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View Full Version : Impa's attempt at a crystal chamber



Impa
05-20-2011, 09:25 AM
Hello all - Been a while since i have posted anything new. I was hoping to enter a saber into the TCSS saber build competition, unfortunately due to work and other personal issues I didn't have time to complete the saber i have been working on. But here is the crystal chamber i was going to use for it. I still have a lot of tweeks i need to get sorted out, time permitting i will hopefully have something to share. The chasis is 10-24 allthread with chrome washers i cut and nuts i rounded out. Also i have random parts, i will possibly go into a list at a later time. most of the parts i salvaged from work or other odds and ends i found in my many boxes of bits i have laying around. Alot of drilling was involved with the main brass body i used for the crystal emitter, also i am working on a focusing type part that can unscrew from a small body that will ultimately fit inside/exit a can that will house the speaker/soundboard/batteries. Alot of work to do, but hopefully some of what i have come up with so far, sparks some interest. sorry for the picture quality, need to invest in a better camera.

Cheers

- Impa



http://i1192.photobucket.com/albums/aa330/nimrodadams/037.jpg

http://i1192.photobucket.com/albums/aa330/nimrodadams/040.jpg

http://i1192.photobucket.com/albums/aa330/nimrodadams/038.jpg

http://i1192.photobucket.com/albums/aa330/nimrodadams/039.jpg

http://i1192.photobucket.com/albums/aa330/nimrodadams/035.jpg

http://i1192.photobucket.com/albums/aa330/nimrodadams/034.jpg

http://i1192.photobucket.com/albums/aa330/nimrodadams/033.jpg

Azmaria Dei
05-20-2011, 09:27 AM
looking good so far. personally, i would shorten it though. there's a lot of gap between the crystals.

Knighthammer
05-20-2011, 09:30 AM
Look'n good. I agree with Az though...take up the space if you can, it would look cleaner.

Impa
05-20-2011, 10:17 AM
looking good so far. personally, i would shorten it though. there's a lot of gap between the crystals.

Yeah i did realize this, the problem was the crystal was too fat for the fins, and it didn't nestle into the circular parts to cradle it like i had intended. Just a mock up thus far of what i am hoping to use, thx for the critiques :) all comments are greatly appreciated.

Sunrider
05-20-2011, 10:28 AM
I like it. It is long as others have said. Maybe use smaller crystals to fit the fins.

Impa
05-20-2011, 02:02 PM
I like it. It is long as others have said. Maybe use smaller crystals to fit the fins.

A smaller crystal is definately somthing i have been trying to find that will slide inside the fins a little better. the only problem is the hole i have where the crystal comes out of can't be modified all that well, basicaly the crystal is jammed in there and doesn't have much else holding it other than epoxy. I did drill some holes under the copper wire u can see just under the brass housing part. Which i was going to use to put set screws or some kind of anchor to hold the crystal in place. But with the LED inside and the wiring, it just didn't work as i hoped it would. So i decided to cover them up as best i could, they weren't lined up the best so it didnt look right. But i think i will take the entire thing apart and try to shorten it. Either by boring out the fins or finding a smaller crystal... or i may even just leave it, and start over. Hoping to make a few different variations of this. I just wish i could find some of the materials Slothfurnace uses. Havn't had much luck finding good hard-drive housings or old clock parts that look right.

anyways, thx for the comments, it is very mcuh appreciated.

Sunrider
05-20-2011, 03:02 PM
You're welcome. The great thing about using brass is you can solder pieces together and make the hole smaller. Almost anything can be done! ;)

bk_renesis
05-20-2011, 04:54 PM
Awesome work, and I second the above comments about it being to long. I believe the fins should be in line with the main crystal to mimic a heat diffuser/safety screen. Even stick to one crystal. But awesome work all the same.

thejedilestat
05-20-2011, 05:09 PM
i like it as is

maybe use 2 10 deg Lens betwen the crystals as a gap filler

Tarrell
05-20-2011, 05:16 PM
I realy like all the detail here, looks very good.
I recon if you can bring it closer a) looks neater, b)go along way with you future cramfu ;)

Crystal Chambers
05-20-2011, 08:49 PM
That's really...really cool. I agree with the distance between the crystal and some greeblies would be an awesome addition but great job!

