Official Rangefinder Post/Stalk Thread

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Originally posted by glimadyne:

I posted over at the RPF, but I will post here as well. Here is the original post:

pub2.ezboard.com/fswvstit...7666.topic


I have a servo controller board to motorize the rangefinder using a standard servo. The board can be voice activated using an add-on voice recognition board, or you can use standard pushbuttons to move the rangefinder (or even an IR/RF link).

The controller board also controls 2 LEDs that can be put in the solid rangefinder head, and these LEDs automatically come on when the rangefinder is in the down position. You have to run some wires up the stalk to the rangefinder head, and Braks is working on someway to hide the wires.

Let me know if you are interested! Price for the servo boards will be around $60. You can add on the servo if you like and voice rec board, or I can assemble everything for you.






<font color="#FF00FF">One thing's for sure, we're all gonna be alot thinner
smlogohl.jpg

<font color="#00FFFF" size="1">It may be that your whole purpose in life is simply to serve as awarning to others
People with narrow minds usually have broad tongues
The problem with the gene pool is that there is no lifeguard​
 
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Originally posted by Braks Buddy:

For anyone who is new here and doesn't know who Glim is, let me just say that he is THE MASTER of electronics! His stuff is second to NONE! I know some have expressed concern at Glim's prices in the past but in this case the phrase "you get what you pay for" has a lot of meaning. You may find similar setups for less but if you want professional quality, Glim is really your only option. We are very fortunate to fall under Glim's area of interest.


Restless soul, enjoy your youth - Eddie Vedder​
 
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Originally posted by glimadyne:

For those of you who have hollow rangefinder heads and want a simple mini LED board, I designed one that will fit in the head, control both LEDs, and run off 2 watch batteries.

The board has a tilt sensor and is activated when the rangefinder comes down past 30-45 degrees.

You also can choose between 4 different scanning patterns! The standard wig wag, one that mimics the pinging sound (Braks simulated this), a random pattern, and one other I havent thought of yet! You choose the pattern using jumper wires.

Let me know if you are interested. Assembled boards might cost between $40-$50, depending on the number I get made. I am also considering offering kits which are not assembled for cheaper...





<font color="#FF00FF">One thing's for sure, we're all gonna be alot thinner
smlogohl.jpg

<font color="#00FFFF" size="1">It may be that your whole purpose in life is simply to serve as awarning to others
People with narrow minds usually have broad tongues
The problem with the gene pool is that there is no lifeguard​
 
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Originally posted by WebChief:

I've got a couple of photos to share. These are the lights that have been installed into my Fett helmet's rangefinder.

These lights will only be lit when the rangefinder is in the down position. The same friend who created my chest lights is constructing these lights. Thank you Ed!!!!

The rangefinder is going to be motor driven so that it moves by pushing a wired switch on my right gauntlet. Once fully down, the red lights on top begin blinking (alternately) and the green lights on the underside come on to reflect off of my face shield to appear like some sort of "heads up display". I can't wait to see it all together!

Bob-A-Fett
a.k.a. WebChief

redlight.jpg


greenlight.jpg


"What we do in life...echoes in eternity!"
 
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Originally posted by MaxPlague:

Hmm, interesting and looks good to me. How are you powering this? Are you batteries gonna be contained in the RF itself? Or are you running wires into the helmet...and if so, are you using a hollow rangefinder post?

"There is no emoticon to express what I feel right now."
 
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Originally posted by WebChief:

Wow! From famine to feast! :lol:

Well... let's start:

Darthgoat: If your interested, I can talk with Ed (the guy I work with who's creating the electronics for my suit) about building you a set. I've already told him that there might be an interest out there by people in buying these from him. I'll see what he says.

MaxPlague: Currently the power is coming externally but when completed, it will all be housed inside the top part of the rangefinder. I believe Ed said that he was going to power it with a watch battery (or two). I'm no electrical engineer so I'm not sure exactly what he's got in mind. He'll figure it out and then I'll let you know.

SSJFett: Thanks! I'm still waiting to see those pics of your helmet. I want to see what I've inspired...:lol: :lol:

"What we do in life...echoes in eternity!"
 
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Originally posted by glimadyne:

Nice job. I like the green LEDs, pretty cool!

FWIW, I just got done making a batch of something similar. Although mine also has a pinging sound in it also and the batteries are internal to the rangefinder.

I also have a servo controller to motorize the rangefinder. (www.hyperdynelabs.com/servo.htm )

Here are the data sheets on the circuits if you are interested:

www.hyperdynelabs.com/doc...0board.pdf

www.hyperdynelabs.com/doc...0board.pdf





<font color="#FF00FF">One thing's for sure, we're all gonna be alot thinner
smlogohl.jpg

<font color="#00FFFF" size="1">It may be that your whole purpose in life is simply to serve as awarning to others
People with narrow minds usually have broad tongues
The problem with the gene pool is that there is no lifeguard​
 
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Ok, I have to admit to a total lack of ability with electronics. I bought the little parts and led's and stuff to do it "right", but they all just laid their on the workbench, mocking me in their refusal to do what I wanted.

I was lightless.

