Gary Staab's TEDx Talk: Studying the dead to understand life: ruclips.net/video/8LWfb9fId_o/видео.html Learn more about Gary Staab's work at www.staabstudios.com/ Follow Gary Staab on Instagram: instagram.com/staabstudios/ Special thanks to the team at Animax Designs for making this build possible! www.animaxdesigns.com/ Adam Savage's Dino Build: Building the Infrastructure (Ep 1): ruclips.net/video/X-1qBbir3zA/видео.html Adam Savage's Dino Build: Testing the Paint (Ep 2): ruclips.net/video/R3UpWX4Mhfo/видео.html Adam Savage's Dino Build: The Great Jaw Mech Fail (Ep 3): ruclips.net/video/0-M55DR-mRQ/видео.html Adam Savage Assembles His Raptor (Ep 0): ruclips.net/video/bITSvA_P-wg/видео.html Troubleshooting the Dino Jaw Mechanism (Patron/Premium Exclusive): ruclips.net/video/pWIpfR2bp-w/видео.html
I think what you are trying to say, when you talk of combining 'mediocre skills', is that your combined knowledge is greater than the sum of the parts?
"I’m mediocre at most of the skills that I have. My talent exists in combining all that mediocrity to achieve something great." - is one of the most wonderful things I have heard Adam share, and he has shared SO MANY incredible insights over the many years I have watched the channel. Thanks for this gem 😊
That's why I don't listen to nitpicks about the quality of my welding or the layer lines on my 3D prints or how I painted it all. Cause at the end of the day the final product will draw attention away from those details. And I do this sort of art and the critics don't. So I win.
I really understood what he meant when he said that. It's similar to how I am with my new job. When I started a year and a half ago, I was mediocre. Then things gradually clicked as to how I could utilize what skills I do have to make my performance as a whole so much better. Am I the best at any one part of it? Not at all. But putting it all together in the right way makes me appear better as a whole.
I’ve always considered myself a bit of an Everyman - This means at times I get frustrated as I’m unable to achieve something specific I really wanted to do. That one sentence spoken by Adam has put all those fears of inadequacy to rest. Thank you.
I love the honesty of this video. Adam has spoken so many times about putting your failures on display, so airing this is completely on brand and practices what he preaches.
Knowing when to ask for help is vital, not just in the effects industry, but in all aspects of life. This is an excellent project. I think it will be absolutely amazing when finished. Thanks Adam.
Indeed. Asking for help isn't a sign of weakness. It's a sign of strenght. That you know your limits and stop yourself from causing problems that can't be fixed in order to get to a solution that will pay off for everyone involved.
28:53 Man, this came at the most crucial time for me. I was in tears by the end of this. That doesn't happen often. Long story short, just earlier today I was struggling at work with almost exactly what you described: having said yes to a full-time job I probably shouldn't have, and then dealing with the consequences of that decision today and realizing I'm in over my head. Knowing when to ask for help, and resolving to avoid making the same mistake in the future... I cannot tell you how much I needed to hear this. Mentally, again, the same; I've been in a pretty dark headspace because of it all. I didn't expect to find the comfort / metaphorical hug that I needed from Adam's latest dino build video, but here we are. I know being vulnerable is always a risk. But I also know that even if it only touches the life of one person, it's not in vain. Well, congrats Adam. It wasn't in vain. Keep up the good work. Looking forward to watching Episode 4. :)
I work with students who build big competitive robots. I am going to strongly recommend they watch the last 12 minutes of this video. First you show that even you can fail (we all can) but what you do after that makes all the difference in the world. Thank you for sharing this video.
@@tested I would say failure ain't bad...Yes, it can be bad in competitions where imposed rules keep you from trying and failing either by time, money or just straight up told 1 try only in the rules... If you don't personally have time or money constraints and only have self imposed rules...then maybe change those rules? If the time it takes to think of the perfect plan would take more time or indefinite amount of time if you procrastinate...and you can tank some costs of using blocks of aluminium for failed attempts... You either will have reached your goal exhausting all your options or you get the lesson of "I need to do more research" 😅 or" I need better skills in research" Anyways just saying the obvious...I don't even know if you are bothered by failures... But it's cool to see the up and down And ASMR process...😂 Hope you figure whatever issue caused your failure and find the appropriate solution faster than the last possible answer 😂😊
The story at the end has been told by Adam at least 3 times on these videos. This isn't a criticism; rather, it's an acknowledgement of how important this lesson was to Adam, and how important he feels it should be to the rest of us. Some things just bear repeating. My respect for Mr. Savage continues to grow.
Adam, thank you for remaining delightfully human in the face of adversity. If everyone in the world handled things this way, we might be further along in a lot of things. I feel the important process demonstrated in this video is that one person alone cant do everything. Humans need each other, for better oer worse, because we cant do it all alone. Every time you take the opportunity to point out the failures and examine them, you show people that its not that hard to do. I think it helps to show people that the ego can be an obstacle, especially in those 'hold my beer" cases. Keep up the "if I can do it, you can do it" message because it inspires everyone.
