I am looking for help with a small system I need for an art project. Thank you!
(also if there is a platform for finding someone to hire to help build this, I would be very appreciative)
I would like to create a small vehicle that will be contained inside a 40” long box. The vehicle will carry a band saw blade in a vertical position. The blade does not need to work but needs to vibrate or move quickly up and down a bit to give the impression of a sawing motion. It is a small light blade about 1/4” wide by 4” tall. I would also like to program a few things.
Set on some sort of a timer, the blade can lift up vertically from the vehicle before the vehicle moves
Then once raised, the Blade Starts reciprocating up and down
3. Vehicle drives straight from one end of the box to the other (so it can drive straight in both directions and switch directions either after a certain amount of time or when it hits the end of box)
after going back and forth a couple times, the vehicle stops
blade stops going up and down and is lowered down in position
Check whether there is a Maker club or group in your town or city. This is a group of technically oriented (often robotics) enthusiasts with access to shared shop equipment, sometimes called a Maker Space, and they are often happy to help others with their projects. Many medium sized towns and cities have them.
A web search for “maker groups near me” will find directories, contact info and meeting locations/times.
I’d think of it as two (maybe three) different things, designed & operated independently.
The first is the blade reciprocator. Off the top of my head, I’m picturing one of those super-cheapy automotive lighter plug tire inflator compressors. Replace the pump piston mech for the blade. Possible shining bonus/horrible downfall: they’re obnoxiously loud AF.
The second is what you call the vehicle which really depends on all the things you’ve left unsaid. We must assume that the 40” long box is important but you don’t say why. Perhaps it is a boat and the box more of a gutter? A creepy child’s coffin for a Halloween setup? A box that big probably has other critical dimensions like height and width. Does it need to be portable? Battery? An art display will probably seek to obscure wires or cables, etc, again, unsaid. The mystery around the changes in directions is not helpful.
The possible third item is the blade deployment deal but that seems a while off.