DiyLightAnimation
Software => Nutcracker: RGB Effects Builder => Topic started by: smeighan on March 14, 2013,
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I finished building a mounting rack for my 20x120 flex strips used in my megatree. the flex lights are mounted on 1/2" emt that is 14' long. The rack is 12'x5' in size and made of 1x4" pine. I mounted the rack to the ceiling of my basement. Think of it like a giant gun rack. After putting 20 of my lights in the rack, it was heavy! Probably over 100 lbs. I built the rack strong with angle brackets because i knew it needed strength.
I now have my own Vegas strip, like Fremont Street.
I put some felt down to protect the flex strip. It all seems to be working fine.
My desk is right below these lights. I create a new Nutcracker effect, I just have to look up to see what it really looks like.
Thanks
sean
(http://nutcracker123.com/nutcracker/images/IMG_0257a.jpg)
(http://nutcracker123.com/nutcracker/images/IMG_0263a.jpg)
(http://nutcracker123.com/nutcracker/images/IMG_0265a.jpg)
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Very cool. Great idea Sean!
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Very cool. Great idea Sean!
What is nice it is right above my desk where i write software. Now i try an effect in xLights and just look up to see what it will really looks like.
man , those lights are bright. i may need to get sunglasses while programming.
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<la..
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Freakin Awesome!
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It's disco party time in his basement! ;D
I built a rack very similar to that for my arch tubes.
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Thats Awesome Sean
I doubt you will need to look up to see the effects ;D
More like you will have a hard time NOT seeing the lights
Rick R.
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i took about a minute of the matrix mounted on the ceiling of my basement.
video quality not the highest but you get the idea.
https://vimeo.com/61862629
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video quality not the highest but you get the idea.
While the real-time preview window in xlights is nice, nothing beat looking at the real thing right. Now just need convince my wife that it's ok to do this in our finished basement...
Paul.
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That looks amazing.
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i took about a minute of the matrix mounted on the ceiling of my basement.
video quality not the highest but you get the idea.
https://vimeo.com/61862629
Where's the "Craps" and "Black Jack" table ? >:D <fp.
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Where's the pic of Sean striking a Saturday Night Fever pose under the lights!
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We got to have that at the Academy this year! you got to find a way to support it and get it there... no matter what!!!!!! PLEASEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thats Awesome!
RJ
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That is such a great idea, Sean!
Of course, now you've got me thinking I want a permanent installation like that when I build my new home theatre! Now, if I can just convince my better half that we *need* it!
I will definitely be copying that idea when I build my first megatree. I just love all the great ideas you all come up with!
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We got to have that at the Academy this year! you got to find a way to support it and get it there... no matter what!!!!!! PLEASEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thats Awesome!
RJ
Does anyone know if there is a Home Depot or Lowes or the like in Conroe? We could buy a lot of the stuff there (PCB pipe and wood) and would only need a few tools to work it.
Kurt
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AWESOME AWESOME AWESOME!
Does anyone know if there is a Home Depot or Lowes or the like in Conroe? We could buy a lot of the stuff there (PCB pipe and wood) and would only need a few tools to work it.
Kurt
There is a Lowes & HD both very close to the convention center
Lowes: http://goo.gl/maps/UXL6L (http://goo.gl/maps/UXL6L)
HD: http://goo.gl/maps/1U3h1 (http://goo.gl/maps/1U3h1)
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We got to have that at the Academy this year! you got to find a way to support it and get it there... no matter what!!!!!! PLEASEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thats Awesome!
RJ
Does anyone know if there is a Home Depot or Lowes or the like in Conroe? We could buy a lot of the stuff there (PCB pipe and wood) and would only need a few tools to work it.
Kurt
There is
http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/catalog/servlet/HomePageView?storeId=10051&langId=-1&catalogId=10053
I have started a spreadsheet getting the local prices and the quantity i would need to build the a-frames for peoples rgb stuff.
So a couple of questions. Can some local bring a saw and drill?
What to do with the lumber after the show is over?
I will be flying in so can only bring stuff that fits in a suitcase.
I had asked in the other thread what will people bring. This way i can plan on what frames need to be built to hang everyones lights.
I think RJ's request is for my 20x120 flex strips to hang them like i have in my basement, it is the same amount of work, just need to know that is what i will be doing.
I need to know how many lights you plan on bringing and how you want them hung?
i was going to do
20x120 , vertical matrix. each string is 4m long. Now i may mount them as a grid creating a roof over some area.
With the count of all rgb stuff i can plan on how many frames we would need to build.
1x2x8' from Conroe Home depot is $1.08 or $0.135 per foot
2x4x8' is $2.76 or $0.345 per foot
3/4"x10' gray pvx emt is $3.87
1/2"x10' metal emt is $1.95
After building all the frames who locally will take the lumber home? It wont fit in my suitcase....
thanks
sean
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We the more local people normally have some cordless drills and such. I'm sure I can help round up some of the tools you need if you can put a list together
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We the more local people normally have some cordless drills and such. I'm sure I can help round up some of the tools you need if you can put a list together
To build everything i would only need a 3/8" drill and a sabre saw to cut the wood. I plan on using bolts for the main joints and dry wall screws every place else.
