My Pneumatic Animatronic Character

[The Mad Hatter]

I have noticed most of the photos disappeared from this posting go to http://www.theeffectslab.com/forums/...ic.php?t=10378 to see them all in a full how to thread!!!


I am 20 years old and this is the first time that I have worked with pneumatics, ever. its nothing great rather hodge podged together. This animatronic human is still under construction and is 2/5 the way done. The fingers on this animatronic/pneumatic prop move. The fingers point or grab, 2 cylinders work this movement, they pull on small cables which raise and lower the fingers. the third cylinder on the hand part when pulled rotates the hand. The hand rotates back by a spring when no air is applied, it has a large berring to make the rotation movement slicker. the elbow bends with the 4th cylinder on the arm. The 4th cylinder swings the arm outward and the 5th cylinder on the linkage swings the hand up, this one that swings the hand up has two berrings to help with an easier movement. The rest of this character is being worked on and I will keep it updated on this forum. This character will have 24 pneumatic cylinder movements and 11 servo motor movements, 29 servo movements if i have enough time before Halloween to complete. I will be sculpting the head myself hand hands, they will be silicone. This is my first time working with pneumatics, please don't be to harsh with the reply's.

[The Mad Hatter]

Here are more photos.

[shawnc]

Wow, I gotta say I'm impressed. Especially since this is your first attempt at anything like this.

With that said, my only criticism is it looks like an awful lot of work to accomplish much less than what I have done while typing this message. Why not go all out and make a giant with moving hands?

[GraveStalker]

...very impressive undertaking! Looking forward to see vids of how it turns out.

[The Mad Hatter]

More photos.

[The Mad Hatter]

To answer that question about making a giant character is that they consume alot more steel, and they tend to get heavy, they are also a bitch to store. I have been thinking about making a 20 Foot tall animatronic/pneumatic prop but I will wait on it now. I first want to get some experience since this is my first project. I also believe though that making this human size 6"4" is fun. It is quite a challenge to get things to fit in tight spaces for the movements.

-Frank Balzer

[Brandon_K]

I envy the fact that you either have a spool gun or a TIG machine.

I despise working with steel.

Nice work.

[The Mad Hatter]

I wish I owned one too. They are from the special effects I work at, Reelistic Fx. I'm rather lucky I have a shop at my disposal on break. I also have the pleasure to work with talented "Old Geezers" who do all the big motion pictures, and TV shows. This shop only does rain, snow, pyro, and rigging type effects No makeup and animatronics so I have no help in that field but my imagination. I do wish I could own a nice welder though. Maybe one of these days.......

-Frank Balzer

[The Mad Hatter]

Had time to attach the arms permanently today here is how they look on the pneumatic prop. Also photos of the legs being started.

[The Mad Hatter]

Here's a photo of the other project that has been going on at the shop it is a $250,00.00 motion Base. No detail photos will be shown.

-Frank Balzer