Iris, peep hole

[gbanet]

I'd like to thank Chris for starting this thread on the Shopbot forum and sharing the prototype file. This was a fun project. Its being installed in a door for a peep hole (that was a cool idea). And, I'd like to share these files with all.

I redrew the iris making some small changes and after three attempts I finally finished the project. I used 1/4" Masonite (actually measures a little shy like 3/16") and 0.09" aluminum and used a 1/8" end mill for all the cuts. 1/4" x 3/8" shoulder bolts hold the large gear. The holes for the small gears were drilled, 1/8" and fitted with a short lengths of 5/32" brass as bushings which accepted 3mm screws for good fits. 3/16" holes were profiled with the 1/8" endmill on the large gear and the leaves where the arms attach and fitted with #6-32 tee nuts which protruded slightly through the Masonite. On the underside of the aluminum arms, I countersunk the holes just enough to fit snugly over the tee nuts and #6 -32 x 3/8" screws secured them. I attached a piece of clear acrylic to cover the hole. I used thread lock on all screws.

No matter what fasteners you use, as long as there is no slop, this should turn freely. This was a problem in my first two attempts. The large gear would move left or right instead of turning.

These might not have been the best choices of materials but, it worked fine. I think the next one I build will be entirely out of aluminum.

Hope you enjoy.

[tmerrill]

Hi Greg,

I was wondering where you've been, now I see you have been busy!

Great job on a very unique project.

Tim

[John Murphy]

Very nice piece of work.
Thanks for the info and for sharing the file.

John

[Eric Erickson]

Greg,

That's AWESOME ! After all of the discussion that took place on the Shopbot forum, I was wondering if someone would actually finish one. I love it.

[RoutnAbout]

Hey Greg, that looks great, Fantastic job. I bet that looks really good in the door.
I will cut that file some day soon.
I see you finally got of the deck to finally cut this!!

[moto633]

Eye think this is great!

Nick

[gbanet]

I haaave been busy Tim, and don't believe a word Don says. He has a Routnabout way of telling stories, you know!
Thank you all for the nice comments.

[gbanet]

I apologize for sharing a bad file. It was brought to my attention by Chris Schaie on the Shopbot Forum, http://www.talkshopbot.com/forum/showth ... #post93967, who started this project. He found the holes in the base were not concentric; they didn't match the slot centers. You should check out what he has done. All the moving parts are made of brass and it really looks great!

Again, I apologize and here is the corrected file.
Greg

[Hivoltage]

I made an iris and set it up with a servo.
Worked pretty good.
This is simple and I have seen similar online.
The one I did had 10 blades.