DJ unleashes: Shockwave

[DJMoonbass]

Well this saber has been in building phaze for about 2 months now. this has beent he hardest most complex saber i have built to date. the hilt was designed and machined by Tava @ mandalorian mercs and I and I installed the electronic. this is my first saber to feature a color changing blade. 14 colors per side. it takes full use of the RGBA LEDs. i wired the RGB up to the rotary switch and then the amber on a seperate circuit. there are so many different colors its amazing. this is also my first saber to have a crystal chamber and this is also my first staff. alot of first for me. i broke some HUGE milestones here for myself. the AV switches were probably the hardest since i had to machine some thick washers for the red switches so the bolts would clear each other. the crystal chamber is custom cut real quarts crystal and looks beautifull.

well time for specs. hope you like.

entirely custom machined and engraved hilt
2 li ion 18650s
custom delrin battery holders
2 recharge ports
10w RGBA LEDs
a totall of 10 accent LEDs
tri color quarts crystal chamber (RED, BLUE, and PURPLE)
4 AV switches
2 custom spacer rings beneath blade holder
2 BCD rotary switches

and lots of cram fu

VIDS:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QOO96ISvh58

glory pics
http://i420.photobucket.com/albums/pp286/DJMoonbass/Shockwave/P1060574.jpg
http://i420.photobucket.com/albums/pp286/DJMoonbass/Shockwave/P1060575.jpg
http://i420.photobucket.com/albums/pp286/DJMoonbass/Shockwave/P1060577.jpg
http://i420.photobucket.com/albums/pp286/DJMoonbass/Shockwave/P1060580.jpg
http://i420.photobucket.com/albums/pp286/DJMoonbass/Shockwave/P1060581.jpg
http://i420.photobucket.com/albums/pp286/DJMoonbass/Shockwave/P1060578.jpg
http://i420.photobucket.com/albums/pp286/DJMoonbass/Shockwave/P1060602.jpg

lit up. heres the custom blade holder.
http://i420.photobucket.com/albums/pp286/DJMoonbass/Shockwave/P1060615.jpg
http://i420.photobucket.com/albums/pp286/DJMoonbass/Shockwave/P1060616.jpg
http://i420.photobucket.com/albums/pp286/DJMoonbass/Shockwave/P1060595.jpg
http://i420.photobucket.com/albums/pp286/DJMoonbass/Shockwave/P1060599.jpg
http://i420.photobucket.com/albums/pp286/DJMoonbass/Shockwave/P1060600.jpg


crystal chamber
http://i420.photobucket.com/albums/pp286/DJMoonbass/Shockwave/P1060617.jpg
http://i420.photobucket.com/albums/pp286/DJMoonbass/Shockwave/P1060618.jpg
http://i420.photobucket.com/albums/pp286/DJMoonbass/Shockwave/P1060619.jpg

