Forums > Technical Discussion > fibre optic staff - would it work?
Login/Join to Participate2,530 posts
Location: Manchester, United Kingdom
if you took a small tube of any material, preferably one of some strength, and had an LED at each end with a power source in the middle, and connected to each end of the small tube was a clear or slightly frosted tube of perspex, acryllic or any kind of plastic, with fibre optic wire layered on the inside of the tube with shorter lengths along the inside sides of the tube and longer lengths in the middle, giving a step like effect as you got towards the middle, and hopefully producing lots and lots of little lights down each tube.
do you think this would work?
any ideas or problems anyone can find would be greatfully accepted as this may become my GCSE design and technology project
We are the music makers, We are the dreamers of dreams,
Wandering by lone sea-breakers, And sitting by desolate streams;
World-losers and world-forsakers, On whom the pale moon gleams;
We are the movers and shakers of the world for ever, it seems.
Member
82 posts
Location: Netherlands - Hengelo
It might work, but I think it's gonna be very difficult to get it stong. Also fiber glass snaps really easy. Good luck anyway, if it works it wil probably look very cool
Hij die zijn kind benzine voert moet niet roken als het boert.
Love you MyIng 
188 posts
Location: Manchester UK
If It Does Work Its Gunna Look TOP!
oOo Look At The Pretty Fire.. oOo Touch The Pretty Fire oO.. OWW THE PRETTY FIRE BURNT ME!
Carpal \'Tunnel
6,207 posts
Location: "In your ear", United Kingdom
thats pretty much teh same tech thatthe glow bug and electro glow systems uses, i have done some research into thi stype of toy, and belive me its a lot harder than it sounds
Step (el-nombrie)
2,530 posts
Location: Manchester, United Kingdom
i got the difficulty part of it, hence why it'd make a good GCSE project. plus theres a D T teacher for any small problems
We are the music makers, We are the dreamers of dreams,
Wandering by lone sea-breakers, And sitting by desolate streams;
World-losers and world-forsakers, On whom the pale moon gleams;
We are the movers and shakers of the world for ever, it seems.
188 posts
Location: Manchester UK
yea but if u bugger it up bye bye goes the GCSE.. not sayin u will bugger it up tho.. u probebly wont just saying it could happen
oOo Look At The Pretty Fire.. oOo Touch The Pretty Fire oO.. OWW THE PRETTY FIRE BURNT ME!
addict
469 posts
Location: nottingham, england. cornwall wales denmark or pra...
no.. no way.
gcse is marked on the quality of the paperwork that goes with it.
trust me i got an A in the design and technology course and my final product did not work.
sounds like a good one though, maybe not staff poi would be easier to make... but you gotta make 2.
agree with mech though. looks easy , actually really really hard
make it switchable to strobe and flash different colours, thats your difficult circut design. once you got that and all the design and theory that goes with it (how you worked out the transistor values etc) your well on your way.
then all you need to do it workout how to make it possible to change batteries , have acess to switches while sealing the whole thing and shockprooofing it amazingly.
as you can see i have put some thought into this, the current theory is to make a silicone mould to coat all the pcbs and stuffwhich is bouncy and shockproof.
good having gcse euipment, you shopuld be able to computer design your circut and have that converted to pcb hardware for you
proper designs to be posted on here just after february wehn i get my workshop space and start turning out the wierdest spinning stuff ever comprehended
my original signature was tooo long.
this one is shorter
Member
6 posts
Location: London, United Kingdom
Hi Havokist
My alter-ego during the day is a DT teacher in London. You got a good idea, if you ask me, and I also agree with originalsmit that it is better to incorporate some more advanced curcuitry to show the examiner working knowledge of materials and electronics.
Personally, I would say lose the fibre-optics and rather focus on some super-bright Luxeon LEDs with some strobing. Research a bike LED light circuit. After all, it does exactly that - strobes, constant light etc.
I reckon you should do it since to get materials and workshop space after you leave school will be a problem. I am currently working on a similar project in my spare time, and am planning to use acryclic tube with some method of shock absorption built-in. I don't fully know yet. But I do know that sooo many things that I want to get are only available in small amounts through school suppliers.
Another reason I say to definitely do this is because it is something you want to do and are interested in. That makes all the diference between losing steam halfway.