Thank you for showing vulnerability and showing that it can hurt when you fail to achieve your goals, and that it's ok to ask for help. A lot of other people would have just skipped past, and moved on to wrapping up for the next video, but you used that as a teaching moment, which was ultimately the most important lesson in the video, and what the world needs to see more of.
Nylon line inside bowden cable housing is a clever one! Us bicycle types are forever battling the effects of excess friction in brake and gear cables, and while we're more or less stuck with steel for strength reasons (or at least stiffness reasons with modern indexed gearing), it's nice to see an alternative idea floated for animatronics. Also I cannot stress enough how important the openness about things not going to plan is. There's a time and a place for build videos that make everything look slick and polished, but part of what puts Tested so high up my list of workbench background videos is the fact the things that didn't work out are given as much discussion as the things that did!
To ALL DIY’ers out there!! Notice how Adam set the height of his table saw!! I see far too many of you setting your blade to dangerous heights! The bottom of the center most tallest carbide tooth above your material to be cut is where you set the blade… Thank you Adam, for shop safety, and the honesty you put into your videos. Truly an inspiration for the lat 25 years!
You have a ridged structure between your hand control and the jaw pivot. Therefore, you can add pulleys along the "neck" and string your steel cable (without tubing) to connect 'control' to 'jaw'. - Also, put the smaller bearing at the control end. Sure, you'll need to rotate the controller more but will gain an "advantage" in torque at the jaw end.
It's like looking in the mirror, listening to Adam. I often have to remind myself to not get mad when a project requires a specific skill to be more present than others and that's when I fail or don't do as good as I make myself think I should be. So then I step back, remind myself of my extremely successful life and that it is ok to slow down, hone the skill or ask for help. You are totally right Adam, the MOST IMPORTANT jobs to take or consider are the ones that challenge you. It's not about limiting yourself to taking only easy jobs. Take the challenge and being in the help that supplements your shortcomings and voila, HUGE amounts of knowledge, training and development will be yours. I went from boring automotive mechanic to AG technician, now building my own tools and accessories for machinery and 40% of jobs are still a challenge, which is the fire to my kettle.
I have been watching Adam for many years. How much experience and skill Adam shared that you can learn something new. Thank you, I look at many things that can be done. Thank you very much, this is great. 😊
I've been confronted with similar issues, and have some suggestions. A main issue is getting the mechanical advantage from the squeeze of a hand to the movement of the jaw. The problem is, the travel distance of the jaw needs to be much longer than what a hand squeeze can provide. So, change the ratio? Well now the weight and inertia of the jaw is multiplied on the hand feel; it takes much more force. And, the animation starts to get choppy and wobbly, loses control and fidelity. So, use two mechanisms, one on each hand. There's two options for setting this up. The first that occurs to me is to have a me hanism for the lower jaw, as well as one for the upper. Essentially you decouple the skull mounting from the neck plate, and install a hinge there, so that the upper jaw is an extra movement on top of the neck animation. This allows you to have a shorter stroke for each lever, transferring power and control better, while still giving you the ability to squeeze both levers and open the mouth wide. If you actually watch movie footage of a raptor roaring, the movement is almost never just the lower jaw dropping; that doesn't communicate the menace and power, and can actually look a little silly. Instead, a big roar involves the neck descending closer to the floor, with the skull pointing up and jaw pointing down. I think your current rig would have a hard time animating that extreme of a neck angle without inverting, but an upper jaw movement would do this. Another two-hand rig might be to still only animate the lower jaw, but have a sorta high-gear, low gear setup, so one hand moves large movements, but takes more strength, and the other more subtle movements, with more control. Still, the two levels squeezed together would open the jaw wider than one could alone. And of course, use heavier brake lines! I was surprised and impressed when you opted for fishing line and plastic tube; in my experience that's never held up. The line has too much stretch and the tube collapses. But then that's exactly what happened to you too, so I actually feel kindof affirmed and redeemed there.
I also imagine having the end point of the mechanism more in the middle of the jaw length would help open it. Our own jaws are pulled by muscles attached below the jaw bone, not at its pivot point on the skull.
I don’t think I’ve been more comforted by a tested video than this one. This one hit home HARD. Everything. Even the big job that he failed at(which I remember from another video in which he gave more detail.) that has happened to me. And the failing, the learning your boundaries. It all hit home. Thank you for this video Adam. It’s like a warm hug. ❤️
I'm always learning something from all your videos, but a couple that stick out that have liberated me in a sense are "shop infrastructure is a process, not a project" and "change out your sandpaper more often". The last few minutes of you talking about your experience with the ATM vestibule and recognizing when you've reached the limit of capabilities and need help (and asking for it) are just as important as any lesson or skill I've learned from your videos. In particular, the supportive words from you Dad who also subtly used this as a life lesson for you, although it was difficult to recognize at the time, as many of our lessons from our parents are. Great video.
