Four-Motor Laser Spirograph

This is a demonstration video of my four-motor laser spirograph that goes along with my Instructable on how to build your own here: http://www.instructables.com/id/Four-Motor-Laser-Spirograph/

Bounce a laser off a single rotating mirror, you get a circle. Add another, you get a rotating ellipse, or a spiral. Change the rotational speeds on each mirror, and different patterns emerge. With each additional mirror, more complex shapes are possible. This is an unusual box, as I have never seen a spirograph to use more than three mirrors, and I made it compact for easy transport in my car.

There is only a single dot at any time in the projection. Due to human persistence of vision, the dot moves rapidly enough that it appears to take on specific shapes. This projection is on a wall of my apartment, however it can very easily be projected onto buildings, sidewalks, in smoke/fog, a lake/pool, or any other non-reflective surface.

While making this clip, I saw a new pattern I had never seen before at 3:30, it's one that can only be made with four mirrors.
Track is "Alone with You" by Deadmau5 from the Album "Random Album Title", copyright of Ultra Records (Warner Music Group).

Category:

Howto & Style

Tags:

• quackmasterdan
• laser
• beam
• spirograph
• green
• 150mW
• four
• motor
• instructables
• educational
• reflection
• rotation
• beautiful
• glow
• light

[kylemac345]

I have an initial question after looking over the instructable for a few minutes, and pondering whether or not I want to build one for myself.

Would it be possible to replace the rotary pots with slide pots like faders, I'm a DJ and I much prefer them just as a tactile preference. I ask because I noticed the resistance on the rotary pots are much lower than those I've found on any slide pots, and you had mentioned that the lower resistance gives you more control over the motor speed.

[QuackMasterDan]

@kylemac345

As long as you can find sliders with the right ohmage ratings, preferably 0-150 or 0-200, they should work just fine.

[rmwill08]

I would like to make this but include the PWM. Will I need a PWM for each motor assembly? Also would I need to get a bigger box to house the additional components? I am wondering where you ordered the 100 ohm potentiometers also, as I could only see the 500 ohm versions from the link provided. Thank you for any help, I really want to be able to assemble this on my own.

[QuackMasterDan]

@rmwill08

I have absolutely no experience with pulse width modulation. My understanding is, you would get something like an arduino, each motor would get it's own MOSFET, which would control the positive wire going into the motor. All three motors would use the same negative.

As far as 100 ohm potentiometers, Parts-Express has them for $4 each.

[caturn88]

nice one, I like the one at 0:46 and was wondering if the system could be configured to show that only?

Also, can this be done with a non lethal laser?

[QuackMasterDan]

@caturn88

That pattern at 0:46 requires three mirrors to create. Any of the patterns can be permanently fixed, but that requires using PWM (Pulse Width Modulation), basically, a computer chip that only uses certain speeds to maintain a pattern.

Though this is filmed with an ultra-powerful 150mW, it works perfectly fine with only a 5mW laser.

[DanMan9871]

mine can make pot leaf patterns XD check out my channel to see it

[montymintypie]

I'm going to be creating one of these with an Arduino and PWM control - how sensitive are some of these patterns to resistance changes? I wonder because I'm not sure whether I can get away with a half dead battery and still get the same pattern.

[dtmfsicko]

i made a few of these back in 09 so fun .  love the uv the best . check my chan for vids of them . nice Instructable wish i would have thoght of that