What do you make for a man that has most everything; a tiny waving flag, sprouts to keep him healthy and an automatic pill dispenser just in case the sprouts fail? It wasn't immediately clear. So, I looked at his profile to see what he likes. From what I could tell he liked useless machines, gear clocks and stuff. I thought for a long time about what he might want made for him based on what I already knew.
I was ruminating over one project in particular that he had built called the IRritator when it suddenly struck me, I bet he might have something that requires a remote control, like a TV (at least, I am hoping that he has a TV). Anyhow, assuming that he has a TV, I bet he has pressed the channel-up button thousands, if not tens-of-thousands, of times. That's a lot of effort being exerted to change the channel. But what if that effort was not necessary? What if there was a way to change the channel without ever exerting the effort it took to press the button? What if there was a machine that pressed the button for you once per minute? Well then, perhaps, just maybe, that would be The Most Useful Machine... EVER!
And thus, I have made janw The Most Useful Machine... EVER! for the Instructables Gift Exchange. If it turns out that he doesn't have a TV and this machine isn't as useful as I hoped it would be, then perhaps he can combine it with his IRritator and make the most annoying clock ever made. Towards this end, I have also mailed him the minute hand, so that should he need to, he can use it to trigger the IRritator for one minute every hour.
I was ruminating over one project in particular that he had built called the IRritator when it suddenly struck me, I bet he might have something that requires a remote control, like a TV (at least, I am hoping that he has a TV). Anyhow, assuming that he has a TV, I bet he has pressed the channel-up button thousands, if not tens-of-thousands, of times. That's a lot of effort being exerted to change the channel. But what if that effort was not necessary? What if there was a way to change the channel without ever exerting the effort it took to press the button? What if there was a machine that pressed the button for you once per minute? Well then, perhaps, just maybe, that would be The Most Useful Machine... EVER!
And thus, I have made janw The Most Useful Machine... EVER! for the Instructables Gift Exchange. If it turns out that he doesn't have a TV and this machine isn't as useful as I hoped it would be, then perhaps he can combine it with his IRritator and make the most annoying clock ever made. Towards this end, I have also mailed him the minute hand, so that should he need to, he can use it to trigger the IRritator for one minute every hour.
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You will need:
(x1) over-sized universal remote control
(x1) servo motor with the controller board removed **
(x1) curved doorstop
(x1) 14" x 14" x 1/4" acrylic sheet
(x1) clock movement (with second hand)
(x1) small magnet
(x1) reed switch
(x1) extension spring
(x1) double-threaded standoff and corresponding screws
(x1) 2 x AA battery holder
(x3) AA batteries
(x8) 1/2" bolts with nuts
(x1) a few short zip ties
(x2) self-adhesive Velcro strips (the length of the remote)
** Learn how to remove a servo controller on this page.
(x1) over-sized universal remote control
(x1) servo motor with the controller board removed **
(x1) curved doorstop
(x1) 14" x 14" x 1/4" acrylic sheet
(x1) clock movement (with second hand)
(x1) small magnet
(x1) reed switch
(x1) extension spring
(x1) double-threaded standoff and corresponding screws
(x1) 2 x AA battery holder
(x3) AA batteries
(x8) 1/2" bolts with nuts
(x1) a few short zip ties
(x2) self-adhesive Velcro strips (the length of the remote)
** Learn how to remove a servo controller on this page.
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Otherwise, I think this one is fantastic! Something that I build for my father or husband - if I could actually do this sort of thing. :D
That device was invented back in the 1920's. It's called a compressor/limiter. The simplest (and cheapest) compressor would be a cadmium sulfide photoresistor (Radio Shack has 'em) and either a small incandescent light (those little tiny "grain of wheat" types emit plenty of light) or a flat front LED, sealed in a light-proof container, such as a piece of heat shrink tubing with both ends plugged and sealed. The LED could be run from the TV's speaker (you'll probably need an L pad or pot that'll sink the amp's output power), and the photoresistor would probably work best connected from ground to the VC's wiper.
As the volume increases, the amp power rises, the light gets brighter, and the photoresistor's resistance lowers, shunting the audio coming into the pot to ground.
BTW even though this is cheap and easy, it's one of the better sounding compressors, especially if you go with the incandescent lamp. The lamp smooths the sound, which results in much smoother operation.
-Mike
That device was invented back in the 1920's. It's called a compressor/limiter. The simplest (and cheapest) compressor would be a cadmium sulfide photoresistor (Radio Shack has 'em) and either a small incandescent light (those little tiny "grain of wheat" types emit plenty of light) or a flat front LED, sealed in a light-proof container, such as a piece of heat shrink tubing with both ends plugged and sealed. The LED could be run from the TV's speaker (you'll probably need an L pad or pot that'll sink the amp's output power), and the photoresistor would probably work best connected from ground to the VC's wiper.
As the volume increases, the amp power rises, the light gets brighter, and the photoresistor's resistance lowers, shunting the audio coming into the pot to ground.
BTW even though this is cheap and easy, it's one of the better sounding compressors, especially if you go with the incandescent lamp. The lamp smooths the sound, which results in much smoother operation.
-Mike
Unless this rich editor actually supports hard returns, like it seems to in the preview.
Well, now you know. Rich editor FTW!
-Jake
I don't recall the legnth of the spring. Perhaps in the ballpark of 2".
The clock movement I got at a local craft store, but I have gotten stuff from clockparts.com in the past without much cause for complaint.
Needs More Toothbrushes and Vibrating Motors