3D ZOETROPE using LEGO® mini figures*

In Jan 2008 I saw a 3D Zoetrope that was built by Pixar for a NYC MOMA exhibition (see http://www.navone.org/blogger/2006/07/pixar-zoetrope.html). It is amazing and I decided I could probably build a small version of the same thing using inexpensive parts. I was able to build this animation device that uses identical LEGO mini figures to approximate the same effect. Details of the project are given below -

Front view of the completed protptype 3D Zoetrope.

Flash animation of the 3D Zoetrope in motion. Flash rate 15 FPS: Rotation rate 60 rpm

THE PROJECT (V2)

For the first version I cut a 12" circle out of press board and marked its center and scribed 16 lines at 22.5 deg intervals. I used an old erector set gear as the central hub and glued it to the press board. For the second version I purchased a 14" diameter circle of 1/4" lexan. It is important that the platform for the animation figures revolve 1/sec so I purchased a cheap 12V DC 60rpm motor from ebay and mounted it in a piece of wood 12x12 sguare. I used 1x4 pieces to form the sides to give a nice platform with a hollow base. The rotating platform was placed on the motor shaft and secured with a set screw. The first version arrangement was cheap and somewhat wobbly but lexan version was much better. Flat pieces of LEGO bricks were glued with GOOP to the top side of the circle at intervals of 16 / 15 / 14 / 12 pieces per rotation equal distant around the circle. If the flash rate is set for 15/sec then the pieces attached at 15 stand still, the pieces at 16 seem to move one direction and the pieces at 14 move the other, etc. A flash was needed that was able to flash from 4 to 60 fps and with a very short flash duration of about 1/1000 of a second. I build an LED flash controller (see pdf of schematic and layout) that could control up to 50 LEDs and had a variable flash rate. For version 2 I used multiple 3W Luxeon LED's as they gave much more light. The electronic boards are mounted under the wood platform. Multiple identical LEGO characters were obtained from a LEGO store sale bin. These were the most expensive items. The LEGO characters are placed in identical positions around the rotating circle and their arms and legs adjusted to make them appear to do some actions such as walking, spinning or jumping. Cost of the whole project was ~$100.

Gary Aden,

garyaden@aol.com

for more information on Zoetropes visit- http://www.silentmovies.com/zoetrope/zoetropestrips.htm

* "LEGO ® is a trademark of the LEGO Group of companies which does not sponsor, authorize or endorse this site".