tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-70294273740079964932024-03-13T09:05:57.143-07:00My Nightmare Before ChristmasA step by step guide to creating animatronic Nightmare Before Christmas characters: Jack, Sally, Lock, Shock, Barrel, Zero, Mayor and others.MyNightmarehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13650126003204290157noreply@blogger.comBlogger18125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7029427374007996493.post-92201609885294237692011-09-13T08:07:00.000-07:002011-09-13T08:07:10.970-07:00Here's JackMyNightmarehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13650126003204290157noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7029427374007996493.post-25762996586759652462011-09-13T08:05:00.000-07:002011-09-13T08:05:28.323-07:00Countdown Clock
This was my first paint job, wasn't happy with the lettering
The countdown clock consists of plywood, reindeer motor, plexi glass, c-9 lights, green wired garland painted black, 1 string purple lights, and some pumpkins and skulls.
First step with the board was to place contact paper over the areas that needed to remain light in color. Next have fun with black and brown spray MyNightmarehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13650126003204290157noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7029427374007996493.post-86999973989067780682011-09-13T07:55:00.000-07:002011-09-13T07:55:49.404-07:00Photos Zero's Progress
Zero after paper mache
I hacked a dollar store battery operated tea light for his nose
His nose is a bubbles bottle from the dollar store (4 for $1)
Add caption
MyNightmarehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13650126003204290157noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7029427374007996493.post-50870188195828058392011-09-04T09:33:00.000-07:002011-09-04T09:33:08.110-07:00Its Been a Long TimeSorry everyone I know it's been forever since I posted but this spring/summer was crazy hectic. I spent over 6 weeks in Florida doing research at the different theme parks and feel like I can pull this off no problem. I started on new Jack yesterday (I think this is the 3rd Jack head) so far I am quit pleased. The armature is going well also. Pictures will follow next MyNightmarehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13650126003204290157noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7029427374007996493.post-6868979755521614222011-03-11T15:59:00.001-08:002011-03-11T16:00:24.120-08:00Spray Foam - Best Friend or Worst Enemy?I will elaborate further on this tomorrow.MyNightmarehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13650126003204290157noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7029427374007996493.post-62653004768979378172011-02-25T08:40:00.000-08:002011-02-25T08:41:11.856-08:00Time FliesI realize it's been a little while since I posted and a lot has been going on. First all the servos and the pcb parts I ordered came in. I also made a paper mache "Jack" head though I don't like how it's turning out. I have another idea to try for the "Jack" head and will experiment with it this weekend. The pcb assembly is actually a little challenging I have picked up onMyNightmarehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13650126003204290157noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7029427374007996493.post-74486079105920987102011-02-12T15:53:00.000-08:002011-02-12T15:55:20.470-08:00EbayYou just gotta love Ebay at least for big dollar items. I sold the dc servo motors that were traded to me that were for industrial use and immediately bought a Pickit 3 for programming PCBs. I also bought about 20 rc servo motors today as well as some DMX servo controller PCBs. My mouser and Digi Key orders should be here early this week. I can't wait to start putting all MyNightmarehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13650126003204290157noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7029427374007996493.post-33635744052882539532011-02-10T20:30:00.000-08:002011-02-10T20:30:51.298-08:00Ordered VSASo, I sold a couple of DC motors on ebay that were traded to me. I can't really use them because they require very expensive drivers as they are meant for industrial robotics. Any who I was able to buy the VSA software today as well as all the goodies to make the audio servo driver. Also, I went to the Depot today and bought a bunch of pvc to start making the armatures.&MyNightmarehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13650126003204290157noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7029427374007996493.post-16813447843872250472011-02-04T18:17:00.000-08:002011-02-15T19:14:44.059-08:00Treasure ChestI took a break today from organizing and worked on the Treasure Chest. I got this idea after finding some faceted lights out at the forklift place. I am thinking I will install a Lynx Express inside the chest and hook 9 lights up individually to one each of the16 programmable dimming channels leaving 7 for something else I will go into at a later date (maybe a drunken pirate withMyNightmarehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13650126003204290157noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7029427374007996493.post-84469389017450268772011-02-04T13:38:00.000-08:002011-02-04T13:38:13.011-08:00Oh Boy!The new chip came today and of course I had to test her out. This is flipping awesome! I will start videos this weekend.