Impa
05-20-2011, 09:46 PM
Again thank you to everyone for the kind words, and opinions. Today after work i decided to bore out my fins a bit. This was the best i could do thus far to shorten the distance between the 2 crystals. Some how i messed up the order i had the fins placed when i originaly cut them, so they are a bit off. But i think i will take it apart again and try to level them. Or as i stated previously, i think i might just start over. The washers were fairly easy to use since they already had a hole, and i didn't have to do much to cut them up and drill/bore more holes for the all-thread. But i think i will try to find some nice brass and use that next time. Here are a couple pics, hopefuly you agree the spacing is better.

http://i1192.photobucket.com/albums/aa330/nimrodadams/0022.jpg

http://i1192.photobucket.com/albums/aa330/nimrodadams/0052.jpg


:::: EDIT ::::

Well I couldn't sleep, so i decided to true up the fins a bit. They are a bit better, but not the best. HaHa - I don't even know if you can tell that they were filed down from the pics. I think they will do.

http://i1192.photobucket.com/albums/aa330/nimrodadams/0112.jpg

http://i1192.photobucket.com/albums/aa330/nimrodadams/0072.jpg

http://i1192.photobucket.com/albums/aa330/nimrodadams/0092.jpg

cheers

- Impa

Tarrell
05-20-2011, 11:52 PM
Start over if you want, but right now, that looks very cool, maybe instead of a redo, keep it as a model, who knows it might be perfect. Optimism :D

Azmaria Dei
05-21-2011, 03:30 AM
that looks a LOT better. i love where this is going. ^_^

Boj-Vaati Mau
05-21-2011, 05:51 AM
*nods* Looks much better and I love the use of the BNC connector. Your Found Hardawre bits are a great base of this application.

Impa
05-21-2011, 04:46 PM
That's really...really cool. I agree with the distance between the crystal and some greeblies would be an awesome addition but great job!

thx crystal - I am hoping to find smaller bits to add to this once i figure out how i am going to mount the rest of the stuff, meaning soundboard, batteris, etc. And i love your sabers, Mantis is one of my favorites! top notch paining and weathering. severely jealous of your skills.


Start over if you want, but right now, that looks very cool, maybe instead of a redo, keep it as a model, who knows it might be perfect. Optimism :D

Yes i will keep that in mind - I already have a couple other models on the go, here is an example of another brass type crystal chamber section i hope to use. Another bold crystal, this time i will cut the fins to fit the crystal instead of finding a crystal to fit pre-cut fins. The brass piece is a cut up hose connector that was for one of my propane torches i use at work. We often have to replace our connectors, hoses and such for safety purposes, so we tend to get a bunch of stuff that would be thrown out otherwise. The bottom part below the hose connector is salvaged from an old VCR tape player that was to be junked.


http://i1192.photobucket.com/albums/aa330/nimrodadams/017.jpg
http://i1192.photobucket.com/albums/aa330/nimrodadams/018-1.jpg


that looks a LOT better. i love where this is going. ^_^

Thx Azmaria that means alot to me for you to say that, and thank you again for helping me with a few of my questions on my first saber build.


*nods* Looks much better and I love the use of the BNC connector. Your Found Hardawre bits are a great base of this application.

Thx Boj, I am doing my best to try and use salvaged parts, it is a great challenge finding things that fit together.

darthobie
07-11-2011, 03:24 PM
I have a noob question. Where did you get those crystals and what kind are they? I would like to have a crystal chamber in mine, and other than the ones sold here I am having trouble locating the right type of crystals.

Impa
07-11-2011, 04:09 PM
I have a noob question. Where did you get those crystals and what kind are they? I would like to have a crystal chamber in mine, and other than the ones sold here I am having trouble locating the right type of crystals.

Not sure if i can direct you to a place to buy those as this is connected to Tim's shop and i do not want to step on any toes, as it violates the terms of use for the forum... But it was a random find for me in my local mall, and they are just basic white quartz. I will be updating this soon hopefully with a more completed chasis.

Arashi
07-11-2011, 06:22 PM
You can find quartz crystals at almost any 'new age' type shop, and at some nature and learning related stores.
Ebay is always a good source for crystals and gemstones.
You can also hit up antique and thrift stores for old jewelry to cannibalize stones out of.

hebert466
07-11-2011, 08:30 PM
I love the look on the second one, I would not change it from there.