and more pics
http://i420.photobucket.com/albums/pp286/DJMoonbass/Shockwave/th_P1060583.jpg (http://s420.photobucket.com/albums/pp286/DJMoonbass/Shockwave/?action=view&current=P1060583.jpg)http://i420.photobucket.com/albums/pp286/DJMoonbass/Shockwave/th_P1060584.jpg (http://s420.photobucket.com/albums/pp286/DJMoonbass/Shockwave/?action=view&current=P1060584.jpg)http://i420.photobucket.com/albums/pp286/DJMoonbass/Shockwave/th_P1060586.jpg (http://s420.photobucket.com/albums/pp286/DJMoonbass/Shockwave/?action=view&current=P1060586.jpg)http://i420.photobucket.com/albums/pp286/DJMoonbass/Shockwave/th_P1060587.jpg (http://s420.photobucket.com/albums/pp286/DJMoonbass/Shockwave/?action=view&current=P1060587.jpg)http://i420.photobucket.com/albums/pp286/DJMoonbass/Shockwave/th_P1060594.jpg (http://s420.photobucket.com/albums/pp286/DJMoonbass/Shockwave/?action=view&current=P1060594.jpg)http://i420.photobucket.com/albums/pp286/DJMoonbass/Shockwave/th_P1060605.jpg (http://s420.photobucket.com/albums/pp286/DJMoonbass/Shockwave/?action=view&current=P1060605.jpg)http://i420.photobucket.com/albums/pp286/DJMoonbass/Shockwave/th_P1060606.jpg (http://s420.photobucket.com/albums/pp286/DJMoonbass/Shockwave/?action=view&current=P1060606.jpg)http://i420.photobucket.com/albums/pp286/DJMoonbass/Shockwave/th_P1060607.jpg (http://s420.photobucket.com/albums/pp286/DJMoonbass/Shockwave/?action=view&current=P1060607.jpg)http://i420.photobucket.com/albums/pp286/DJMoonbass/Shockwave/th_P1060609.jpg (http://s420.photobucket.com/albums/pp286/DJMoonbass/Shockwave/?action=view&current=P1060609.jpg)
http://i420.photobucket.com/albums/pp286/DJMoonbass/Shockwave/th_P1060612.jpg (http://s420.photobucket.com/albums/pp286/DJMoonbass/Shockwave/?action=view&current=P1060612.jpg)http://i420.photobucket.com/albums/pp286/DJMoonbass/Shockwave/th_P1060613.jpg (http://s420.photobucket.com/albums/pp286/DJMoonbass/Shockwave/?action=view&current=P1060613.jpg)http://i420.photobucket.com/albums/pp286/DJMoonbass/Shockwave/th_P1060614.jpg (http://s420.photobucket.com/albums/pp286/DJMoonbass/Shockwave/?action=view&current=P1060614.jpg)http://i420.photobucket.com/albums/pp286/DJMoonbass/Shockwave/th_P1060613.jpg (http://s420.photobucket.com/albums/pp286/DJMoonbass/Shockwave/?action=view&current=P1060613.jpg)http://i420.photobucket.com/albums/pp286/DJMoonbass/Shockwave/th_P1060621.jpg (http://s420.photobucket.com/albums/pp286/DJMoonbass/Shockwave/?action=view&current=P1060621.jpg)http://i420.photobucket.com/albums/pp286/DJMoonbass/Shockwave/th_P1060622.jpg (http://s420.photobucket.com/albums/pp286/DJMoonbass/Shockwave/?action=view&current=P1060622.jpg)



i am waiting on some new blades for this and once i get them in ill post pics of all the different colors. its fantastic

as promised here they are keep in mind you can deffinately see the differences in color in person. my camera is NOT very good at picking up the true colors. wheres my friend galen when i need him. he has like 1300 dollar camera. anyway here they are. best i can do.

AMBER
http://i420.photobucket.com/albums/pp286/DJMoonbass/Shockwave/A.jpg

BLUE/BLUE+AMBER
http://i420.photobucket.com/albums/pp286/DJMoonbass/Shockwave/B.jpghttp://i420.photobucket.com/albums/pp286/DJMoonbass/Shockwave/BA.jpg

GREEN/GREEN+AMBER
http://i420.photobucket.com/albums/pp286/DJMoonbass/Shockwave/G.jpghttp://i420.photobucket.com/albums/pp286/DJMoonbass/Shockwave/GA.jpg

BLUE+GREEN/BLUE+GREEN+AMBER
http://i420.photobucket.com/albums/pp286/DJMoonbass/Shockwave/BG.jpghttp://i420.photobucket.com/albums/pp286/DJMoonbass/Shockwave/BGA.jpg

RED/RED+AMBER
http://i420.photobucket.com/albums/pp286/DJMoonbass/Shockwave/R.jpghttp://i420.photobucket.com/albums/pp286/DJMoonbass/Shockwave/RA.jpg

RED+BLUE/RED+BLUE+AMBER
http://i420.photobucket.com/albums/pp286/DJMoonbass/Shockwave/RB.jpghttp://i420.photobucket.com/albums/pp286/DJMoonbass/Shockwave/RBA.jpg

RED+GREEN/RED+GREEN+AMBER
http://i420.photobucket.com/albums/pp286/DJMoonbass/Shockwave/GR.jpghttp://i420.photobucket.com/albums/pp286/DJMoonbass/Shockwave/RGA.jpg

RED+BLUE+GREEN/RED+BLUE+GREEN+AMBER
http://i420.photobucket.com/albums/pp286/DJMoonbass/Shockwave/RGB.jpghttp://i420.photobucket.com/albums/pp286/DJMoonbass/Shockwave/RGBA.jpg

[Rhyen Skytracker]

Awesome job my friend. I love the emitters. Great job.