On another note: I am still sorting through the goodies from Eric lots and lots of goodies.
Tom came by today and dropped off all the pneumatics and electrical stuff I pulled from his place. He has a large air compressor for me but it needs a newMyNightmarehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13650126003204290157noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7029427374007996493.post-47567448882475370632011-02-02T15:11:00.001-08:002011-02-02T15:11:39.738-08:00Sold the Antique RadioSo I just sold the 1935 Bosch working radio on ebay for 150 plus 100 for shipping, off to go get a box and padding. Shopping tonight!MyNightmarehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13650126003204290157noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7029427374007996493.post-15620926132601088902011-01-31T22:48:00.000-08:002011-01-31T22:49:53.629-08:00Yes!I took a breather today from sorting all the goodies I picked up yesterday and in doing so I came across a solution to what might have been a very expensive short cut. Scary Terry is a circuit board designed to pick up audio and turn it into a signal to drive a servo motor. They are tunable and built ones run about 40 bucks. There are a couple of draw backs to using these versusMyNightmarehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13650126003204290157noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7029427374007996493.post-29926742557057815402011-01-26T16:44:00.000-08:002011-02-15T20:44:15.633-08:00Micro ControllerWell, the micro controller showed up today. I wish the instructions were a bit clearer with pictures since if I fry this it's 20 bucks down the tube. At least when I get this ball a rolling I will post simple pics so that others that didn't go to MIT can understand how to hook up this puppy. Oh, and this will control 8 servos. That's 8 little motors each doing a separate MyNightmarehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13650126003204290157noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7029427374007996493.post-87543338652722963012011-01-24T20:31:00.000-08:002011-02-15T19:17:26.397-08:00Pumpkins
Pumpkins How To:
Materials: &MyNightmarehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13650126003204290157noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7029427374007996493.post-34988370718322198272011-01-16T12:39:00.000-08:002011-01-16T12:39:51.186-08:00Cleaning the garage.Almost finished. Yaaaaa! Came across a bunch more to trade like: 2 person tent, sleeping bags, camp stove, lantern, 3 nice boogie boards by body glove, t-ball bat, new cork dart board with nice darts, Sony receiver, and a few other misc items. I will post yet another updated want/trade list tonight so keep an eye out.MyNightmarehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13650126003204290157noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7029427374007996493.post-43596868764009642612011-01-14T21:30:00.000-08:002011-01-14T21:31:23.413-08:00Totally scored today!I met this nice gentleman named Tom, who is closing down his forklift repair shop. I spent an hour and half drooling over all the goodies I saw. He sent me home with 3 new electric dishwasher motors and a bunch of small air cylinders and a solenoid manifold. I am to go back on Monday and load up his truck. While I was there I found a tent canopy frame like at flea markets.MyNightmarehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13650126003204290157noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7029427374007996493.post-18222116300091877522011-01-13T16:27:00.001-08:002011-01-13T16:27:31.952-08:00CraigslistI have gotten a great response and at this rate may be able to start building this weekend!MyNightmarehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13650126003204290157noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7029427374007996493.post-61630897492691781352011-01-09T10:08:00.000-08:002011-02-15T20:39:10.855-08:00JackNow for Jack I have been lucky enough to have already found complete step by step instructions : Jack So I will be following this as a guideline but also keep in mind he will be animated. I stumbled across this exceptional example of an armature that I think I will use as a guide for Jack as I want him to be the most animated character. I also found this example of animatronic MyNightmarehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13650126003204290157noreply@blogger.com