I was thinking about using deer motors to turn the heads on a couple of props that I have in mind. I saw the motors on CBWebdirect.com, they have one that is just the motor,and another that comes with a cam arm. I am wondering exactly how you mount these on a prop head, and whether or not I will need the cam arm. I have never really looked closely at one of the animated reindeer to see how they work. Does anyone have any pics or how-to on using these on a prop:devil:? Thanks.
They're a pain to mount based on their shape and positions of the mounting holes. Not impossible, but you'll have to be a little creative. I used two of them last year (salvaged from the scraps after a prior Christmas vandalism). While I managed to get one of the 4 holes with an actual screw through it, I ended up using zip-ties passed through the remaining holes to secure them.
They're slow, low powered, and low torque. It doesn't take a whole lot to overload the torque. However it has an interesting side-effect or fail safe - whenever the torque is exceeded in one direction it automatically reverses the polarity of the motor and starts turning the other direction (this is most likely intentional so the motors don't burn up when they get iced over).
Worked out well for me for both an FCG (kept her light weight and added a counter weight as well) as well as a Grave Grabber (which moved slow and had a nice slow classic Romero zombie feel).
You could go both ways with the head. I would think simplest would be mounting it on the shaft with a limiter on both ends to take advantage of the reversing polarity. However the side to side Reindeer all use the cam.
Depending upon the cost, you might also think about using one of these guys. They are probably a bit more torquey and shouldn't be that much more expensive:
Liam-thanks I will check those motors out. I am a little unsure how to hook up the electric to them, I tend to stick with things that are all ready to go.:jol:
I have used these motors and they are cheap and work well. One thing I noticed is the thread to attach a screw to the crank is small and can work its way loose. I found a guy selling used reindeers for $5 so I bought a bunch to use for props. the manufacture of the reindeers sells replacement motors on their website for a bit more. Here is a link to my animated witch using reindeer motors. Good Luck!
I have used these motors and they are cheap and work well. One thing I noticed is the thread to attach a screw to the crank is small and can work its way loose. I found a guy selling used reindeers for $5 so I bought a bunch to use for props. the manufacture of the reindeers sells replacement motors on their website for a bit more. Here is a link to my animated witch using reindeer motors. Good Luck!
Hey Doc, did you use the motors for both the neck and stirring or just one or the other? If for the stirring, how'd the torque handle for you? I'm considering using two of these to drive my animated witch I'm building this year as well.
Pyro-I love that rocking tombstone! Did you attach a second arm to the motor, or two new ones of your own? Any how to pics on that prop? I would love to make one. Great song playing in the background of that video also.:devil:
Thanks for the info drwilde, and the head's up about the screw coming loose, what did you do to correct that problem? I could not get anything on your link, just a black page that said witch?:devil:
QUOTE=drwilde;210250]I have used these motors and they are cheap and work well. One thing I noticed is the thread to attach a screw to the crank is small and can work its way loose. I found a guy selling used reindeers for $5 so I bought a bunch to use for props. the manufacture of the reindeers sells replacement motors on their website for a bit more. Here is a link to my animated witch using reindeer motors. Good Luck!
I would be interested in this as well, I am also making a stirring witch. I have already purchased a windshield wiper motor, but if I can get away with the deer motor, I could use the wiper motor for my coffin.:devil:
Yes, I used the same reindeer motors for the head and stirring. The arms and hands had to be lightweight so not to put too much weight on it. I don't have any progress pics up now but the finished pics and video link is good.
I pretty much followed the stirring witch how-to on scarefx.com only using reindeer motors instead and a douglas fir for the face animatronics.
Hotlinking appears to be disabled on the site so you have to go to the site and view it from there.
Anyways, thanks for the info doc, I only hope mine comes out as cool as yours.
-TM
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