The story from your book “Every Tool’s A Hammer” at the end there hits as hard now as it did on a first read. Thanks again for everything, Adam. And to the whole Tested team.
Adam, your wisdom is so appreciated and welcomed. My favorite part of this whole video was of you just talking to us at the end. Thank you for sharing your experiences and the lesson from your Dad. You're amazing and I love watching you make things!
Thank you for sharing about the student film ATM story in brief. It can be easy to only focus on successes, but life and careers are more than that. Thank you for the honesty on this channel.
Adam, loved your message at the end, it's so true! Everyone needs help, as humans not just makers. We're a communal species, we move forward by helping each other.
What a fantastic lesson! We all get frustrated and disheartened when our tinkering goes awry. It is easy to forget that every maker experiences these moments, because most don't talk about them publicly. Thank you for sharing your making journey, as always!
My Sifu said this 30 years ago and it's been with me ever since. "There comes a time in everyone's life, to attempt a thing. One may not Succeed or be Successful in the way one hoped to achieve by doing this thing; however by making the attempt, one shall learn great volumes of themselves and of the Nature of the thing being attempted. The only point that Failure enters the Picture, is by Not having the Strength and Courage to make the Attempt in the first Place. "
As a graphic designer, I feel it when you say to know your limitations. Most os my friends are creators in various fields too and when they post something online involving design, I'll message them like "Dude, who did this?!" and sometimes they'll apologize for not hiring me but I let them know that there's no way I could've gotten the same results and if they'd ask, I would've turned it down. Knowing your limitations, especially when it involves someone elses project, you don't gamble on yourself; you work to strengthen that area by asking people who are better.
Adam, I'm sure it's always hard to put up a video where things didn't go right, but I hope you know how much we appreciate that you do. It means a lot to me to see that even someone with the level of experience you have has days when he struggles. It shows that it's normal and not something to be embarrassed about, not something to let destroy your love for what you do. That's a message I often need to remind myself about. And great advice from you, too - being honest with yourself and therefore honest with those seeking your skills is really important. I work in a different field but that's a lesson I've had to learn myself. I hope you keep finding the joy in this build regardless, and thanks for all you do.
@Adam Savage. Use metal hydraulic brake line to run your wire inside of, you can buy in different lengths it's easy to bend it's a very small it's lightweight and easy to cut and you can use a breakline tool to smooth ends off.
I always enjoy your builds although I am not a builder. I used to be a storyboard artist and now I'm trying to be a writer. The reason I appreciated this episode is your closing story of how some of the most successful jobs are the ones you turn down. I got diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 2006 and I was about to start a big storyboarding job. I turned it down, and it was the most painful - yet at the same time the best, decision I ever made in my career. And yes, it signalled the end of my career as a storyboard artist but it saved the production company so much grief, allowing them time to employ another artist. And I left the business with my honour intact, as it were.
Hi Adam, I've loved your work for many years, thank you for all you have given us. As far as your animatronics go, have you thought about natures solution to the leverage problem on a dinosaur, why not try to replicate this by siting your cables where the jaw muscles attach, from the inferior temporal fenestra to the surangular on the jaw for closing and the robust temporal bars to the angular on the jaw for opening. Once again thanks for all your work over the years.
think about your bicycle break line you spoke about, it is not soft plastic, it is a steel wrap with a plastic coating to protect it and the core from smoo and goo. that steel wrap is not compressing when you apply force to the lever. you need the same strength in your guide tube. it must be able to withstand the pressure being applied to transfer it to the remote object.
I love the nuggets of wisdom you offer from your life experience. Thank you for sharing them with us. I've told several people about "always knowing the next step" when the situation seems impossibly big, from your video a few weeks ago. It's really helped.
That finger actuated drill press chuck looks really cool!! Did he ever do a show and tell on that? Probably a bit too niche for a full video but I thought that was the neatest thing! 😊
Thanks for being so honest and transparent, Adam. I feel like this can really help people be vulnerable and admit that sometimes we do need help, and that's okay! It's totally okay to need help! I am really looking forward to the outcome of this raptor
Rarely is the creative process purely linear. Combine that with soft skills that can overlap in weird ways and it can be very difficult to determine what falls into one’s wheelhouse and what doesn’t. No one is BORN with maker skills and unless you’re the Mozart of Makers, you’re going to make some mistakes. And those mistakes can be learning opportunities if you frame them correctly. Or you can look at them as failures. Your choice. I always enjoy when Adam shares one of his not-as-successful endeavors because I feel that gives me (and others) the freedom to fail and learn from those failures. Looking forward to a fully operational jaw (and indeed, an entire velociraptor) in the upcoming episodes! Thanks as always for just being you, Adam.
