MATERIALS
Prop controller, Monster Guts Nerve Center Other
controllers would work equally well; however, you
may need a separate amplifier to drive the speaker.
Speaker, 8Ω Use one with a 1" phono plug to connect
to the Monster Guts Nerve Center.
Switch, momentary pushbutton, normally open (NO)
Fountain pump, submersible
Water container
Light source such as an incandescent bulb, LEDs, etc.
Extension cords, 6' ( 2)
Wire, miscellaneous
Digital music player (e.g., iPod)
WARNING:
Exercise extreme caution
using AC power with
water-based projects.
A
B
Special Edition from 2007, makershed.com
item #HALLOW07.) An Animation Maestro
costs about $60. The simplest model has
a single trigger input and a single output.
Programming the device takes about a
minute to learn.
Gilderfluke & Co. designs and manufactures
a wide variety of animatronic devices. Their
START
1. BUILD YOUR FOUNTAIN TABLEAU
MiniBrick controller models can control 4,
8, or 32 relays, and can interface with standard DC servomotors. As keybangers go,
MiniBricks are the most complicated to program, but once you figure out the nuances,
their capabilities are nearly endless. An
Place a submersible fountain pump inside a
water-filled container and plumb the device
so that the water jets upward when the pump
is energized. Attach a light source to the
container so you can light up the water spray
(Figure A).
8-output MiniBrick with 2 servo outputs
runs $210.
My personal favorite is the Monster Guts
Nerve Center for about $70. The Nerve
Center controls 2 on-off relays and has a
small LED display that makes it a snap to
program. It runs multiple programs, so the
animation can behave differently on successive triggers. Best of all, it has an onboard
audio amplifier and enough memory to record
3. CONNECT THE PUMP AND LIGHT
The Nerve Center connections are simple
Gregory Hayes
8 seperate sound tracks, so if your project
includes sound, just add a speaker (no amp
needed) and you’re good to go. Here’s how
I used it to make an animated water fountain.
2. SET UP THE AUDIO
Connect a music source (e.g., iPod) to the
audio input on the Nerve Center, and connect
a speaker to the audio out jack (Figure B).
Select the Enter Sound command and
record your musical selection into memory.
74 Make: makezine.com/30
