Work in Progress

[melodiousdirge]

Wish I knew this thread existed before. So much cool shit! Plus now I can stop polluting the "One Item/Day" Thread with photos of my projects.

Dome Skeleton Assembled:



Doorway Added Today





Canopy work in progress:





Not nearly as awesome as TrishnTek's creation.

[Elderberry]

Looks like lots of hard work.

[MyDearFriend]

I have to say, I really love all these "Look what I made!" posts, but they always make me think of this:

[youtube][/youtube]

DNA struggling to find expression...

[Trishntek]

I reckon we all strut our stuff in various ways by somewhat,,, OCD methods.

But it is kinda like last year,,,, the first person to "engage" Superman was this slender 20something in lavender hot pants,,,, that's all,,,, just hot pants,,,, think Cathy Ireland's twin sister,,,

The moment she bent over and took in that phallus of green goodness, I decided right then and there, if the whole place went up in flames right now,,, it was all worth that first, most fulfilling moment for me. I'm a cheap date and will give almost anything to be oddly entertained.

[MyDearFriend]

Please don't get me wrong, I think it's wonderful! Very authentic behavior. And, as you point out, quite likely to be rewarded.

I have put a shit-ton of effort into building my little nest no clue who or what I am trying to attract there...

[ygmir]

Please don't get me wrong, I think it's wonderful! Very authentic behavior. And, as you point out, quite likely to be rewarded.

I have put a shit-ton of effort into building my little nest no clue who or what I am trying to attract there...

[MyDearFriend]

Please don't get me wrong, I think it's wonderful! Very authentic behavior. And, as you point out, quite likely to be rewarded.

I have put a shit-ton of effort into building my little nest no clue who or what I am trying to attract there...

Oh my dear I am quite unlikely to sting anybody, even if you come peeking around with a spy-glass... I will just invite you in and offer you some honey.

[Foxfur]

MD: Bravo! You've done a fine job. You are a natural.

TnT: I do hope she'll return this year... Sounds incredible, sigh.

[theCryptofishist]

Doorway Added Today

melodious, if you wanted to do a mini-"instructable" on putting doorways into domes in the playa accessible thread in Experiences sub-forum, I'd love it. I can't get into domes that don't have doorways.

[melodiousdirge]

MD: Bravo! You've done a fine job. You are a natural.

FF, many thanks!

melodious, if you wanted to do a mini-"instructable" on putting doorways into domes in the playa accessible thread in Experiences sub-forum, I'd love it. I can't get into domes that don't have doorways.

Not a bad idea - I struggled to find much useful reference material on the topic before making mine. I will save the writeup until after the canopy is done though, as it will embody a better expression of the finished doorway.

[melodiousdirge]

Got my 9/16 rebar stakes sorted out for the dome today:

[theCryptofishist]

The ponies went really well today. At least two could be finished tomorrow. But I'm loving what's happening with them.
One got demoted from Bianca Jagger (just as well, as I couldnt' think of a good name for her) to a nobody in the morning (Studio Colt 45 was just too crowded to include her) but got a stunning hat in the afternoon. Not quite leopard=skin pillbox but it was closer than the (hopelessly anachronistic) Edie Sedgechick's.
And this little pink one got a great feather boa. I really do have to get some more in capes.

Anyway, it's been that happy state where I'm looking at the results and thinking that the gods are smiling are smiling at me.

[jella]

I can't wait to see your ponies Crypto...I have a zillion interesting scraps that you could make capes out of

[MikeGyver]

Has anyone made a wind generator out of an old Alternator? we've got a few laying around and I figured I could make a generator out of that instead of buying a solar panel since there wont be a shortage of wind... I've read that they work great and I've read that they are useless so I plan on making one anyways just curious if anyone has any experience with them.

[capjbadger]

Has anyone made a wind generator out of an old Alternator? we've got a few laying around and I figured I could make a generator out of that instead of buying a solar panel since there wont be a shortage of wind... I've read that they work great and I've read that they are useless so I plan on making one anyways just curious if anyone has any experience with them.

Alernators don't make good wind gennys. Go with a motor out of a treadmill (permanent magnet motor).

-Badger

[Elorrum]

The amp is working with a 12V source. I'd like to hear it with 24V though, but that's a headache of another order of magnitude. Plan B is already built, but I'm soldiering on. I'm going to see if I can get some small deep cycle 12V batteries today. Subwoofer crossover is working. Piezo horns o.k. I like the little speakers... they'll come out of their cases when I'm happy with the wiring. Time to do a bit of solder.