I can relate to this video HARD. The thing about building animatronics/mechanics is that you often only learn the right way to do things after you have failed. There is so much that can go wrong and much of the work involves a fair bit of trial and error. Even if you have experience building animatronics, your experience often doesn’t tell you the best way to do something, but rather how NOT to do it so you can iterate a working solution faster. Over time, you tend to build up a mental library of things that you are pretty sure will work kinda/sorta well for a given application -and even then those solutions may not work 100% right out of the gate.
I love your work no matter what and your willingness to show us your failings makes it even more admirable. When you started the video with an explanation of a small soft tube encasing fishing line, I was already primed for an uh oh moment. I'm sure you'll come up with an unexpected solution.
As an idea why not think more Henson and simplify the design, use a spring to keep the jaw closed with minor tension. To open the jaw at the pivot point of the jaw lowering the bottom jaw requires anti clockwise movement. Using a pulley wheel and cable setup should be able to achieve this. Or to not reinvent the wheel repurpose a bike brake then just use a spring like on a bike brake to open the jaw.
I too am a master of few things, but spent a career designing products, often blending technologies from other areas. Looking at your jaw activation, I first think of RC aircraft technology. It’s come along way since the days of pushrods and bell cranks. Now with lightweight servos, they’re able to move large control services. I would suggest looking into the push pull mechanisms in use today. Important criteria are lightweight, rigidity and strength. I think you might find something useful there. Cheers, Dan
That’s bad ass. I used wood to house some bearings and thought that was so cool. Then you do it with aluminum. It’s so much cleaner. I need a drill press and table saw
I'm definitely not proficient at animatronics but speaking as a fisherman, if you want sensitivity and to eliminate flex in the fishing line, I highly recommend braided fishing line Trilene(berkley), or spider wire... the line you showed on screen I believe is a monofilament which is plastic and even though it is rated at 100lbs it will stretch at far less than that. I say all that fully aware that this does not solve you housing issue for the cable, but after hearing the end of your video it's all a moot point, sounds like you're in good hands. Looking forward to the rest of the one day build, some other day.lol
I see that you are technically gifted as well you must have worked in other departments in the sfx film industry, light engineering at some point, I like that you show in depth how practical fx are done.
I'm not good at much, but I am a professional bike mechanic. When Adam demonstrated the materials for the cable system my first thought was to wonder if that tubing had enough compression strength. The force the cable receives in tension is applied to the housing in compression. Eh, that said, I'm still in awe of the sheer amount of stuff Adam knows, expert or not.
I wrenched on bikes for years too. As soon as he showed the housing and the line he was using instead of the cables he was using to actually explain it, I knew there was going to be a problem. All he needed to do was add a boss to either end of that top bar of his 3-bar linkage, and have a short run of regular housing on either end with the bare steel cable between the bosses. The steel cable doesn't weigh much, and is needed at these lengths. I'd go as far as to say that fishing line is terrible for the job, except for very short runs, because it is designed to stretch when loaded, where the steel cable is designed NOT to stretch. This seems like a solved problem in the bike world.
You are quite the humble man. That being said. I would use a line feeder and threaded compression fittings on either end. And use braided wire instead. Worked for me. You mentioned brake line, it would actually work well.
im a cosplayer and i also do my crafts alone.. its ok to fail coz thats where be try to make it up and fix it right in order to craft it easier the next time we make the same or similar thing.. also dont hesitate to ask help even thou there are some people who are newer to some field but we may never know me missed somethign SO basic that it is actually what we need, in a way you also teach em what you know. this video spark something in me to craft even moe things in the future and failing will not hinder me from knowing how achieve that goal.. thank you
The greatest thing about RUclips is the fact that a creator can share their fails and find hundreds or thousands of comments telling them to keep trying and usually, somewhere within those comments, will be a few people that have the hard knowledge and experience of a master at whatever niche thing and share that knowledge. Now, I don't have that knowledge, but I'm excited to see who here does because I've always been fascinated with mechanical movements and the push/pull cable system has been one of my favorite systems since I was a kid and learned how simply complex that system is. And my Dad always said "Son, you can't unfuck that which has been fucked." Greatest words any kid can hear after completely disassembling the gear changer on your first mountain bike.
At the dinosaur factories I work with in China, we produce costumes like this. For the jaws, we just use the bicycle brake cable to pull a lever at the jaw hinge joint and use the spring to close the mouth. Granted, you need a bit more force because of the short lever and the long jaw, but I'm curious why you think that mechanism is more complicated.
