How about using some of these nifty techniques to spunk up your design?
I will show you how to waste that extra 30 minutes solving that easy 5 minute level you found.
Keep in mind the finished product will be awesome.
Remember, I'm not the best at explaining stuff like this.
Enough of the chatter, lets start with somthing simple: http://www.fantasticcontraption.com/?designId=11597804
Most of the stuff I make uses bases that have 360 degrees of rotation. 180 for extension and 180 for contraction.
You need to keep in mind most are different than that one, and while almost all use 360 degrees of rotation, they don't usually rotate in one direction for long.
Luckily, this one will for easy learning.
Use that extra motion to convert rotational energy to linear, sort of like a cam: http://www.fantasticcontraption.com/?designId=11597807 you can also use reversal,
Kind of like this: http://www.fantasticcontraption.com/?designId=11597810 the main moving triangle only travels 180 degrees in a direction and then reverses.
Although its nice to have that full circle rotation, this is generally what will happen once you build on a structure like this. They like to wobble around.
So lets add some stuff to that cam up there: http://www.fantasticcontraption.com/?designId=11597858 if you're contraption savvy, you can make any kind of path.
Just one of many ways to make 360 degrees of motion is shown here. Another way to use floating triangles: http://www.fantasticcontraption.com/?designId=11597834
You can see clearly the parallelo-arms work great here.
Oh, one last thing, http://www.fantasticcontraption.com/?designId=11597865 the more joints you have in your base, the more possibilities you can create.
My idea was to create base mechanisms with excess rotation and use all of it. Tweak this and try adding new parts and mechanisms until you get the hang of it.
Eventually, you will be able to make your own overly complex designs.
:p
here was a pm i sent to lukasran when i was just figuring out these arms. lolz nostalgia..and probably a better tutorial than what i just gave >.> but with more old school mechanisms.
Aug 09, 2010 (lol)
Workin' with the new stuff
here is whats been happening. i changed the way the weight effects the structures of triangles and parallelograms. basically instead of connecting it to a solid structure its flimsy. but they can move freely and aren't slaves to any particular movement. so when you add other flimsy structures to them you can change the way they originally worked and make something totally new.
for instance:
A regular design- http://fantasticcontraption.com/?designId=11025227
when a rod is added to a point- http://fantasticcontraption.com/?designId=11025276 it goes nowhere, so i decided to fix that
I created "floating" triangles.
http://fantasticcontraption.com/?designId=11025236
when a rod is added to a point- http://fantasticcontraption.com/?designId=11025240 a totally new motion is created- opening a new venue in FC :D
and you can add other floating stuff to it and get more new motions- http://fantasticcontraption.com/?designId=11025261
basically if you really think carefully you an make any motion(s) you want.
cool ones:
http://fantasticcontraption.com/?designId=11015060 (don't take yet i'm still working with it)
http://fantasticcontraption.com/?designId=11025288 (gave up on this need help lukas! )
some are better and more fun to watch than others- you can make parallelograms float too. thoose look cool- and of course you can mix the two.
..hope you can make some stunning designs. don't let this leak out yet i would like to keep it secret for a bit longer
but i will eventually make a guide....maybe.. if the forums start to die again :P
best regards,
rlbabits
