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FX-Sabers Discussion - Including a Gallery of custom sabers. => New Ideas and Technologies => Topic started by: Wilson McDermot on March 28, 2018, 11:30:02 PM

Title: A Scrolling Light Whip
Post by: Wilson McDermot on March 28, 2018, 11:30:02 PM
While light whips aren't strictly canon, it has to be accepted that they are an interesting variation of the classic light saber.  I recently had an idea of how to make one and I'm looking forward to reading what the Forum thinks of it. The following YouTube video shows what it looks like and how it's made:

Title: Re: A Scrolling Light Whip
Post by: BEN KENOBI on March 29, 2018, 06:01:56 AM
That's really cool!!
Title: Re: A Scrolling Light Whip
Post by: EXAR KUN on March 29, 2018, 08:09:14 AM
Oh my gosh you're amazing! That is so cool. Very creative
Title: Re: A Scrolling Light Whip
Post by: jbkuma on March 29, 2018, 08:22:44 AM
Very cool! What is the power requirement for the whip?
Title: Re: A Scrolling Light Whip
Post by: Wilson McDermot on March 29, 2018, 08:52:59 AM
To jbkuma:

The power supply consists of 18, nine-volt batteries in series for an open load voltage of 162 VDC. In operation, the internal resistance of the batteries drops that to 135 volts to the LEDs. Total current is only 0.18 amps, which allows the use of very fine wires in the blade.
Title: Re: A Scrolling Light Whip
Post by: Wilson McDermot on March 29, 2018, 08:59:12 AM
One disappointment is that the action of the whip isn't right. It tends to tangle much more often than real whips. This was also true with all the other light whips I've seen on-line.

I found that this is because real whips aren't uniform along their lengths. They taper from very thick, barely flexible, near the handle to extremely thin and limp near the tip. I'm researching ways to replicate this taper in a transparent tube.
Title: Re: A Scrolling Light Whip
Post by: Wilson McDermot on March 29, 2018, 06:48:05 PM
After rewatching the video, I wish I had used red filament LEDs. Somehow a light whip seems like something a sith would use rather than a jedi.
Title: Re: A Scrolling Light Whip
Post by: JakeSoft on March 29, 2018, 06:57:21 PM
To jbkuma:

The power supply consists of 18, nine-volt batteries in series for an open load voltage of 162 VDC. In operation, the internal resistance of the batteries drops that to 135 volts to the LEDs. Total current is only 0.18 amps, which allows the use of very fine wires in the blade.

162 VDC?! Holy smokes! (Maybe literally) Where were you hiding 18 batteries in your hilt? It's hard to see in the dark.
Title: Re: A Scrolling Light Whip
Post by: Wilson McDermot on March 29, 2018, 07:23:29 PM
Because whips aren't twirled like light sabers, the hilts don't have to be completely free to rotate 360-degrees. This let me mount the batteries on a waist belt with a wire carrying the power to the hilt.
Title: Re: A Scrolling Light Whip
Post by: Wilson McDermot on March 29, 2018, 09:53:16 PM
The following very short video explains how I modified the blade to move more like a real whip:



If there are any real whip users or builders in the Forum I would appreciate any suggestions on how to further improve its whipping action.
Title: Re: A Scrolling Light Whip
Post by: Wilson McDermot on March 31, 2018, 09:50:21 AM
Sharp-eyed viewers of the first video may have noticed segments blinking off. This was caused by a switch problem. It's fixed now, as can bee seen in the second video where all the segments remain on even during repeated swings.
Title: Re: A Scrolling Light Whip
Post by: Wilson McDermot on April 24, 2018, 12:09:38 PM
The following video shows how bright this light whip is:

Title: Re: A Scrolling Light Whip
Post by: BEN KENOBI on April 24, 2018, 02:06:43 PM
That's rather nice.
Title: Re: A Scrolling Light Whip
Post by: EXAR KUN on May 11, 2018, 01:39:07 PM
So bright! So awesome!
Title: Re: A Scrolling Light Whip
Post by: Morannon on May 12, 2018, 07:43:10 AM
That looks like it would be blinding at night. Really cool
Title: Re: A Scrolling Light Whip
Post by: Wilson McDermot on May 18, 2018, 06:04:31 PM
Thank you! Yes, It looks pretty good. The flexible filament LEDs put out a very pure, bright green. They could probably be overdriven to 5 watts each for a total of 40 watts, which would be blinding. It needs to be longer, though. Something around nine feet would create a more dynamic 'whip' effect.