The time machine certainly makes the day go fast

I drew up the final pieces for the hydraulic cylinders this morning and got those cut on our Techno cnc. I had to re-cut the centre reducers, as I got all confused about which circles got pocketed, and which circles got cut right through for the pipe.

 I machined all of these pieces from 3/4" pvc sheet.  As both the ABS pipe, and the PVC pipe are so out of round, it meant leaving a pretty sloppy tolerance on the reducers. But they worked out. I chem-welded all the parts, then drilled them out for additional screws, just so I didn't have to rely on the glue alone.

I've got lots of 1/2" extruded acrylic rod, so I used some of that to make the pins that will hold the cylinders to the arms that "support" the pod. I just received word today that they want some kind of retractable looking support legs on the pod as well. This is going to require some imagination, as we are getting a little crowded at the bottom now!

These look great! With some paint, chrome and hydraulic lines, they'll be quit convincing. When I was drawing up the files, I put in 1/4" holes for the pivot points (even though they don't move) that we will run a bolt through. I also added  additional 1/4" locating holes throughout the various parts, including the concrete curb. This let me assemble them all without having the pod built for the angles. Everything lines up perfectly.

I also got the lower section of the pod framed up as well. I added mitered strips up all the main support frames that will let me attach the 1/4" wall panels to.

 Jody made a great start on the concrete curb painting. Those should be finished up by tomorrow. I'm hoping to have all the fabrication done by Sunday, this will leave next week for paint and gak! I really want to make some large stator coils that mount to the concrete, with big scary looking power hook-ups. I want to be very, very afraid of being electrocuted when it's done!
8)
JO

Sometimes things can take a while. Sometimes longer than I'd like. Oh, I know it seems like everything I touch turns to gold, and that everything runs like a well oiled machine :) but the joking aside, not everything is easy sometimes. I had to re-draw some files that I planned on cutting because, I had the brainiac idea to change material thickness, and that compounded all the way down the line. Including a full sheet of MDF that unknowingly took one for the team. Can't win em all I guess.

 Jody got the parging on the curbs They're gonna look great with a coat of paint on them.

These are the main supports for the top half. These, after the already mentioned issue above, fit together like a glove.

And that's all I got for fabrication today. I hope tomorrow runs a little faster.
8)
JO

It's a time machine......type thing..

The whole weekend was spent in front of the computer again. Between beer tap models, Frankenstein models, and the time machine model, it was a lot of 3D! I spent quite a while to come up with a usable design for the time machine pod. Another short-ish deadline. 2 weeks to be exact! I sent the render off to the production designer and director, and with some minor changes, we all agreed on a design. That left yesterday to get started on picking up materials, and generating files for Aspire and our Techno cnc.

At first, I thought that this would be a great design, but I was worried that it might look too familiar to the audience!

This won't be anywhere near the final finish. I just rendered it with a default clay material, as the focus was on the design at this point.

   It has to meet a few script requirements.
1) it's a one man device
2) it's built by a very knowledgeable scientist
3) it has to come apart to be packed in crates as it was "in storage" at a lab
4) it needs removable panels to be able to get a camera into.
5) the ring at the base generates a worm-hole
The worm hole will be left to post production, but I'm gonna make some cool insulators that would be the start of the generating.

We are going to change the window on the door to be more of a bolt on version, as well as add a window to each side of the door.

This is how it will be shown when they're trying to rebuild it with partial blueprints. So this is the obvious split point for the 2 halves. Plus, it'll be easier to manage for production, as we won't be on set for this.

 By the end of the day, I had the base ring, and hydraulic supports fabricated. The base ring we will finish like a concrete "curb". We will hit all the corners with a disk grinder, then parge it up.

 I hope to get to making the hydraulic cylinders that attach to the arms tomorrow as well, while the Techno cnc is chewing through more MDF.
 8)
JO