New saber design - problem with power switch

[UK Trooper]

[EDIT: Just to note I am not asking for this saber to be made, just tips on my over elaborate switch issue! - sorry for the confusion!]

OK - Im looking into getting the following saber made to my design.
(Will post a picture afterwards)
I can make basic hilts myslf, but do not have access to a lathe etc so will get this made by a professional.
Basically, I have the idea of switching the saber one by twisting part of the saber, rather than using a button.
The problem, I have no idea how to actually do this - so I thought I'd ask you guys for some tips.

Before the piture - the part I want to twist is the ornate 'band' in the middle.
Please help - you guys are my only hope!
saber:
http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e148/gdawg101/ecfe7c32.jpg
Any help would be great!
Thanks
Jon

[Do-Clo]

What you have planned would be cool but keep in mind the extra cost in machining the center section to rotate, this is not an easy undertaking but could be done. I would recomend to consider a differnt switch style maybe in the end of the pommel.

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[UK Trooper]

Its looking like having to use at a couple of hidden switches between the rubber grips (so you need to press both together to switch on/off) but I would really like the middle band option if possible.
Jon

Amazing facts about Jedi Jon:
Jon can hear you scream
No.65 - During the Clone Wars, Jedi Jon allowed himself to be captured. For torture, they made him eat his own entrails. He asked for seconds

[xwingband]

Soliciting is not kosher. This forum is attached to a store so consideration should go to Tim as he owns the place and it's primarily meant for support related to his work and products.

There are many people out there that can make your design, but first you should ask Tim. He normally doesn't do complete customs, but as a courtesy you should e-mail him first. If he declines then we can direct you to others that can do it.

So... I'd appreciate if you edited it down until you get word. I'd rather not go and remove the whole post...[:I]

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[xwingband]

I forgot the switch idea...

It wouldn't be that hard, but right off the top of my head I can't think of a completely hidden method. The center band could have a notch in it. This notch would fit a sliding switch mounted horizontally. Obviously the main hilt would need to come apart so the sliding ring could be put on.

EDIT: never mind... you can do a notch vertically on the inside of the ring the size of the switch and have it match the sliding switch.

<center>Read the FAQ (http://www.thecustomsabershop.com/sabers/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=552) or x-wing won't be happy. :(
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[Madcow]

A while back I did what I think x-wing is suggesting.
It is a momentary switch that is activated by a sliding ring. the ring does not go all the way around... the exposed section slides over the switch to push it in.
http://www.freewebs.com/genesis_sabers/Crystal%20Polycarb%20collage.JPG

MC


http://rpetkau.photosite.com/~photos/tn/88_348.ts1141004694072.jpg
You want to go home and re-think your life

[Nightwing]

I wouldn't put the switch there, as that's a major "handgrip spot", and you might end up accidentally turning the saber off unless you're really careful and adapt your entire fighting style so your hands dance around that switch. It's basically the same principle as learning to duel with an Anakin or Vader saber, since they have some pretty big activation boxes that really get in the way.
It is doable (adapting your style), but I'd figure out a way to test it first. Whenever I want to test a design, I grab any kind of cylindrical object I can find and use a ruler to figure out approximately where the different sections will be. Occasionally, I've had to alter my designs just because they wouldn't work ergonomically.


That is a beautiful hilt, though. Definitely one of the better custom ones I've seen. Did you make that image yourself? If so, what program did you use?

[supertrogdor]

you could put a toggle switch on the inside with a receiving portion on your rotating section of the saber that will hold the toggle and turn it on or off as you twist

or you could have an open contact point on both sections that when twisted sufficiently they make contact and complete the circuit, but that would be problematic when dueling as it would be rather pressure sensitive. Truth be told depending on how easy it is to rotate your center section when holding or dueling or swinging wildly(pick your favorite saber playing method) it may be a problem if it twists too easily turning your saber on or off unless you had a locked on and locked off point to your twist. Hopefully i have given you some food for thought
Cheers

[xwingband]

<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Nightwing
If so, what program did you use?
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote"></font id="quote">

It looks like a Flash render.