[Rafalema]

Best staff I've ever seen!!

I love everything in this hilt!! (especially the super bright accent LEDs ;))

[Lord Dottore Matto]

The BH's on this saber are 100% WIN! Grrrrreat job DJ.:mrgreen:

[Skottsaber]

How many miles of wiring is in that thing? About 300 solder connections?

I must say a very well done. RGB is the way forward.

[xl97]

HOLY !!!!.. you going to a 'rave' or something?
I see alot of things that have already been done or were/are available.. but you made them all yourself? (for a challenge?)

I like the engraving...

you did it? or had ti done? I dont see anything mentioned about it? (maybe I missed it?)

[Sunrider]

Holy crap dude that thing is awesome.:shock: I love the way the light comes out the holes in the emitters.:cool::cool:

[JamoUp]

Looks good man. The engraving is a great aspect. I'll have to agree with LDM, the BH is a win!

[ARKM]

Awesome saber DJ.

[Et Kin Evenstar]

Dude! Seriously?! Holy Canoles that is sweet!

[xl97]

So Im clear...

there are NO MHS parts?

this is just a 'bolt-together' build? ie: meaning no threading was done for the parts to interlock?

you did 'NOT' do the machining? (thought you were a machinist?)

any pics of your custom delrin battery holders? or so top secret pics cant even be taken!? =)

thanks

[mihunai]

The hilt is excellent
The engraving is awesome
The wiring is extensive,
but dont you think you might have gone a bit overboard with the
blinkies?

Might just be me though...

mTm

[Jin Ke]

That saber is a beast... Great build. :)

[xl97]

Might just be me though...


NOT just you..


to me.. there is a fine line between because the build/project calls for it.. (and compliments it).. and doing things 'just because'..

I mean for fun and testing... I can see it.. but for a 'lightsaber'.. I dont see all those colors ever being used/seen

however I guess thats the choices you can make from fantasy movies..

[Shadar Al'Niende]

While this saber is not my definitely not my style and feels a little...over the top, I do have to say DJ that i could not do that wiring like you did. That accomplishment by itself should make you proud if nothing else.

[sekrogue1985]

DJ wow just frickin wowzers! love it!

[DJMoonbass]

hey guys thank for the compliments.

X197: well the hilt was designed by me and tava of mandalorian mercs. i then sent some designs to him and he machined most of the parts per his request. he did the CNC engraving and alot of the 4 axis work on it. then he sent the saber back to me and i did alot of the internal machine work. boring out the choke and blade holder, measuring for all the holes and stuff, etc. so we both machined this saber. this saber is NOT a bolt together it has threads and is not mhs. then i did all the electronics work. and yeah i have some pics. i didnt really take any pictures of the wiring because it was one of those sabers you mostly assemble from the inisde out. i have a couple i think ill look and yeah i can post some pics of the delrin holders. nuthins top secret lol.

Shadar: i am proud. this saber was unbaleivably hard to wire. and im really excited for my good friend to get this beautiful saber. it is kinda over the top with lights but "hey... its me!" (han solo referance joke)

so thanks again guys. this saber was such a fun challenge. also it wieghs at about 4.5 pounds :O

[Tava]

I really wanted a staff that was able to change colors and me and sylus talked for like a month about what to put in it. The engraving and blade holder were something I really wanted to be different then anything out there so I spent a lot of time on them. It has taken way longer then I wanted to complete, but it was very fun worken with sylus on this and I got a few things left to do on it that he dosnt even know about (hehehe). But yeah dj hope we get to work on some more saber to gether ;)


I'll post some pics of the machine work later, if you guys want.

[Darth Xusia]

Like I told you, I like this hilt. I bet the wiring was a bear. Good job DJ.

