Introduction: Paper Mechanical Iris
I also got featured on HackADay! Link: http://hackaday.com/2011/03/22/paper-mechanical-iris/
Please rate and comment!
I posted a picture Instructable of this, and someone wanted me to make an instructable.
This mechanical iris has 6 segments, I plan to add more, it is "upgradable", as for that I can add more segments and fix broken ones. It can open and close smoothly, and it had a detachable strap to make it a monicle but I broke it a while ago
New thing: the first 2 people who make this will get a patch!
Edit: Win Guy already made one! look at the top comment and you will see it. There is only 1 patch left!
Step 1: Supplies
Here is what you need:
-Printout, image below
-scissors and hobby knife(Xacto Knife)
-snippers or plyers
-foam core, I used 1/4 in
-credit cards or gift cards with no protruding objects( I don't know now many I used, but I guess i used 3-4)
-paperclips
Step 2: Print Out the Paper
I suggest that you print out more than one copy, incase if you mess up.
UPDATE: I finally made a real thing that you can print out instead of this image. Just print that out instead
Attachments
Step 3: Cut It Out
Cut the paper out, for the "cam wheel" only cut out a circle like the "brass ring" it would be hard to realign then again.
For the "combined" only cut out the shutter part of it
also keep the "extra cam wheel"s , they are need for alignment
Step 4: Glue It On
Get the foam core, the piece in the first picture is too small, it is only big enough for one part.
Using larger foam core, glue on the cam wheel and brass ring separately(far apart), also from the extra paper you have, cut out an extra cam wheel and glue it on, it is used later on to hold the cam wheel together.
Step 5: Make the Container
With the foam core glued on with the design, cut all the pieces out, except for the second "cam wheel"(Cut out the first one)
For the second "cam wheel cut it out like the "brass ring" a circle
Make sure to cut out the inside also, thats what the xacto knife is for.
When you are done cutting it all out, glue on the "cam wheel" segments to their place on the second cam wheel(it has markings for where they should exactly go(I dont have any pictures of that because i made it a while ago(The second picture should help, you can see the lines)))
Then get a piece of paper and wrap it around the "cam wheel" like shown in the picture and glue it
With a pin poke holes in the "brass ring" where it is marked.(3th picture)(every other hole)
Step 6: Cut Out the Segments
Glue on the shutter piece to the gift cards or credit cards. Cut them out and with a pin poke a hole to the place where the paper shows as a circle on each end, try to get it near the middle of each hole as close as possible.
Step 7: Cut and Glue on the Paperclips
Using the snippers, cut the paperclip into these sizes:
6 each and each about 7 mm(close to exact)
Another 6 each and each about 10mm(it could vary, but not much)
Sorry for the conversion(inches to milimeters) The milimeters are more exact
In the picture,the top one, the paper clip to the left is the 10mm and on the bottom one the one to the right is the 7mm one
Then put the paper clip pieces through the holes you made and use super glue to secure the hold of the paper clip to segment
Step 8: Put It Together
Put the segments on with the part with not rounded edge on the "brass ring" as shown in picture 2 to picture 4
Then put it in the "cam wheel" and line up the paperclip on the segment with every other line(this is meant for a 12 segment iris)
Step 9: You Are Done!
Please tell me if there is an error and comment on how you like it!

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145 Comments
11 years ago on Introduction
I made two. One full size and another 3/4 scale. They actually nest in a pretty cool way.
Reply 11 years ago on Introduction
Do you have any images of it?
Reply 11 years ago on Introduction
I tried to put some up but couldnt get the uploader to play nice with my phone. Goimg to post them tonight. I built them for a pair of steam punk goggles I am working on. Thanks for posting my inspiration.
Reply 11 years ago on Introduction
I think it is tomorrow where ever you are right now?
Reply 11 years ago on Introduction
I'm in the U.S. Central time zone. In about four hours I'm going to post the pictures. I had some other things come up last night that kept me from it. I'm going to post the pictures of the two irises separately and then I'm going to post the finished product picture. The finished product has a full size "brass bottom ring" and a 3/4 sized cam wheel. This allows it to slide into the eye socket of a pair of goggles I already own for a simpler modification rather than having to build an entire new socket for the iris.
Reply 11 years ago on Introduction
Ok, it sounds very cool!
Reply 11 years ago on Introduction
Here they are. Just a day late. And a couple of hours off.
Reply 11 years ago on Introduction
Wow, they look very good! The patch is coming up shortly!
How do they work out? It is really cool to see that the new plans that I made works nicely(it was originally an image but I changed it into a pdf a few weeks ago.)
11 years ago on Introduction
Totally awesome! I'm gonna post pics as soon as I'm finished. I'll be getting a Pro membership very soon, I'll let you know when.
Win Guy
Reply 11 years ago on Introduction
Good luck!
Reply 11 years ago on Introduction
I'm finished! I hope these pics get through okay - I used two layers of cardboard instead of foam, and it works great!
Win Guy
Question 4 years ago
Hi, does this fully close?
6 years ago
Can anyone send me the pdf of this
Chandamama.9211@gmail.com
8 years ago
Hi
How are you all?
Iam study mechanical
I want to make mecanical lirs
I need help and size
Any one can help me?
9 years ago on Introduction
This site is very informative. Your site will be bookmarked for future reference.
10 years ago on Introduction
You work at Sears?
Reply 10 years ago on Introduction
No I do not, I actually know a friend that works there and when these giftcards expired they gave it to me because it was no use to them and it was going to be thrown out anyways.
Reply 10 years ago on Introduction
Cool, always nice to have some extra free stufff to play around with.
11 years ago on Step 5
u wrote 3th, its 3rd
11 years ago on Introduction
any patches or pro memberships left?? :D