For a recent event, [MakerMan] was tasked with creating an interactive display that could move back and forth along an image of the Moscow skyline to highlight different points of interest. The end result is certainly gorgeous, but since this is Hackaday, we were more excited to see all the behind the scenes video of how it was built.
As with many of his projects, this one started with little more than scrap parts. Two metal I-beams were welded together to make a track, and a wheeled cart was fashioned to ride on it. Using a belt and pulley system that’s not unlike a scaled up version of what you might see on a desktop 3D printer, the motor in the cart is able to move the arrangement back and forth with minimal slop.
The cart actually holds all of the electronics in the project, including the power supplies, MA860H motor controller, a pair of endstop switches, and the Arduino that pulls it all together. A drag chain is used to keep the wires tight to the side of the rail without getting tangled up in anything.
[MakerMan] doesn’t explain much of the software side of this one, though we suppose he might only have been contracted to develop the hardware. But towards the end of the video you can see how the cart, now with large touch screen display mounted on top, moves back and forth when the appropriate commands are sent to the Arduino.
We’re not really sure what application such a contraption would have for the average hacker, but that doesn’t mean we can’t be jealous. There’s just something about huge illuminated screens that just speaks to us.
Hm. Four V-rollers on two parallel rails. Looks overconstrained, to me. If there is any variation at all in distance between the rails, the cart will tilt as one set of rollers pushes up the slope on its rail. Would have been better to use V-rollers on the front only, and flat rollers on flat I-beam in the back. Many lathes do it this way. But then, those rollers probably have enough lateral play to make it work, so it’s all good.
Welding with no hands and face protection? It’s not just the eyes you need to protect from the strong UV light.
When I first got my MIG welder, I gave myself a very odd sunburn on the inside of my left elbow. I was wearing long gloves and welding sleeves, but a short sleeve t-shirt. The only exposed area was the inside of my left elbow, which got a rather odd looking sunburn. Lesson learned. :P
I saw something like this in a dinosaur exhibit — you would move the screen over artists representations of the animals, and it would show the bones that they found, in the right places. Was a great effect, and the tangible aspect of it definitely helped for kids.
I can only think of pinched fingers and safety hazards