[MikeGyver]

Has anyone made a wind generator out of an old Alternator? we've got a few laying around and I figured I could make a generator out of that instead of buying a solar panel since there wont be a shortage of wind... I've read that they work great and I've read that they are useless so I plan on making one anyways just curious if anyone has any experience with them.

Alernators don't make good wind gennys. Go with a motor out of a treadmill (permanent magnet motor).

-Badger

Okay, damn. We've got a bunch of Alternators and no treadmills haha. Guess Ill go back to looking to buy a Solar Panel unless I can find a free treadmill on Craigslist. Trying to find a Cheap way to power a Swamp Cooler.

[ygmir]

Has anyone made a wind generator out of an old Alternator? we've got a few laying around and I figured I could make a generator out of that instead of buying a solar panel since there wont be a shortage of wind... I've read that they work great and I've read that they are useless so I plan on making one anyways just curious if anyone has any experience with them.

Alernators don't make good wind gennys. Go with a motor out of a treadmill (permanent magnet motor).

-Badger

Okay, damn. We've got a bunch of Alternators and no treadmills haha. Guess Ill go back to looking to buy a Solar Panel unless I can find a free treadmill on Craigslist. Trying to find a Cheap way to power a Swamp Cooler.

Figjam is a wealth of info in that dept.
I think "cooling your van or tent" thread, probably others.

[capjbadger]

Has anyone made a wind generator out of an old Alternator? we've got a few laying around and I figured I could make a generator out of that instead of buying a solar panel since there wont be a shortage of wind... I've read that they work great and I've read that they are useless so I plan on making one anyways just curious if anyone has any experience with them.

Alernators don't make good wind gennys. Go with a motor out of a treadmill (permanent magnet motor).

-Badger

Okay, damn. We've got a bunch of Alternators and no treadmills haha. Guess Ill go back to looking to buy a Solar Panel unless I can find a free treadmill on Craigslist. Trying to find a Cheap way to power a Swamp Cooler.

Little known fact: VW cars are shipped with solar panels that plug into the lighter port to keep the batteries topped off while the car is sitting. Call around VW dealerships and see if they have some available. A lot of times the car buyer doesn't take them. My first year I was able to score a small stack of them for free.

Treadmills can be found for free or cheap on CL pretty often.

-Badger

[capjbadger]

Working on the cover for the new 1v dome:


-Badger

[EspressoDude]

Tested out the revised POOFER (Propane Orbital Overdone Flame Effect, Rechargeable) last night with the latest additions: pneumatically actuated main ball valve ! no more manual operation/tugging on a rope. it is now push button and KA-WHooosh big ass fire ball ( along with the twin machine gun discharges on another button.)

this is a stand alone or mounts on the back of the FOGBANK sound cannon.

left solenoid valve operates the cylinder that operates the ball valve. the 2 blue solenoid valves operate the machine gun effect. brass fitting on top is for the pilot light; and 1.5" pipe, the main discharge

accumulators are spun steel 1800 psi CO2 extinguisher tanks

[Elderberry]

I just love those things on the playa. (Well, anything that moves and shoots fire actually.)

You all should be glad I know my limitations, or else I'd be trying to build one of those things and we'd all be in trouble. Assuming I didn't blow myself up first.

[MikeGyver]

Figjam is a wealth of info in that dept.
I think "cooling your van or tent" thread, probably others.

Yeah, I've been watching that topic for a while just figured I might get more info on building something to power it on here. Checked My local CL and there was only one that said it was taken already.

[Elorrum]

While looking for ideas and dimensions for a ported speaker enclosure, I found another universe, one I don't think I'll be visiting before this years event. I'd like to make something that sounds the best it can, but it's just too much to know. I'm going with a sheet of plywood, a skill saw, a jig saw, wood glue, and a handful of screws. If it fits, it ships.

To calculate the power response of a ported enclosure system, you will need to know the following:
Vas = equivalent compliance of driver (litres)
Qes = electrical Q of driver at resonance
Fs = resonance frequency of driver (Hz)
PEmax = maximum input power for driver
Fb = resonance frequency of the system
F3 = frequency at which response is down by -3dB
Dia = effective driver diameter driver (cm)
Xmax = peak linear displacement of driver cone (mm)

then,

Sd = pi*(Dia/100)^2/4
Vd = Sd*Xmax/1000
n0 = 9.64*10^(-10)*Fs^3*Vas/Qes
SPL = 112 + 10*LOG(n0)
K1 = (4*pi^3*Ro/c)*Fs^4*Vd^2
K2 = 112+10*LOG(K1)
Par = 3*F3^4*Vd^2
Per = Par/n0
PeakSPL = SPL+10*LOG(PEmax)

where,

pi = 3.14159265359
c = speed of sound in air (345 m/s)
Ro = density of air (1.18 kg/m^3)
n0 = free-air efficiency of driver
SPL = SPL of driver @1W/1M
Par = maximum linear power output
Per = electrical input required to produce Par
PeakSPL = Thermally-limited SPL in passband