'Not spooky action at a distance; that's quantum mechanics.' Oh, man, that gave me a chuckle. Talk about out of left field! You are such a wonderful guy, Adam.
hi adam is there aany chance you could make more videos where you go out and see new technology those are brilliant. Also, would there be one myth that you would love to re test and give it a second chance after having finished 13 seasons
1- To reduce the power needed on the handle (and the tension on the pulling cable, that is crumbling the tube), you should counterbalance the weight of the jaw. This could a cable fixed on the jaw, that goes in a pulley in the skull, and fixed on a mass guided in a "vertical" tube (when the skull is horizontal). Then whatever the inclination of the skull (sideways, or looking up or down), you have the exact compensation of the effet of the gravity on the jaw. 2- Use the same cables and sheath as for bicycles, those are rated for the strength of a hand, and the overweight is irrelevant compared to the weight of the whole raptor head.
I would have cheated and used a self closing hing for the jaw ( think pool fence gate) . But the next part of this build will be interesting. Thanks Adam and the Tested team.
I really admire Adam for being willing to put up an entire video of a failure. As someone who dabbles in DIY and craft projects from time to time, I know full well the pain of being entirely sure something is going to work, spending many hours and lots of effort, only to find out it simply does not work. At that point, it's very difficult to find the courage to continue, and even more difficult to decide whether to keep trying, realize you're in a sunk-cost situation and start from scratch, or admit you're just not good enough and seek help. I'd freely admit that I would be way outside my element on this, because while I can grasp the mechanism of a bike's brakes when both ends are on a rigid fixed system (the handlebars rotate, but the distance between the brake levers and wheels remains the same) this is totally different. The distance between the dino's mandibular joint and the operator's controls are constantly in flux due to the complexity of the joints connecting to the armature. Just imagine strings taped to the sides of your jawbones, both attached to the middle of your chest, how they would tighten and slacken as you more your head around. In my mind, it doesn't seem possible with the free movement of the neck and lack of any rigid attachment points in between... but there's likely a simple solution that someone experienced in the field of animatronics can point to in a second.
Such an important closing monologue; thank you for sharing, Adam. It'd be great for that part to be edited into a standalone video (with a little context) and shared widely.
I wonder if the combo is better at pulling than pushing. Have a spring for jaw closure. Or to betray my lack of hands-on, will your wheel support a push-pull where the hard work in both directions is pulled? There would need to be a bit of slack so that changing direction is always a pull.
A possible off the shelf solution might be a motorcycle throttle control assy with push pull cables. Harley stuff uses a control sleeve that is build for a 1 inch diameter bar and a wide variety of cable lengths are available. Also, you said you don't want spring return, which is valid, but spring counter balance might be helpful to manage the weight overhang of the jaw.
You may find that by using the fishing line, that it will stretch well before the snap length. It tends to happen *that give*. It may offer way too much give to be used and you may wish to add extra on the pull of it to begin with to give the added opening effect. Happened to have that happen to myself. It can be nice, yet is too forgiving when used as a daily for that. You may end up having to replace after 1 or 2 cons because of overuse and the stretch.
I wish there was more of a demo of why it didn't work, but I think everyone knows the pain of a long day of work and at the end nothing has. As a kind of generalist I worked as a studio catalog and fashion photographer, as a Photoshop and desktop layout design guy and middling woodworker over the decades. And all of them have been full of the "that was quicker and easier than I thought it would be" and "why is nothing working?!?" moments. The frustration moments feel like Clint Eastwood mocking "Man's gotta know his limits" and then pushing through and bam it all works. And sometimes you have to punt and ask for help. And isn't it great when YOU get asked for help and see the pain and frustration and walk in an make a little tweak and they are OH MY GOD and you have to grin and say, BEEN THERE DONE THAT, HAVE THE TSHIRT and explain it took you time to learn that tweak. I always think of the panic John Lithgow's character Curnow has in "2010" when they space-walk from the Leonov to Discovery and Max the Russian Cosmonaut Max assures him all his panic is normal - "Same thing happened to me the first time I did this!" and Curnow asks "You did this before?" and Max grins and says "Never!" Sometimes you need a hand to help you push through...
Tensioned cables with a spring return like a throttle cable on a motorcycle or old school car or truck is your best bet. Hand pumped pneumatic system would be neat, and you can use the same system to actuate different parts of the head too (eyes etc.).
I've been employed as a bicycle mechanic for almost a decade, and I found myself wondering how that housing was going to work when Adam talked about it at the beginning, and I guess I got my answer! You just need something with more structure. I wonder if the fishing line would work with regular brake cable housing? Sure, it would be heavier, but it's easy to get and would probably solve the problem
IMHO I think a spring return system for the jaw (even tho you hate it) would be the easiest to puppet while also being able to puppet the head.. e.g. you can put the jaw movement on a trigger and roar sounds on another etc.. =)
As someone who does freelance work, I do agree that if you find a job coming at you that you absolutely can't do, It is best to say no. I do want to add though, that there are many times we may say no to something we've never done before, and wind up not furthering our knowledge into unknown territory. I have turned down jobs before, but I have also accepted jobs I've never done in my life, and did a huge research, did the job, and learned a new skill in the process. We can hold ourselves back at times, by just being safe, and saying no. But we can learn so much more if we tackle a job, learn the skills, and do our very best at it. More times than not, you will succeed, just because the drive, the excitement, and the thrill of conquering of a project. Having said all that, you at least made the attempt, and I thought you had it going! But if you know you need help from someone who has done it before, there is no shame in that either. Can't wait to see the results!