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[UK Trooper]

Guys,
My appologies for the confusion - I'm not asking for anyone to make this hilt or saying that I can make any for others (as your talents WAY outstrip mine!)
I'm just asking about the switch method from guys that may have come across this themselves - I will edit the first post to say this though.

I will speak to Tim (and have already mailed him about another saber plan) about this once I decide about the switch method and I was looking into the innards from this site for a few sabers including this one. I'm mainly in the design phase of this and a couple of other sabers before I start spending.
(Truth is getting some money to get them started - have to finish another project first)

On the switch side, thanks for all your tips and here a my thoughts:
Accidently turning on/off - By wiring up another momentary switch, I'll need to both press the (hidden) button and twist the band, so that SHOULD solve that issue.
I also tend NOT to use the middle of the saber rather than hold the ends (weird, I know) so it shouldn't be too much of a problem.

My biggest issue and the one that I always seem to come back to is getting the band to 'twist back' to its orginal location so it is not forever holding down the button. (otherwise there is no reason to have it).

Thanks for the replies so far as it has given me some things to think about and hopefully I've cleared up the confusion, but feel free to shout if I haven't done this.
(I really dont want to upset anyone or mis-use the board either)

Thanks again

Jon


Amazing facts about Jedi Jon:
No.34 Jon can hear you scream
No.65 - During the Clone Wars, Jedi Jon allowed himself to be captured. For torture, they made him eat his own entrails. He asked for seconds

[Lord Maul]

sweet saber uk trooper [:0]

i think that you would turn it off every 5 seconds if you had the switch in the center. you could probably do it on the bottom as the gold ring or the entire section on the bottom that is telescoping

At last we will reveal ourselves to the jedi, at last we will have revenge.

[supertrogdor]

what might be even more impressive is if you had a sliding potentiometer rigged in there, granted that might just be wishful thinking, but how cool would that be for an RGB led to have 3 rings of potentiometers
wishful thinking i am certain, but i am sure it is not impossible... any thoughts?

[archammer2]

Okay, here's my idea. Just off the top of my head. I have no idea HOW it'd get done, bt if you can make something that complex, this shouldn't be too much.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v392/JustPlainJim/sabers/saberidea-2.jpg

I'd say make the center ring(black) a seperate piece, and have two posts from the inside that'll touch a small, simple slide switch when rotated. Mount the switch to a "main part' of the saber, and find a way to attach the top and bottom parts of the saber (a few small screws?)
How to keep the center ring from moving about (i.e. sliding around instead of rotating) ... Make the top, bottom and ring toothed... In other words, if you were to look at a cutaway, it might look like...