Maximum output at a given frequency F can be calculated as
follows:

Fn2 = (F/Fs)^2
Fn4 = Fn2^2
A = (Fb/Fs)^2
B = A/Qts+Fb/(Ql*Fs)
C = 1+A+(Vas/Vb)+Fb/(Fs*Qts*Ql)
D = 1/Qts+Fb/(Fs*Ql)
E = (97/49)*A
dBmag = 10*LOG(Fn4^2/((Fn4-C*Fn2+A)^2+Fn2*(D*Fn2-B)^2))
Pmax = (K1/n0)*((Fn4-C*Fn2+A)^2+Fn2*(D*Fn2-B)^2)
/(Fn4-E*Fn2+A^2)
SPLmax = K2+10*LOG(Fn4^2/(Fn4-E*Fn2+A^2))
SPLtherm = PeakSPL+dBmag

where,

SPLmax = displacement-limited SPL at frequency F (dB/1M)
SPLtherm = thermally-limited SPL at frequency F (dB/1M)

[FIGJAM]

Nope, looks to much like rocket science.

I might get blowed up.

[Elderberry]

Just reading it is starting to short circuit my brain!

Nope, looks to much like rocket science.

I might get blowed up.

[melodiousdirge]

Started to test fit dome cover. Ran out of bungee hooks (more in the mail) and daylight tho :-S

[trilobyte]

So many awesome projects... When not digging through the boards here and chasing frogfufffic around with a shovel, I'm working on building a playa costume for our cargo van. We're turning it into a steampunk airship outpost! Here's the exciting early concept sketch (it's evolved quite a bit since then), which evolved from numerous bar napkin sketches and countless conversations over the course of the last year...


Back in 2007, I built a somewhat industrial strength steel frame/roof rack for an art car project. We're not doing an art car this year, but we wanted to put the frame to work as an observation outpost/chill space. If you're far enough from sober, an airship outpost is clearly the best possible option for doing that! Much as both my girlfriend and I love making big funky industrial things, we knew that time and budget were going to be factors. So we decided to go ridiculously low-tech. Plywood facade at the ground level (secured to 2x4 frame that's tethered to the van), with stairs that take you upstairs. The upper deck is an EMT conduit frame shade structure that will have wooden rails, and as many cushions and pillows as we can muster. After all, if you're going to wait for passing airships you may as well do it in style and comfort!

I've also been using the project as an excuse to learn new technology. Instead of just a few simple cuts and then playing with paint, My girlfriend and I worked up our design concepts in Adobe Illustrator, and then from there got things set up to etch and cut the pieces using a CNC router (crazy robotic shop tool). Here are a couple shots from those work sessions...







In addition to the facade, I'm designing and building a 20x30 foot EMT conduit shade structure (slightly different design from years past, so a few new parts being ordered), attempting to do a playa shower using a fountain pump, and then working on some biked decor that lets me put my laserist skills to work as well as play with some EL-wire. A couple pictures of those things, in progress, though things are fast approaching completion.







The sun/moon/star icon is our camp's symbol. We're called Eridu Society, combining the notions of an old school adventurer's/explorer's club with decadence that predates Babylon (Eridu is the earliest city in ancient Sumer). The funny-looking bits in that last pic spell out Trilo in cuneiform, and will go on the side of my trike's basket once it's done.

[MyDearFriend]

Wow, Trilobyte, that all looks CRAZY awesome, hooray!!!

[Foxfur]

Say Trilobyte, thanks for posting so many pics of your projects and of yourself. I love to post pics of my work and especially silly or goofy ones of myself. The light and/or self effacing nature of them helps others see that I'm more than a rabid DIYer or happy sappy fucktard, but also a silly and goofy fucktard as well.
That pic of you and the showerhead is PRICELESS!
The pics will also help others recognize me on the playa because I have no idea what they look like and meeting them is very important to me! The people at the burn are my main focus. Everything else is a side dish.
Everybody, consider posting a few pics of yourselves. I'd like to be able to shout, "(Eplaya Name!!!) Yay!" and run over and hug you off your feet as the camera pans outward and upward in an ever increasing spiral while the music comes up! (HSF moment - indulge me)