Searchy this forum for the 'Gren Destiny' staff made by Moseph. Very cool, and he is very forthcoming with his ieas and processes.
Have fun and let us know your progress.
Have you ever noticed the resemblance between Mr Miyagi and Yoda...mmmm...strange this is...
2,530 posts
Location: Manchester, United Kingdom
i have been thinking over x mas between all the drinking, and it does make sense to drop the fibre optics, as it would just be a HUGE hassle. i might just see if i can fit 3 or 4 luxeon LED's in at each side of the battery and try to figure a way of having it so which LED that is on changes through-out the time of having the staff on.
thanks for your help everyone
We are the music makers, We are the dreamers of dreams,
Wandering by lone sea-breakers, And sitting by desolate streams;
World-losers and world-forsakers, On whom the pale moon gleams;
We are the movers and shakers of the world for ever, it seems.
Tantamount to fatuity
15,966 posts
Location: Down the road, United Kingdom
Fluffy Napalm Fairy made herself a pair of glowstaffs a few years ago. You could try getting in touch with her about where to get tubes and frosting stuff etc cheaply...
She got the LEDs from a company called Pure Flame is Australia. And I found the rubber stoppers that she put on the staff ends in B&Q.
Not sure if that helps you any?
Meh
2,530 posts
Location: Manchester, United Kingdom
well the prices and stuff wouldnt really be a problem, seeing as my school should pay for it all
but it helps to know just incase, thanks dude
We are the music makers, We are the dreamers of dreams,
Wandering by lone sea-breakers, And sitting by desolate streams;
World-losers and world-forsakers, On whom the pale moon gleams;
We are the movers and shakers of the world for ever, it seems.
523 posts
Location: Edinburgh, UK
I think the fibre optics is a lovely idea, and I'm going to have a play as soon as I get home
I don't think there is too much voodo in fibre optics; I had a little battery powered handheld spray (that cost about £2 in a theme park when I was 12 or something
) and it was just a bulb shining into the ends of a load of fibres of different lengths.I think that if you take an LED, sand down the lens so that it's flat, and then glue a bundle of fibres onto the end, they should light up lovely. Then you can put all the complicated stuff in a lump in the middle and just have two clear plastic tubes sticking out of it to contain the fibres. That might make the weight a bit funny, but I'm sure you could find a way to adjust that.
It's a fair bit harder and much more cool than what I did for my DT GCSE. Good luck, and let us know how it goes.
monkeys ate my brain
523 posts
Location: Edinburgh, UK
BTW, just found these guys:
https://www.universal-fibre-optics.com/flash.html
Their stuff would be lovely for what I've been doing (it would make great diffuser elements), and might be good for your project - something like the "sparkle sideglow"...
monkeys ate my brain
2,530 posts
Location: Manchester, United Kingdom
thanks for that mo-seph, the site helped, but the LED would have to be REALLY powerfull for it to really work.
i ownder if my school would have any luxeon LED's in...
We are the music makers, We are the dreamers of dreams,
Wandering by lone sea-breakers, And sitting by desolate streams;
World-losers and world-forsakers, On whom the pale moon gleams;
We are the movers and shakers of the world for ever, it seems.
Tantamount to fatuity
15,966 posts
Location: Down the road, United Kingdom
I'm sure your school would supply things more readily if you found them a cheap supplier though...
Meh
2,530 posts
Location: Manchester, United Kingdom
good point, but then again, i'm on a scholarship at a rich kid school...
We are the music makers, We are the dreamers of dreams,
Wandering by lone sea-breakers, And sitting by desolate streams;
World-losers and world-forsakers, On whom the pale moon gleams;
We are the movers and shakers of the world for ever, it seems.
old hand
1,174 posts
Location: Great Malvern [UK]
Interesting stuff.. that's one b**** of a website you found there Mo - must've taken some time to make a site that awkward to navigate!
For a decent LED supply here in the UK, try https://www.led-lights.co.uk/]Led-Lights[/url].
I've had stuff off them before and it's always top notch. 4 of their super-bright blue's power the LED units you see in my avatar
Cake or Death?
2,530 posts
Location: Manchester, United Kingdom
thanks dude
We are the music makers, We are the dreamers of dreams,
Wandering by lone sea-breakers, And sitting by desolate streams;
World-losers and world-forsakers, On whom the pale moon gleams;
We are the movers and shakers of the world for ever, it seems.
old hand
1,174 posts
Location: Great Malvern [UK]
no problems.. I like your sig by the way - I love that poem / film!