I am building a 16' high by 10' wide a-frame for hanging my lights for the boy scouts. i will use a similar design fro all the frames. mostly just 2x4's and 1x2 lumber.
thanks
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Instead of having to cut all the notches out. Do you think that these would work?
http://www.homedepot.com/p/t/100067957?catalogId=10053&langId=-1&keyword=corrugated+plastic+roofing+panels&storeId=10051&N=5yc1v&R=100067957
Steve
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Instead of having to cut all the notches out. Do you think that these would work?
http://www.homedepot.com/p/t/100067957?catalogId=10053&langId=-1&keyword=corrugated+plastic+roofing+panels&storeId=10051&N=5yc1v&R=100067957
Steve
Well, i had (4) 1x4x5' boards that i notched. these plastic pieces would work just fine but they are meant for 2" material. since my lights weigh in around 100lbs, i was trying to keep the frame lighter.
but yes, they would work. i put felt to cushion the lights being face down. if you use these you might think of something to cushion the leds being against a hard surface. It would save the cutting and sanding that i did.
I would suggest the angle brackets at all the joints. i had 10 of them.
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In the second picture, what are your lights mounted to and what is the piece on the end with the round hook?
Brian
I finished building a mounting rack for my 20x120 flex strips used in my megatree. the flex lights are mounted on 1/2" emt that is 14' long. The rack is 12'x5' in size and made of 1x4" pine. I mounted the rack to the ceiling of my basement. Think of it like a giant gun rack. After putting 20 of my lights in the rack, it was heavy! Probably over 100 lbs. I built the rack strong with angle brackets because i knew it needed strength.
I now have my own Vegas strip, like Fremont Street.
I put some felt down to protect the flex strip. It all seems to be working fine.
My desk is right below these lights. I create a new Nutcracker effect, I just have to look up to see what it really looks like.
Thanks
sean
(http://nutcracker123.com/nutcracker/images/IMG_0257a.jpg)
(http://nutcracker123.com/nutcracker/images/IMG_0263a.jpg)
(http://nutcracker123.com/nutcracker/images/IMG_0265a.jpg)
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If you're not building the rack to drop down for loading, then you could use these foam strips made for the corrugated plastic panels:
http://www.homedepot.com/p/Palruf-36-in-White-Horizontal-Foam-Closure-Strips-5-Pack-92521/100049309#.UUN0Q-OAtIM
Those are only 1" wide and could be secured to a 1x4 strip. That would take care of protecting the strips from the wood as well. If you did want to use allow the rack to drop down, you could always put a screw or nail on the down side of the valleys to keep the strips in position when the frame was dropped down to one side for loading.
For those with a high garage ceiling like mine at 10.5', the whole rack could be suspended by 4-6 ropes going through pulleys so the whole frame could be lowered down for easy loading. I've been contemplating some kind of storage rack like this to take advantage of the 2-foot tall wasted space above my garage doors when they're in the open position. I already mounted shelves above the inside of the garage door openings themselves to boxes of lights and other related stuff.
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In the second picture, what are your lights mounted to and what is the piece on the end with the round hook?
Brian
I finished building a mounting rack for my 20x120 flex strips used in my megatree. the flex lights are mounted on 1/2" emt that is 14' long. The rack is 12'x5' in size and made of 1x4" pine. I mounted the rack to the ceiling of my basement. Think of it like a giant gun rack. After putting 20 of my lights in the rack, it was heavy! Probably over 100 lbs. I built the rack strong with angle brackets because i knew it needed strength.
I now have my own Vegas strip, like Fremont Street.
I put some felt down to protect the flex strip. It all seems to be working fine.
My desk is right below these lights. I create a new Nutcracker effect, I just have to look up to see what it really looks like.
Thanks
sean
(http://nutcracker123.com/nutcracker/images/IMG_0263a.jpg)
My 1x4 frame (12' long, 5' wide) is mounted on one side with 5 hinges to the ceiling joists. On the other side I am using wire to hold it up (The green). I had complicated plans for bolts and brackets, but my temporary way of holding it is working fine.
You see a chain, this is used to lower the rack down so i can load the lights up. I then lifted the frame up and tied it with wire. Lifting the frame up was nice since it weighed near 100lbs.
The hooks in the end of the emt are round eyebolts that go into a 3" piece of oak dowel that was driven into each end of the 1/2" emt. I use the round eyebolts at the bottom to attach bungee cords , the other end has a hook to attach to the topper on my tree.
you can see how these 20 lengths were attached in the other thread about my megatree
http://diylightanimation.com/index.php?topic=10714.0
thanks
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A quick way to make the rack is to use a hole saw to make a row of holes and then cut the board in half.
/mike
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A quick way to make the rack is to use a hole saw to make a row of holes and then cut the board in half.
/mike
Yep, that would have been easier.
i used a drum sander on my drill to get the wood smooth so i could attach the felt.
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A quick way to make the rack is to use a hole saw to make a row of holes and then cut the board in half.
/mike
Brilliant idea! 8)
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I live in Humble Texas, which is 30 minutes from Conroe. There are both Lowes a7 Home Depot.