Then I saw it...in a candy store...with a soft glow around it's display case...beckoning me to purchase it. It was a truly laughable product. "Belly Lights", it said. The package advertised that I could "Get that pierced look- without your parents' angry glares!" I laughed, then realized that these were tiny little lights that were extremely bright, and fit into a casing half the size of the tip of my little finger. It was really cheap, and it even came with two sets of batteries, so I figured I'd try it.

It took me about five minutes to melt a small slit into the top of my rangefinder and glue the tiny light in. The top of my rangefinder pops out and in, and stays put unless I wedge it out with a knife. Your milage may vary. I used a little hot glue to stick the "belly light" onto the inside of the top of the rangefinder, then popped the top plate back in.

The lights look bright in broad daylight and alternate flashing between red and green. They are not visible in my pictures, but are cleary visible and bright from at least 20 feet away in daylight. Hey, these are supposed to be attracting males to my belly button from across the club. They've got to be bright. :) (Side note: I suppose the theory behind this bizarre product was that alternately flashing red and green lights in your belly button would look sexually alluring. I could possibly see that, if you were an android or something. I don't know what human male would like this.)

The light twists on and off, so I have to pop open the rangefinder to turn it on and off. Since the lights are tiny and fit inside the range, there are no red and green lights sticking out the top of the range finder like the "real" Fett has. Oh well. I will cry the whole time I think of that while I am flashing people with my alluring belly lights. :) For something that took five minutes and cost 6 bucks (including TWO sets of batteries!!) I'm happy. I'm going to get some more and stick at least one in my jet pack somewhere.

Pics:

Top of rangefinder (inside) (edit: The white stuff is foam that is supposed to keep the thing inside your belly button. You can tear it off. The brassy part is the actual light)
range1.jpg


From front (hole visible but lights are not)
ledlights.jpg
 
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I found a website where you can get them. www.lightmybelly.com. You can do a search for "belly lights" and find more as well. They have different colors, too. The lights look NOTHING like the "demonstration" they have of them.

The candy store I found them at was Sweet Factory.
 
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Originally posted by RICHIES ARMOR:

I was chatting with a guy who some years ago claimed he had a "Screen Used" Fett costume. Could it be the missing ESB suit?? Well Ill prob never know since I took him with a grain of salt and now have no way to follow thru.

Heres the interesting part. He claimed that the RF was simplly the needle arm and end off an old record player. The shape would be about right and I could see a needle lying at the end to touch the record.( Not literally!!) HMMMMM!!!

Interesting!!

Well I blew him off but he did make several revolations that now seem to fit in hind sight! He knew a few things about the harness etc that not everyone would know.

Food for Thought!!

BB, contact me when you can I need some help with a few details. BTW. Your piece is in the mail.

Thanks

Richie

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Originally posted by fettcicle:

Humm... I had an old record player from that time(1970's) and the arm and tip weren't that big. I have a time clock at work, with a lever that you hit to stamp out the time, that lever looked allot like the top of the range finder. I will see if I can find some pics of this. Looked but nothing close, will get the name of the clock from work and do some searching.
 
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Originally posted by imprissonedfett:

I was searching ebay for this part and stumbled across something. It is an audiotronics record player. you can't see it from the side so I don't know if it is the match. On photo 26 of Brak's MOM pics there are little bumps on the top of the range finder other than the LEDs. These are seen on the audiotronics record player part. The url is: cgi.ebay.com/aw-cgi/eBayI...1281406035
Someone please add their input to this.

 
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Originally posted by fettcicle:

Looks like the type we used in school, I wonder if the range finder is not the part that held the needle but the part that attached to the record player itself, hummmmm. Another record player
View
View
I can see the simularities.
 
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Originally posted by RICHIES ARMOR:

Something else to point out. If it is a record player arm it would be hollow allowing the wires for the LEDs to pass thru. Slave 1 posted pics for the SW to Indiana Jones book which shows oart of the RF stalk falling away. HMMMM!!!!

The heads or needle end of most record players swivel up and down and side to side. This may account for the 90 degree angle of the Fett RF.

Richie

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Originally posted by TK1028:

GREAT INPUT RICHIE! Nice Job!

THANKS!

Fettcicle, what unit is pictured in your last post? Do you know the company name, a model number, the date of manufature?

Chris Skidmore
"I'm just a simple man trying to make my way in the universe"
SergeantTK1028@aol.com
 
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Originally posted by fettcicle:

Its a Panasonic model 70.
 
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Originally posted by TK1028:

-cicle, is this your own possession, or is it up on eBay or something? If it is yours, could you take a pic of the underside of the needle holder. I don't think the Panasonic 70 is the exact model, but man, some parts look hauntingly similar. If you could get a pic of the "clear" plastic part, that could really let us know if the real item is a Panasonic.

THANKS!

Chris Skidmore
"I'm just a simple man trying to make my way in the universe"
SergeantTK1028@aol.com
 
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Originally posted by Braks Buddy:

I believe the part you are referring to is called a headshell or cartridge mount. Here are a few... Looks very suspicious to me...

mounts.jpg



Restless soul, enjoy your youth - Eddie Vedder​
 
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