R2-D2 Teeces dome LED’s

September 2023

Mike wanted to reinstall his Teeces LED’s in his R2 dome again. This was after his last set of logic’s from DP, got ripped out when wires dropped and got caught in the dome gear.

So I uninstalled the DP set and made a start on cleaning things up. I made up some cardboard templates for the holes, marked the position and drilled into the resin DJ Design components using a manual hand drill and a 3.5mm drill bit. I cut down some 20mm long M3 threads and screwed on a nut to depth required. I then fitted them through the cardboard template into the pre filled holes with Araldite epoxy glue. I then fitted the screens to help with alignment.

The three Holoprojectors required new location holders, so they were sent to the printer.

I also needed to print two new PSI board holders, after a slight design modification for a better fit.

Whilst these were printing, i made a start on connecting up the cables and wiring the switches back in.

Cables and switches done. Second switch is now for controlling the holoprojectors independently.

Just waiting on them being delivered.

Another happy customer 🙂👍🏽

Busy week: R5 motor bracket/3D designing and more….

 A busy week of building, buying, designing etc….

1:

R5’s second new foot motor bracket frame, needed completing: just needs some finishing tweaks, and 3D printed brackets for the channel plate.

2:

Been discussing in group chat about next year’s Star Wars Celebration , attending droid numbers etc.

3:

Been designing up ‘control panels’ for a side project idea. See coming post.

4:

Whilst researching I came across a video about the origins of R2’s PSI lenses. So a search on eBay and I managed to get a bargain for £6.00 GBP. Its a vintage Weston Masters two, photographers light meter.

The lens is bubbled on one side, but i was surprised to see that the honeycomb part was multiple layers of punched/stamped pieces, that were then rivited together.

Another R2D2 type dome - part 3 [AstroPixels]

Back in January, I had the call from Mike for ANOTHER set of Teeces for ANOTHER R2 dome 😂. The plan was to wire up bought LEDS, but thankfully he managed to get hold of the real deal ones.

Next up was to get some Holoprojector LED’s.

….roll on to May, and Darren P, had released his R2-D2 lights kit!

Link to AstroPixels

So Mike purchased the kit and even installed it all himself…..it’s that easy to do!! And it starts up first time when power was applied.

He just needed me to connect up a power switch.

Teeces LED work for Mike's dome 2 [August 2021] part 2

Tasked with installing another set of LOGIC’s in an R2 dome.

After shopping around, I decided it would be easier to make the cables myself.

Used a PSI design off Thingiverse and modified it slightly. The rings I didn’t need, but I did require a retaining ring, can be seen below in picture, too right. I also drew up a honeycomb screen.

I drilled out location holes for the retaining threaded, cut down bolts, and mixed up two part epoxy to secure them in place.

Latest work:

I wired up these illuminated switches for the Teeces and the PSI’s.

Next is the Holoprojector LED’s and holders for them (3off). Then it’s connecting everything up and passing the dome over to Paul.F to program the Arduino.

Teeces LED work for Mike's dome 2 [May 2021] part 2

 After removing the LED's from the first logic panel, cleaning all the solder off. I reapplied the LED's, now with shorter legs lol and this also meant that they would line up better with the holed logic panel.

First up was applying the chip holder, pins, resistor & capacitor..... was still waiting on the 0.1uf.

Next up was applying the rest of the LED's to the PSI's.

Takes a bit of patients, but it is worth it lol. Was still waiting on the chips and the small capacitors........when I got a message off Mike :D

Whilst rummaging through his collection of parts for his droid build(s), he found a full pre-built set of Teeces lol.

So I'll finish these off and hand them back as possible seconds or spares.

Teeces LED work for Mike's dome 2 [May 2021]

So, Mike’s building another dome and asked if I could work my magic soldering up a set of Teeces from scratch.

Well, I had said it was just a ‘simple’ case of just soldering the components in place :D lol......

This kit is an unused set and there are some components missing, so these I will have to source and order. Whilst waiting tho I made a start on the front logic displays.

After two hours of carefully positioning, soldering, cleaning up soldering joints.....

Not to bad for first attempt. The second one will be easier now I know how.

The second one is on hold lol as first one needed to be redone :(

I also 3D printed out some Logic display screens. These will help with LED alignment as well.

Made a start on the PSI display boards.

.....more updates soon.

Teeces LED work for Mike's dome [August 2020]

27th August 2020

     A few weeks back I was asked to help wire up a set of Teeces LED light and add some LED's to illuminate the Holo Projectors x3.

I fitted a voltage regulator to drop the volts down to 5v.

These are the main lights for the dome illumination.

Mike also supplied some torch LED panels, which I managed to solder up wire connections to after figuring out why they all didn't light up with just one ground wire connected.

After soldering these up, I had a thought about how to fit these into the Holo Projectors, without the dreaded 'Holo wire twist & break'. So I dug out my Holo Light units I made years back for my R4-D4 dome.

I did some updates to the LED holder, now that the 3D printer is better than the previous one lol and also upgraded the bearing holder.

The bearing holder, is designed to be shaped with a file to be a tight fit into the rear opening of the Holo Projectors eye. The whole unit acts as a slip-ring arrangement, allowing the LED's to be connected and lite, but also allowing the Holo Projector to fully 360 degree free movement, without worry of 'Holo wire twist & break'!

Short video demo of new holo slip-ring

Mike's dome only has two moving Holo Projector's, so these received these units. The third Holo is static. Nect up was installing them into his dome.

Next up is to finish installing the power cables, the Teeces units & connecting up the power switches.......

And some pics of LED's illuminated.

Mike was kind enough to make this new tool storage box sticker, nothing wrong with the original lol, but hay....everyone should have their name on their tool box.

Interested in sign's etc, check out his website...

Click this link to his website ->>> Vinyl Designs