Cake or Death?
2,530 posts
Location: Manchester, United Kingdom
this is a bit
but anywayi came across it in an english lesson and it jumped out of the page at me sorta thing, might've been cause of the cough syrup makin me drousy, but still, when i heard it on eaquilibrium it was like yeah
\m/ lol
thanks for the advice
We are the music makers, We are the dreamers of dreams,
Wandering by lone sea-breakers, And sitting by desolate streams;
World-losers and world-forsakers, On whom the pale moon gleams;
We are the movers and shakers of the world for ever, it seems.
188 posts
Location: Manchester UK
got any further with your idea chuck?!? i think that if you can do it you definatly should!
oOo Look At The Pretty Fire.. oOo Touch The Pretty Fire oO.. OWW THE PRETTY FIRE BURNT ME!
2,530 posts
Location: Manchester, United Kingdom
im waitin til i see my DT teacher again then ill see
We are the music makers, We are the dreamers of dreams,
Wandering by lone sea-breakers, And sitting by desolate streams;
World-losers and world-forsakers, On whom the pale moon gleams;
We are the movers and shakers of the world for ever, it seems.
188 posts
Location: Manchester UK
fair enuff
oOo Look At The Pretty Fire.. oOo Touch The Pretty Fire oO.. OWW THE PRETTY FIRE BURNT ME!
Sweet talented nutter
2,615 posts
Location: Brisbane Oz, Australia
Okay what you need to do is go to the electrical wholesaler and ask for clear 20mm (or 16 pending on what you like )conduit (1 or 2 lengths ) . Probally have to order it in
If your really lucky they might have certain fibre optic gear there
Ask your local electronic suppiler for those hand held lazers apx 5 cm in length . you should be able to fix lazer in with silicone (as its clear and fixes anything ).
that shrewd and knavish sprite
Called Robin Good Fellow ; are you not he that is frighten of the maidens of the villagery - fairy
I am the merry wander of the night -puk
2,530 posts
Location: Manchester, United Kingdom
thanks
We are the music makers, We are the dreamers of dreams,
Wandering by lone sea-breakers, And sitting by desolate streams;
World-losers and world-forsakers, On whom the pale moon gleams;
We are the movers and shakers of the world for ever, it seems.
188 posts
Location: Manchester UK
havokist.. .what year are you in in school now?!?
oOo Look At The Pretty Fire.. oOo Touch The Pretty Fire oO.. OWW THE PRETTY FIRE BURNT ME!
2,530 posts
Location: Manchester, United Kingdom
10, doin gcse next year, hence why i've gotta figure out what im doing pretty soon
We are the music makers, We are the dreamers of dreams,
Wandering by lone sea-breakers, And sitting by desolate streams;
World-losers and world-forsakers, On whom the pale moon gleams;
We are the movers and shakers of the world for ever, it seems.
Sweet talented nutter
2,615 posts
Location: Brisbane Oz, Australia
Im glad to help whenever i can.
that shrewd and knavish sprite
Called Robin Good Fellow ; are you not he that is frighten of the maidens of the villagery - fairy
I am the merry wander of the night -puk
member
80 posts
Location: the fascist states of amerika, USA
ummm....okay i promise i don't work for these guys...i just love their stuff!!....www.neonhusky.com...frickin beautiful...
real eyes
realize
real lies
2,530 posts
Location: Manchester, United Kingdom
lol, ok, thanks
We are the music makers, We are the dreamers of dreams,
Wandering by lone sea-breakers, And sitting by desolate streams;
World-losers and world-forsakers, On whom the pale moon gleams;
We are the movers and shakers of the world for ever, it seems.
2,530 posts
Location: Manchester, United Kingdom
i've figured out, that fibre optics shouldnt be a problem due to the school tech dept. having them in masses, so i'm gonna give it a try, plus if i have them how i want, then when the staff is still or moving very slowly, then it'll be lots of little dots of light, but as it moves quicker, it should go into a blur of colour
We are the music makers, We are the dreamers of dreams,
Wandering by lone sea-breakers, And sitting by desolate streams;
World-losers and world-forsakers, On whom the pale moon gleams;
We are the movers and shakers of the world for ever, it seems.
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