School project: Who wants to help a kid out?

[tybrenis]

Hey guys,

I am building a scale steel mill for a school project. I already built most the frame and I'd like to add details. For the internals, I am going to have lots of vats of molten metal etc. and I would really like to add some moving parts and special effects to it.

First off, I'm hoping to incorperate a smoke stack into it in at least one place, but I don't want to buy one. If I can't get anything working, I'll just hook up my vicks humidifier (for when your sick and stuff) to some copper pipes for steam.

However, this one I can't get. I really want to add a sparking device, so every so often (or constantly) a vat of metal being poured will shoot out real sparks.

I looked at piezo type devices and that digital camera taeser, but they simply do not provide constant sparks or large sparks.

I know you guys will know what to do with this one.

Thanks guys! Pics soon!

[Airbozo]

Look for one of those kids guns that throws showers of sparks when you pull the trigger, and tear it apart for the innards. You could hook it up to a motor for the constant effect.

Like this;
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000ELT02Y/sz-toys-20/ref=nosim

or this;
http://cgi.ebay.com/Toy-Gun-Guns-11-Black-Navy-Seal-MP-5-Sound-Spark_W0QQitemZ120051355922QQcmdZViewItem

You could probably find one of these is your local Target or K-mart (probably Wal-Mart too, but I never would suggest anyone shop there).

[tybrenis]

Ahh, great idea!

How would you suggest I motorize it?

[Airbozo]

Ahh, great idea!

How would you suggest I motorize it?

Depends on what you have when you tear it apart. You may be able to just connect a motor and away you go. You may also have to use some JB Weld to attach the motor or mesh some gears. A lot of those toy guns have a flywheel attached to keep them spinning while the trigger resets. You could attach a motor to that.

[Maz]

Or you could make a foundry... like for aluminum, but I doubt they would let you within 100 yards of your school with that.

[DaJe]

Here's an image you can use as a reference


http://codeinsurrection.com/pics/149bad88ea88816815cd326d4b77d522.gif

[Omega]

Here's an image you can use as a reference


http://codeinsurrection.com/pics/149bad88ea88816815cd326d4b77d522.gif

...Roflcopter.



For the vats, you could probably get away with taking some styrofoam, shaping it like a vat, then covering it with fiberglass resin for strength and painting it.

[intergalacticman]

i have one of those you can have for free. i took apart one last year, and it makes pretty large sparks if spun fast. and with a motor it is highly possible to make constant sparks

Look for one of those kids guns that throws showers of sparks when you pull the trigger, and tear it apart for the innards. You could hook it up to a motor for the constant effect.

Like this;
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000ELT02Y/sz-toys-20/ref=nosim

or this;
http://cgi.ebay.com/Toy-Gun-Guns-11-Black-Navy-Seal-MP-5-Sound-Spark_W0QQitemZ120051355922QQcmdZViewItem

You could probably find one of these is your local Target or K-mart (probably Wal-Mart too, but I never would suggest anyone shop there).

[tybrenis]

Could I really? That'd be great, I can pay shipping if you'd like. What's your zip?