Maybe it might benefit to look at some resin/3D printed fursuit head jaw mechanisms for inspiration? The lower jaw on most fursuits is held closed with either elastic or springs which snap shut (attached at points on both the top and bottom jaw)and for something that's mounted on a human head there's a place your chin rests that pushes the lower jaw open with your own mouth movements. Perhaps, when upscaling this, there's a cable system you could use that applies pressure to a "chin" of sorts (a metal plate?) and pushes the jaw open? You'd just have to use a little bit of fabric to hide the springs (fursuiters use fur or minky fabric for this), and a way of covering that mechanism with the raptor's tongue, perhaps? Incorporating that "tongue-chin" (?) into the down-force of the "chin" that pushes the jaw open? I do agree with other commenters though that you might be overthinking the engineering and mechanics a little though (I could be overthinking this myself). It's okay to admit when things don't work though - you're just eliminating problems one annoying lesson at a time. It's like Bob Ross would say, it's just a happy accident that points you a few more steps towards discovering the right way to do something. Don't be too hard on yourself Adam, it's okay to sit the big project on the shelf and practice with some smaller prototypes and mini-models as well which won't hurt so much if they break. I wonder if talking to that one british hand/finger puppeteer who made Dabchick (forgotten the guy's name unfortunately) might help? There could be a way to upscale something he made. Alternatively, I don't know why this popped into my head, but I feel like Colin Furze might have an idea for something cool (although he also has the potential to turn this raptor into a dragon that shoots fireworks or something equally as dangerous).
You can borrow a trick you will find on some push bikes, in that they do not run the brake cable sleeved all the way, rather where it needs to be flexible, its sleeved, where it isn't its tied to the frame and the frame provides the rigidity. This I suspect both reduces cost and weight. You have three struts, if my memory serves, are hollow - running the cable inside is also possible. I'd also set it up so the jaw is closed by being pulled via spiral spring on the lever control end, sort of a version of a grip spring - i.e a X with a spring opening the bottom and the cable running across the top - the opposite of a bicycle break lever. This way you active it with grip strength and when not using uses no energy. Plus you can 'grab' things and play with them without effort...
Savage! Pretty pretty please don't touch a spinning drill. I know your rpm was too high to make a scary chip, but I like your fingers attached to your body and intact.
here is an idea Adam: let gravity do half of the job: opening the mouth ... maybe you just need a pulley inside the head and a ratchet wheel (?) to keep the mouth closed. We can't wait to see the raptor finished. Congrats on your great work and videos!
I think it should spring closed and open when you activate the control. Otherwise, you'll be spending all day holding the mouth shut to avoid the raptor looking a bit daft whenever you want to relax your hand. This also provides a predictable "bite force," for safety. A mechanism that works like a lawnmower pullstart would work. Coiled spring steel inside a housing and the operating cable around the outside.
Gary Staab's TEDx Talk: Studying the dead to understand life: ruclips.net/video/8LWfb9fId_o/видео.html
Learn more about Gary Staab's work at www.staabstudios.com/
Follow Gary Staab on Instagram: instagram.com/staabstudios/
Special thanks to the team at Animax Designs for making this build possible! www.animaxdesigns.com/
Adam Savage's Dino Build: Building the Infrastructure (Ep 1): ruclips.net/video/X-1qBbir3zA/видео.html
Adam Savage's Dino Build: Testing the Paint (Ep 2): ruclips.net/video/R3UpWX4Mhfo/видео.html
Adam Savage's Dino Build: The Great Jaw Mech Fail (Ep 3): ruclips.net/video/0-M55DR-mRQ/видео.html
Adam Savage Assembles His Raptor (Ep 0): ruclips.net/video/bITSvA_P-wg/видео.html
Troubleshooting the Dino Jaw Mechanism (Patron/Premium Exclusive): ruclips.net/video/pWIpfR2bp-w/видео.html
I think what you are trying to say, when you talk of combining 'mediocre skills', is that your combined knowledge is greater than the sum of the parts?
"I’m mediocre at most of the skills that I have. My talent exists in combining all that mediocrity to achieve something great." - is one of the most wonderful things I have heard Adam share, and he has shared SO MANY incredible insights over the many years I have watched the channel. Thanks for this gem 😊
That's why I don't listen to nitpicks about the quality of my welding or the layer lines on my 3D prints or how I painted it all. Cause at the end of the day the final product will draw attention away from those details. And I do this sort of art and the critics don't. So I win.
