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joberg
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PostPosted: Tue Mar 16, 2010 12:03 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Good one Mike, seems like the 10 % is snug enough to be the right size.
Very cool.
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Mark Sheppard
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PostPosted: Wed Mar 17, 2010 10:49 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

THat is looking just fantastic mike! Now if you start reproducing the actual room, I am going to call mental health services for you....
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SKIN JOB 66
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PostPosted: Thu Mar 18, 2010 2:54 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

So glad to have news of this great project !

Thank you Mike for all the hard work and dedication you're putting into this !

Cool

Fred
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Mike Rush
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PostPosted: Thu Mar 18, 2010 3:59 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Hmm, thank me when it's finished! Wink
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SKIN JOB 66
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PostPosted: Thu Mar 18, 2010 4:44 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

HEHE, yeah...



Fred
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Mike Rush
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PostPosted: Thu May 20, 2010 8:43 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Still here...

I have done a final final outline of the key which is at 8% larger than the previous one. Confused? Me too. But I believe this will be a good fit, not too tight.

Re the innards of the key: I have collected a small stockpile of old machines (scales, irons, etc etc) which I will sit down and dismantle for bits. I know I will never match what is in the photographs, but I will aim for something in the spirit of the original. Anything I can't find lying around, I can probably buy. As for the socket in the middle...

I found a nice little lot of assorted electron tubes and sockets on eBay for a low price. Frankly I would have liked to Buy It Now, but that wasn't an option. So instead I left a bid and waited. I checked back a few times, but in the end the auction was so long that I forgot all about it! Needless to say, I lost out by 20p. Crying or Very sad

Finally, for the key itself I am going to need a master to mould. I think it's important that this be quite clean and sharp, so I won't attempt it myself. Instead I'm going to try and find someone to machine it for me somehow. At the moment I have no idea who, as this is a first for me.

Well, just keeping the thread alive.

[edit - I forgot the best part!]

For the box (which is less important than the key as it's just for my own amusement), I made up three pieces in 3D and sent them off to be 3D printed! I can't wait to see what comes back. The pieces were: the funny little extrusion on the side; the many-holed socket on the front; and the complete hinge (in two pieces). It may be a grand failure, but if it does work it'll save me a lot of hassle. Very Happy
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stephen210
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PostPosted: Thu May 20, 2010 10:07 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Very cool Mike!!!
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joberg
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PostPosted: Thu May 20, 2010 1:04 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Glad to see that that project is still alive! As I said previously Mike, I have a few pieces that could complete the innards of that key (Contempra yellow wiggets)
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Mike Rush
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PostPosted: Fri May 21, 2010 3:47 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Thanks, I'll let you know. Can you show me what they look like?
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joberg
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PostPosted: Sat May 22, 2010 11:15 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Sorry for the crappy pic (camera on the frizz). They're yellowish and they're 2cm long or 3/4 inches.
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Mike Rush
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PostPosted: Sun May 23, 2010 7:23 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

They look good! I think they might be a little large, but if you don't mind hanging on to them, I might change my mind later?

Especially as I dismantled some of those old machines I was talking about, and I was horrified to see how little is inside them! Honestly, you'd think a pair of electronic scales would have some decent gubbins* inside - but no, the whole thing is one little circuit board about half the size of a playing card! Nothing useable whatsoever. Crying or Very sad

*technical term Wink
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joberg
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PostPosted: Mon May 24, 2010 7:06 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Sure, I'll hang on to them...doesn't eat any bread as my Father says
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Mark Sheppard
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PostPosted: Mon May 24, 2010 7:17 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Laughing Laughing Laughing Laughing Cannot wait to see more pictures!
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Mike Rush
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PostPosted: Mon May 24, 2010 1:13 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

One thing that is holding me back (from my box, not the key) is the fact that the switches (of which I need six) cost fourteen pounds each!

What a liberty! Maybe they are high-end precision instruments or something... but the fact is, the exact components I need for a prop are still available, right there in front of me (not often that happens) - and I would have to spend the best part of a hundred pounds on them! I'm sorry but that's not going to happen. I'm not rich.

Steve already suggested casting the bezel in black resin, which was a great idea and would bring the cost right down at a stroke. Smile But then they're no longer switches, and I wouldn't be able to make it work. Crying or Very sad

Yeesh.
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joberg
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PostPosted: Tue May 25, 2010 6:36 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Mike, I could maybe help you with the switches...I just need to know the size.
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Mike Rush
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PostPosted: Fri May 28, 2010 1:13 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Joberg - thanks, but I think the tech support people may have misinformed me, and there might be a cheaper option. I'll keep you posted.

Meanwhile...

My computer-printed parts arrived today!



I ordered three bits as I said before. They came back pretty much perfect - which is just as well after all the hassle I had trying to get the model files to conform to the frankly unreasonable demands of the print company. Wink

The electrical socket was something I could have made myself, and indeed I had already dummied up a foamex version - but I knew that no matter how careful I was, by the time I had drilled all those holes they'd never be in straight lines and it would just look embarrassing. So this one is neat, it's accurate, and it's done!

I'm particularly proud of the functional hinge, which was printed as two separate pieces. I temporarily inserted a rod, and it worked first time. I don't think strength will be a problem - this stuff feels like nylon (to give you an example).

Due to the resolution of the printing there is a little bit of texture to everything, which I could spend time sanding smooth. However I'm fairly confident that by the time it's all primed and painted with Hammerite you'd never see it.

The nice thing is that if I ever want to make another box I can just re-order these... they're on file...

It's the future! Cool
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8th_Passenger
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PostPosted: Fri May 28, 2010 2:30 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Mike,

Wow they look great. Which axis did they print the hinge on? Was it expensive?

Thinking about your switch there are a few variations of that type of switch in the RS catalogue. Not easy to tell from the pictures which one is right. I assume the switch is standard and you get different coloured fronts.

Can't wait to see more progress.
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joberg
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PostPosted: Sun May 30, 2010 9:20 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Sharp! Good stuff Mike, that box is going to look killer when it's all said and done Cool
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Mike Rush
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PostPosted: Tue Jun 01, 2010 9:52 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Thanks guys. As far as I can tell, everything was printed lying down ie as you see in the photo. That would be the most efficient way for them to do it.

These switches are driving me mad. Joberg, the ones I need look like this



(the square one on the right) and they're 18mm square around the black part.

I'm not a stupid man, but the RS catalogue is extremely confusing. You can get these in latching, non-latching, illuminated, non-illuminated, plus you have to buy the coloured caps and the bulbs separately, plus there's a contact module for the back... aaargh!

Basically I think I'm fine with the bulbs and the caps, but just buying a switch that lights up when you press it is defeating me. I believe that's where the £14 comes in though. Sad
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joberg
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PostPosted: Wed Jun 02, 2010 6:38 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Let me talk to my source (phone tech for Bell in Canada); I believe he has tonnes of stuff: I got my Contempra from him
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