instructables.com/id/Build-an-Arc-Reactor-with-Basic-Tools-and-Skills/ )
- Acrylic cut into a ring shape (sanded and coloured in with high lighter to diffuse and colour light)
Coils - I found wire from an old toroid, found in a computer ATX supply. Not sure what guage, but it doesn't really matter.
Outer casing - I used steel from an old cookie tin. Soda cans are a bit soft for my liking, but still usable. Otherwise, any other reasonable thickness sheet metal should work.
Mirror - Find a reasonable sized mirror, I found a perfect circle mirror in this comb-mirror set. (My sister's). Actually, the size of the whole prop was based around the mirror. If you don't have a mirror, you could use the shiny side of aluminium (I'm Australian) foil to a decent-poor affect.
One way mirror/tinted glass - Sound hard to come by? I used the lens from these sunglasses. Not many other alternatives I can think of, other than proper tinted glass or the sticky film you can buy somewhere to tint glass...
Power - I used an old mobile phone battery (li ion) Light weight, small, pretty good capacity. You could use AAA batteries (3, or less with a joule thief) or any other smallish rechargeble battery.
Electronics - A switch, or just 2 pieces of wire you can twist together to turn the thing on.
2 silicone diodes (standard ones, 1N4001, etc. Don't use signal diodes though; I'll explain why later.)
General - Solder, tape, glue, hook up wire, switch, common sense, etc.
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thanks, it would be cool
I'm thinking use a bright, very directional light, maybe? (a single laser would be too thin) But then, you'd have to make sure you had something for the light to bounce off; like water vapour from smoke machines. But that's not very portable....
Another (and probably simpler/easier) option could be to use a xenon flash bulb, from a camera. That'd make a very bright flash, probably enough to simulate a uni-beam blast?
I suppose you're right, I uploaded the schematics (they're in the last 2 steps).
The housing....it was just a matter of wrapping the whole thing in a strip of metal
What kind of photos would help?
Anything other than that?
This is my first instructable btw, so I'm yet to get the hang of things
they say aluminium, he isn't wrong