[DJMoonbass]

hey tava you suprised me big time with the all the engravings and the blade holder. boy it was a beauty. got the blades now so tonight ill post some pics of all the awesome colors. it did take a long time to complete. :P but hey it was worth it wudnt it? i am so suprised at how good my soldering skills have got. without them this saber would have not been possible. some of the conenctions i had to make were an inch inside the hilt. lol :P

[Nineteen]

It's a bit ornate for me, and I don't care for saber-staffs. But, it strikes me as a Sith ceremonial saber, so I like it. :D

[HAVOK]

dude, looks like a rave puked on your saber.... hahaha

JK, I really like it the double blade 2 different color scheme works well

[jjshumpert]

great work dj, i give ya much respect on the level of difficulty required to pull of this saber, kudos my friend!

[Jase Kala Maris]

Ahhhh.... I'm Crying... it's so amazing man.

I remember when people used to yell at you for asking so many newb questions... it's a wonder thing! And the Student becomes the Master.

[DJMoonbass]

yeah. wow looking back..... its been a great journey. i thought i would never be here. i remember when i needed help wiring up a force fx board. lol. i cant believe how good i have become at soldering. even with my shaky hands.

[Borax]

nice job DJ. not a fan of the rave feel. but i do really like the engravings that were chosen. and TWO rgbs..? nice!

[DJMoonbass]

updated the first page with the colors!!!!!

[Rafalema]

Sweeet and bright!!!

[Sloda Foade]

Ok, so just to be clear ... this ISN'T supposed to be a stealth saber eh?
I mean they would see you coming a parsec away. :)

Beautiful staff, I love the engraving. I don't know if it has been asked before, but how did you do it, on a mill or by hand?

[DJMoonbass]

well I didnt do it. my friend TAVA did. and he used a 4 axis CNC mill

[xl97]

I really wanted a staff that was able to change colors and me and sylus talked for like a month about what to put in it. The engraving and blade holder were something I really wanted to be different then anything out there so I spent a lot of time on them. It has taken way longer then I wanted to complete, but it was very fun worken with sylus on this and I got a few things left to do on it that he dosnt even know about (hehehe). But yeah dj hope we get to work on some more saber to gether ;)


I'll post some pics of the machine work later, if you guys want.

hey hey..

another fellow 'cheesehead' in the mists..

;)

[Tava]

Yes indeed! I though we met before on the forum? Perhaps not. Well any, hello ;)

[xl97]

Yes indeed! I though we met before on the forum? Perhaps not. Well any, hello ;)

lol...perhaps..

Ive met a handful of peeps from WI (or close) only.. but only see/talk to one regularly I suppose.

couple hours away from me only. (Milwaukee)

[Arkhan]

Didn't notice any sound in the video?

Not that there appears to be any room for a soundboard in there/

The part I was most impressed with is the accent LEDs wired to only light up when that part of the LEDengin is being driven. Unless you were using a PIC to control those, that means a LOT of extra wires.

Does it come with a warning about the chance of Epileptic seizures?

4 AV switches = 4 times the headache to wire, at minimum.

Very, very, nice.

If your friend doesn't like it.....he'd best keep his mouth shut about it :)

[DJMoonbass]

lol yeah no PIC controlling just lots of cram fu... four AVs arent hard to wire if your using a box. but when you have to bolt them.... yeah nightmare. lol.

yeah tava will like it im sure.

[Crystal Chambers]

WoW guys...awesome work. Not really anything I would imagine in reference to the movies but in this case who cares. I can't imagine the web of wiring you spun into that. The blade holder is killer too. I'd love to see it spinning!

[Darth Midian]

DJ, I have to say you out did yourself on this one. I can't even begin to imagine the wiring between the AV switches and all the leds. Dude, you need to pat yourself on the back, you did an outstanding job.

[DJMoonbass]

ill let tava post the video on the spinning. i was able to test it and stuff and it spins very nice. the switches and stuff stay-pretty much- out of the way. occasionally you may bump the BCD but hey it will change colors in mid spin! so its ok. i loved this saber so much that come fall i may have to build one similar. different hilt style, similar theme, but with sound too. this was cram fu let me tall ya. well i want to have more cram fu and put sound it :D

[Obi-Ben]

Wow, that thing is epic. Awesome work! Now I want to see a sweet dueling video.