\/\/\/\/\/

Yes. Fear my crappy MS paint drawing and ascii art. It should work, but I don't know if it's entirely possible (and probably not cheap).

~~~~~~~~
Support a starving artist:
http://archammer2.deviantart.com

[UK Trooper]

AH!
I didn't reply to the other question though.
I only drew the saber and someone else rendered it for my I'm afraid.
I'm not sure what they used - Sorry!

Jon

Amazing facts about Jedi Jon:
No.34 In space, JediJon can hear you scream
No.65 - During the Clone Wars, Jedi Jon allowed himself to be captured. For torture, they made him eat his own entrails. He asked for seconds

[xwingband]

Yup, I KNEW exactly where to look as I've seen that style of render before. You got your saber rendered by Gdawg at randomsabers. He uses flash I believe.

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[Madcow]

<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by UK Trooper


My biggest issue and the one that I always seem to come back to is getting the band to 'twist back' to its orginal location so it is not forever holding down the button. (otherwise there is no reason to have it).
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote"></font id="quote">

Not a problem! This switch is designed to hold down the button as long as the saber is on (see pic). the collar is somewhat firm - so it doesn't slide around and turn off the saber accidently. You don't have to worry about the collar having to slide back to a neutral position...
Switch exposed = off
Switch covered = on
http://preview.rpetkau.photosite.com/~photos/tn/3278605_1024.ts1155001853742.jpg
PM me if you want more info on how to make one.

MC


http://rpetkau.photosite.com/~photos/tn/88_348.ts1141004694072.jpg
You want to go home and re-think your life

[GFORCE13]

Sorry I can't think of a easy way of building this other than finding sometype of clockwork Switch like they use in Car Airbags and adapt it ?
<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"> what might be even more impressive is if you had a sliding potentiometer rigged in there, granted that might just be wishful thinking, but how cool would that be for an RGB led to have 3 rings of potentiometers
wishful thinking i am certain, but i am sure it is not impossible... any thoughts? <hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote"></font id="quote"> Man what a Great Idea that would be for a Saber.[8D]

<center>
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</center>

[pthomas625]

ok, i know this is quite an old topic, almost a year, but here's an idea: you know those switches that they use for security systems? they're magnetic. here's one: link (http://www.allelectronics.com/cgi-bin/item/MS-11/700200/PRESS_FIT_MAGNET_SWITCH_.html) or link (http://www.allelectronics.com/cgi-bin/item/MS-14/700200/STANDARD_MAGNETIC_PROXIMITY_SWITCH_.html). when the magnets are close to each other, it'll turn on. when they're apart, it'll turn off. i think i read somewhere that someone was going to use this, except the switch in his saber hilt, and a glove would have the "key" in it. so only the person with the glove would be able to turn on the saber. but you could probably implement this idea somehow with the middle band of your saber.

[Hasid Lafre]

I thought about trying that but sadly I think there usually pritty long.

The idea would work if the switch was only about half na inch long.

[pthomas625]

i think the first link i posted is kinda short. lol, but that whole glove idea might not work out so well. lol, if you spin the saber, it might turn off. lol!

[Hasid Lafre]

Well if it was reversed like when the magnet is away from the switch then you could put the switch magnet in say the screw for the covertech knob. then the off switch somewhere in the belt near the clip.

Its kinda a trickey subject for this one.

[pthomas625]

yeah, that'd be pretty cool. but it was just a very late suggestiong. lol.

[Barmic Rin]

It is theoretically possible to do that kinda switch, using pretty much the same method as MC, though if you load it into your hilt the way Night suggested (how I read him anyway) it could still be hidden.

You basically want a corran horn style rotational action.

I'm sure it could be done, though mounting it securely would be a real pain, both fiddly & costly.

I'm really intrigued though.

[neophyl]

This sabre is currently on my to do projects list for Jon (he is a friend of mine). I worked out how to do it fairly easily (for me anyway) ages ago.

Its simlar to how Ive done switches on a couple of past sabres where a slide switch is mounted sideways across the axis of the hilt (so on/off is side to side). Then you make the band with a cutout on the inside. TRwisting the band slides the switch over turning it on, twisting the other way turns it off.

[pthomas625]

you may want to put something where it'll limit how far the band spins. you might go to far and break the switch off. that'd be a bummer!

[neophyl]

Already in the current design, along with sping loaded stop positions to make it harder for the band to spin unless you want it to :)

[GFORCE13]

Very Cool Neophyte I can't wait to see the results because I am thinking about 2 switches like this for my next Double Obiwan Saber.

[Barmic Rin]

How about having a magnet on the ring, then have a reed switch in the circuit?

Slide the ring around, magnet closes the reed, Voila!
Its just a case of mounting the reed securely, then limiting the roation of the ring.

How's that for an input from one of the least electrically minded frequent posters?

"Sometimes I amaze even myself." :D

[GFORCE13]

Ace That is a very cool I Idea, I was even thinking about a Hall Effect Switch but your design is simpliar, I am planning on a MHs Double OBI-Wan OT build and I really don't want anything sticking out one ring on each side would work out well. :wink: