Ray! Posted May 18, 2012 Report Posted May 18, 2012 Probably the most interesting thing that I've made started out as something simple, but then took over a life of its own until this eventuated: What it is, is a flatbed microscope, which I've called the Olympus Electric Macroscope (mainly because it contains Olympus camera bits). It all started with a set of macro bellows and a simple sheet of steel that I wanted to use as a sturdy, anti-vibration, base. Then I saw some stuff on the web about Steampunk (modern devices converted to look like things from the early 1800s) and that was it. Everything was hand built from raw materials except for the camera, bellows, an old microscope base and the electronic controller. The whole unit is about 700mm x 250mm x 250mm and weighs abouty 25kg. I've only used it in anger a few times to test it out and it certainly works, but now it's more an ornament/feature thingamabob. I've also built a more modern vertical assembly, which I plan to start using once I get more settled into our new digs. Cheers Ray
heyhey Posted May 18, 2012 Report Posted May 18, 2012 WTF, that thing is FRIGGIN WICKED!!!!!! GREAT WORK@!!!! I weld stuff, thats no good.
Ray! Posted May 18, 2012 Author Report Posted May 18, 2012 (edited) Just as an addition, for anyone who hasn't ever heard of Steampunk, it's a bit of a sub-culture where people make things and enact a world akin to Jules Verne, H.G. Wells etc. The movie Wild, Wild, West was a Steampunk style movie and there was a TV serial that followed the theme as well, even Dr Who has elements of Steampunk. Some of the stuff made in the name of Steampunk are just objects that do nothing, like: and others actaully work, like: Some of the craftsmanship that goes into making a Steampunk device can be truly astounding and the computers can sell for way more than what they are actually worth. Cheers Ray Edited May 18, 2012 by Ray!
admin Posted May 18, 2012 Report Posted May 18, 2012 Ray! You have destroyed this topic before it got started. :-P I could post up a picture of a 300W monoblock power amp I made back when I was 18 for my fully sick subwoffer.. But it pales in comparison to your work of art. mitchgq 1
Ray! Posted May 18, 2012 Author Report Posted May 18, 2012 Ray! You have destroyed this topic before it got started. :-P Metalwork and the like is my forte, but give me a piece of timber and I'll return you some firewood. Cheers Ray BigGQWesty and mitchgq 2
Oldmate Posted May 18, 2012 Report Posted May 18, 2012 Man!! What nice work. I don't have the patience for that type of stuff. Good job Ray!
jamus Posted May 18, 2012 Report Posted May 18, 2012 Ray!, clearly you are too smart for your own good! I don't know what it's good for but it is nothing short of spectacular...
Ray! Posted May 18, 2012 Author Report Posted May 18, 2012 I've seen some examples of pretty neat bar work etc, so there has to be others who like to work with their hands and raw materials. Cheers Ray
Glort Posted May 18, 2012 Report Posted May 18, 2012 Ray! You have destroyed this topic before it got started. :-P I agree! That thing is F**King awesome. Looking at it before I read the description I thought it may have been some sort of stereoscope image copier . Reading the thread title I thought I may have had something to contribute. seeing the standard of the benchmark, I'll now tip toe away quietly to hide my embarrassment at my lack of any real skill. Really Impressive Ray. You should be justifyably proud of your outstanding craftmanship.
Ray! Posted May 18, 2012 Author Report Posted May 18, 2012 You have no idea how this all came about. All I wanted was a can of paint to coat the slab of steel I'd bought and went into Bunnings for something suitable. While wandering around I saw a big sheet of copper on sale for $13, which was less than the can of paint, and that was the start of a 3+ month project (that slab of steel was wrapped in the copper sheet and more left over for the other bits and pieces). I started scouring second hand and reproduction stores for all types for bits and pieces that I had in mind, including Bunnings for copper tubing etc and the silver sphere is an Ikea candle holder. The most interesting part is the black material lining the curved piece of copper and the copper tube, which I use for other things as well, is called Protostar material, it absorbs 99% of all visible light that falls on it (it's used by astronomers). The controller is something I got from the US and it's basically an intervalometer that controls a motor attached to the platform, and moves the plaform in very small increments while firing the camera shutter to take a series of photo slices of the subject. The camera bellows end has a microscope lens attached. Cheers Ray
Glort Posted May 18, 2012 Report Posted May 18, 2012 I looked up the steam punk computers following the pic you put up Ray. Amazing. I would really like to do something like that. Would make the perfect conversation piece. Some interesting stuff here on modded computers. http://www.datamancer.net/monitors/steampunklcd1.htm
Ray! Posted May 18, 2012 Author Report Posted May 18, 2012 Datamancer is probably the king of Steampunk. The stuff he puts together is utterly mind boggling. Cheers Ray
Whitey Posted May 18, 2012 Report Posted May 18, 2012 Would love to be around in a hundred years or so and see one of Ray's great great great grandchildren take this to Antiques Roadshow and have one of the experts try and explain what it is.
