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schwartzchildradius999
X-Ray Wave
USA
1857 Posts |
 Posted - 02/14/2003 : 10:29:48
Hey everyone. My new project, quickly turning into a life-consuming obsession, is to build a high-flying rocket that will take an entire roll of color film during its flight. So far I have a Kodak "star-motor" auto-winding camera (Value Village, $5) and have disassembled a Sanyo walkman in an assembly mounted on foam core where the walkman is stuck on play, and cranks a reel from a casette tape (no tape) with a little plastic nipple that pushes, when it rotates, a plastic plate glued to the firing mechanism of the camera!
OK so I'm curious, how could you improve this, and build a bona-fide solenoid with a variable (say 1/2 - 5 second) delay? Any ideas?
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njorl
Visible Light Wave
USA
725 Posts |
 Posted - 02/14/2003 : 14:08:31
You could make an astable multivibrator from an op-amp, capacitors and resistors to control your solenoid.http://www.play-hookey.com/digital/experiments/rtl_astable.html Njorl "Deceive everyone under 30!" -- um, Me
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Artman
Micro Wave
USA
132 Posts |
Posted - 02/14/2003 : 15:49:43
How about a radio control servo and get the shots you want? Some of the best shots would be from the parachute float back down, when you would have more time to actuate the camera.
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schwartzchildradius999
X-Ray Wave
USA
1857 Posts |
Posted - 02/15/2003 : 03:45:56
Artman: that might be a good idea but my radio controlled servo has very short range unless I try to boost the signal.
Njorl: An op-amp? seriously? how would that work, I thought that op-amps just inverted electrical signals?"The Mad Road. Lonely. Leading around the bend into the openings of space toward the horizon." JKerouac
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megashawn
Visible Light Wave
USA
655 Posts |
Posted - 02/21/2003 : 02:21:20
But an astable multivibrator is a switching mechanism if memory serves. Depending on the voltages used, seems like you can set it up to "fire" to your desire.Also seems you could use a simple timer circuit as well. Cool Idea though, hope it works out. "Waiting for your modern Mesiah to take away all the hatred that darkens the light in your eyes, still I'm waiting on..." - Disturbed
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schwartzchildradius999
X-Ray Wave
USA
1857 Posts |
Posted - 02/21/2003 : 11:35:02
It might be better to build a timing switch right into the activation switch of the camera, go with an all-electronic RC circuit or something like that. I'm a bit wary of taking the camera apart though... maybe try that later after the flight."The Mad Road. Lonely. Leading around the bend into the openings of space toward the horizon." JKerouac
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megashawn
Visible Light Wave
USA
655 Posts |
Posted - 02/21/2003 : 23:16:57
I took a disposable camera apart once, hoping to use the power supply for one of my crazy ideas. Anyhow, got the piss shocked out of me by the cap in the camera, so watch out for the electrical contacts on the board. It can also zap ya when your taking it apart. I'd where some gloves, as it is not a pleasant feeling. Better then coffee though."Waiting for your modern Mesiah to take away all the hatred that darkens the light in your eyes, still I'm waiting on..." - Disturbed
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chicagopunk182
Radio Wave
USA
4 Posts |
Posted - 02/27/2003 : 01:14:33
I also got the poop knocke out of me. Where some heavy gloves there very dangerous!!!!
Jon Lane
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russ_watters
Radio Wave
USA
53 Posts |
Posted - 02/27/2003 : 18:56:25
How about an automatic camera? Any decent camera these days has a function for shooting the entire roll with one push of the release. Mine has 2 modes, one for focusing in between shots, the other without. Couple that with a way to activate it on launch (pull pin anchored to the gound for example) and you're set.I also have tustled with the capacitor in a camera. I wanted to discharge it while I worked on the camera so I laid a nail across the poles. It made a loud bang and jumped out of my hand and across the room.
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