I really understood what he meant when he said that. It's similar to how I am with my new job. When I started a year and a half ago, I was mediocre. Then things gradually clicked as to how I could utilize what skills I do have to make my performance as a whole so much better. Am I the best at any one part of it? Not at all. But putting it all together in the right way makes me appear better as a whole.
I’ve always considered myself a bit of an Everyman - This means at times I get frustrated as I’m unable to achieve something specific I really wanted to do. That one sentence spoken by Adam has put all those fears of inadequacy to rest. Thank you.
I love the honesty of this video. Adam has spoken so many times about putting your failures on display, so airing this is completely on brand and practices what he preaches.
Knowing when to ask for help is vital, not just in the effects industry, but in all aspects of life. This is an excellent project. I think it will be absolutely amazing when finished. Thanks Adam.
Indeed.
Asking for help isn't a sign of weakness.
It's a sign of strenght. That you know your limits and stop yourself from causing problems that can't be fixed in order to get to a solution that will pay off for everyone involved.
28:53 Man, this came at the most crucial time for me. I was in tears by the end of this. That doesn't happen often. Long story short, just earlier today I was struggling at work with almost exactly what you described: having said yes to a full-time job I probably shouldn't have, and then dealing with the consequences of that decision today and realizing I'm in over my head. Knowing when to ask for help, and resolving to avoid making the same mistake in the future... I cannot tell you how much I needed to hear this. Mentally, again, the same; I've been in a pretty dark headspace because of it all. I didn't expect to find the comfort / metaphorical hug that I needed from Adam's latest dino build video, but here we are.
I know being vulnerable is always a risk. But I also know that even if it only touches the life of one person, it's not in vain. Well, congrats Adam. It wasn't in vain.
Keep up the good work. Looking forward to watching Episode 4. :)
I work with students who build big competitive robots. I am going to strongly recommend they watch the last 12 minutes of this video. First you show that even you can fail (we all can) but what you do after that makes all the difference in the world. Thank you for sharing this video.
You didn’t fail. You successfully learned how not to do it. ❤
Well, there is that!
@@tested I would say failure ain't bad...Yes, it can be bad in competitions where imposed rules keep you from trying and failing either by time, money or just straight up told 1 try only in the rules...
If you don't personally have time or money constraints and only have self imposed rules...then maybe change those rules? If the time it takes to think of the perfect plan would take more time or indefinite amount of time if you procrastinate...and you can tank some costs of using blocks of aluminium for failed attempts...
You either will have reached your goal exhausting all your options or you get the lesson of "I need to do more research" 😅 or" I need better skills in research"
Anyways just saying the obvious...I don't even know if you are bothered by failures... But it's cool to see the up and down And ASMR process...😂 Hope you figure whatever issue caused your failure and find the appropriate solution faster than the last possible answer 😂😊
The story at the end has been told by Adam at least 3 times on these videos. This isn't a criticism; rather, it's an acknowledgement of how important this lesson was to Adam, and how important he feels it should be to the rest of us. Some things just bear repeating. My respect for Mr. Savage continues to grow.
Adam, thank you for remaining delightfully human in the face of adversity. If everyone in the world handled things this way, we might be further along in a lot of things. I feel the important process demonstrated in this video is that one person alone cant do everything. Humans need each other, for better oer worse, because we cant do it all alone. Every time you take the opportunity to point out the failures and examine them, you show people that its not that hard to do. I think it helps to show people that the ego can be an obstacle, especially in those 'hold my beer" cases. Keep up the "if I can do it, you can do it" message because it inspires everyone.
"A Jack of all trades, but a master of none, is often times more useful than a master of one"
Yet another saying society has cut in half to suit it's purposes.
@@UnholiestJedi Shame most of those "second half" bits have no source beyond "trust me, bro"
@@Drakith90 but it rhymes so it must be true
Often? Closer to practically always.
"Specialization is for insects." - Robert Heinlein.
Thank you for showing vulnerability and showing that it can hurt when you fail to achieve your goals, and that it's ok to ask for help.
A lot of other people would have just skipped past, and moved on to wrapping up for the next video, but you used that as a teaching moment, which was ultimately the most important lesson in the video, and what the world needs to see more of.
Nylon line inside bowden cable housing is a clever one! Us bicycle types are forever battling the effects of excess friction in brake and gear cables, and while we're more or less stuck with steel for strength reasons (or at least stiffness reasons with modern indexed gearing), it's nice to see an alternative idea floated for animatronics.
Also I cannot stress enough how important the openness about things not going to plan is. There's a time and a place for build videos that make everything look slick and polished, but part of what puts Tested so high up my list of workbench background videos is the fact the things that didn't work out are given as much discussion as the things that did!
To ALL DIY’ers out there!! Notice how Adam set the height of his table saw!! I see far too many of you setting your blade to dangerous heights! The bottom of the center most tallest carbide tooth above your material to be cut is where you set the blade…
Thank you Adam, for shop safety, and the honesty you put into your videos.