Arch Nemisis Posted May 18, 2012 Report Posted May 18, 2012 Seriously impressed Ray, thanks for sharing. Got another one planned?
Brett Posted May 18, 2012 Report Posted May 18, 2012 (edited) Ray I thought you where some old guy that had no life that just loves patrolling forums as a way to kill time when you werent shopping at aldi... I'm a cnc machinist and make a lot of precision stuff and am thoroughly impressed with your workmanship... Was inspirational to see what others have done also... I've made a few custom things here and there for myself but now I feel as if I should step it up a few notches... Edited May 18, 2012 by Brett
Oldmate Posted May 18, 2012 Report Posted May 18, 2012 See now I think ray started this thread not too see what we can do but to reinstate to us how good he is. Lmao
Ray! Posted May 18, 2012 Author Report Posted May 18, 2012 (edited) See now I think ray started this thread not too see what we can do but to reinstate to us how good he is. Lmao Nah, there's all sorts of hidden talent here and I was interested in what things others have put their skills/interests towards. One can always learn something from the unusual, even if it has no immediate bearing on 4WDs and the like. Cheers Ray Edited May 18, 2012 by Ray! leaf 1
Dye-04 Posted May 19, 2012 Report Posted May 19, 2012 I made this, probably one of the better things i've achieved in my life... heyhey 1
Dye-04 Posted May 19, 2012 Report Posted May 19, 2012 oh i almost forgot, i made this as well. My Daughter Zoe TheFlyingBadger, admin and BigGQWesty 3
Glort Posted May 19, 2012 Report Posted May 19, 2012 Ray's version of interesting renders mine more like " Amateur" " Redneck" and "Embarrassing". I think I would struggle with the style/ appearance of the steampunk theme but on the practical side, I could make a computer that truly was steam powered. I get the impression the steampunk theme is more about looks than actual engineering. If that was the case, I'd use a keg for a boiler, half a turbo for the turbine and a couple of gears or timing belt pulleys to drive a DC motor for the generator. Probably the only relationship to the theme of with what I built myself is that it would be steam powered and look like it was built by a Punk.
TheFlyingBadger Posted May 19, 2012 Report Posted May 19, 2012 oh i almost forgot, i made this as well. My Daughter Zoe much more impressive than the icy-pole xmas tree....
Ray! Posted May 19, 2012 Author Report Posted May 19, 2012 Ray's version of interesting renders mine more like " Amateur" " Redneck" and "Embarrassing". I think I would struggle with the style/ appearance of the steampunk theme but on the practical side, I could make a computer that truly was steam powered. I get the impression the steampunk theme is more about looks than actual engineering. If that was the case, I'd use a keg for a boiler, half a turbo for the turbine and a couple of gears or timing belt pulleys to drive a DC motor for the generator. Probably the only relationship to the theme of with what I built myself is that it would be steam powered and look like it was built by a Punk. Actually, what you apear to do with oil conversion is pretty impressive. I'll bet that with a few tweaks and cosmetic changes to some of your setups, you'd have not only a practical device, but an intersting looking one as well. Some people do just make things for appearance sake, but others make working devices that look like they came out fo the 19th century. Google steampunk house and you'll see some examples where people have gone the whole hog, some decorative stuff and others fully functional. Here's one link to images: http://www.google.com.au/search?q=steampunk+house&hl=en&rls=com.microsoft:en-au:IE-Address&prmd=imvns&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=PxC4T46lCoPAiQfM9sj9CA&ved=0CGUQsAQ&biw=1920&bih=978&sei=QxC4T_a4GPCTiAfW5vz5CA. Cheers Ray
KMsMK Posted May 19, 2012 Report Posted May 19, 2012 They're amazing Ray. So when are you going to start on your steampunked patrol house combo. Lol Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
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