Truly an inspiration for the lat 25 years!
Knowing when to ask for help is a great quality. It shows both strenght and humility. Not only as a maker, but in every aspect of life.
Adam is the cool science/shop teacher that every school should have
he has too many fingers
You have a ridged structure between your hand control and the jaw pivot. Therefore, you can add pulleys along the "neck" and string your steel cable (without tubing) to connect 'control' to 'jaw'.
- Also, put the smaller bearing at the control end. Sure, you'll need to rotate the controller more but will gain an "advantage" in torque at the jaw end.
It's like looking in the mirror, listening to Adam. I often have to remind myself to not get mad when a project requires a specific skill to be more present than others and that's when I fail or don't do as good as I make myself think I should be. So then I step back, remind myself of my extremely successful life and that it is ok to slow down, hone the skill or ask for help. You are totally right Adam, the MOST IMPORTANT jobs to take or consider are the ones that challenge you. It's not about limiting yourself to taking only easy jobs. Take the challenge and being in the help that supplements your shortcomings and voila, HUGE amounts of knowledge, training and development will be yours.
I went from boring automotive mechanic to AG technician, now building my own tools and accessories for machinery and 40% of jobs are still a challenge, which is the fire to my kettle.
I have been watching Adam for many years. How much experience and skill Adam shared that you can learn something new. Thank you, I look at many things that can be done. Thank you very much, this is great. 😊
I've been confronted with similar issues, and have some suggestions.
A main issue is getting the mechanical advantage from the squeeze of a hand to the movement of the jaw. The problem is, the travel distance of the jaw needs to be much longer than what a hand squeeze can provide. So, change the ratio? Well now the weight and inertia of the jaw is multiplied on the hand feel; it takes much more force. And, the animation starts to get choppy and wobbly, loses control and fidelity.
So, use two mechanisms, one on each hand. There's two options for setting this up.
The first that occurs to me is to have a me hanism for the lower jaw, as well as one for the upper. Essentially you decouple the skull mounting from the neck plate, and install a hinge there, so that the upper jaw is an extra movement on top of the neck animation.
This allows you to have a shorter stroke for each lever, transferring power and control better, while still giving you the ability to squeeze both levers and open the mouth wide.
If you actually watch movie footage of a raptor roaring, the movement is almost never just the lower jaw dropping; that doesn't communicate the menace and power, and can actually look a little silly. Instead, a big roar involves the neck descending closer to the floor, with the skull pointing up and jaw pointing down. I think your current rig would have a hard time animating that extreme of a neck angle without inverting, but an upper jaw movement would do this.
Another two-hand rig might be to still only animate the lower jaw, but have a sorta high-gear, low gear setup, so one hand moves large movements, but takes more strength, and the other more subtle movements, with more control. Still, the two levels squeezed together would open the jaw wider than one could alone.
And of course, use heavier brake lines! I was surprised and impressed when you opted for fishing line and plastic tube; in my experience that's never held up. The line has too much stretch and the tube collapses. But then that's exactly what happened to you too, so I actually feel kindof affirmed and redeemed there.
I was surprised about the choice of the petite bowden tube. What's wrong with using off the shelf bicycle brake cable?
I also imagine having the end point of the mechanism more in the middle of the jaw length would help open it.
Our own jaws are pulled by muscles attached below the jaw bone, not at its pivot point on the skull.
how is there not springs involved in this? you want the jaw closed by default - you dont want to have to hold the jaw closed right?
I don’t think I’ve been more comforted by a tested video than this one. This one hit home HARD. Everything. Even the big job that he failed at(which I remember from another video in which he gave more detail.) that has happened to me. And the failing, the learning your boundaries. It all hit home. Thank you for this video Adam. It’s like a warm hug. ❤️
I'm always learning something from all your videos, but a couple that stick out that have liberated me in a sense are "shop infrastructure is a process, not a project" and "change out your sandpaper more often". The last few minutes of you talking about your experience with the ATM vestibule and recognizing when you've reached the limit of capabilities and need help (and asking for it) are just as important as any lesson or skill I've learned from your videos. In particular, the supportive words from you Dad who also subtly used this as a life lesson for you, although it was difficult to recognize at the time, as many of our lessons from our parents are. Great video.
The story from your book “Every Tool’s A Hammer” at the end there hits as hard now as it did on a first read. Thanks again for everything, Adam. And to the whole Tested team.
Adam, your wisdom is so appreciated and welcomed. My favorite part of this whole video was of you just talking to us at the end. Thank you for sharing your experiences and the lesson from your Dad. You're amazing and I love watching you make things!
Thank you for sharing about the student film ATM story in brief. It can be easy to only focus on successes, but life and careers are more than that. Thank you for the honesty on this channel.
Adam, loved your message at the end, it's so true! Everyone needs help, as humans not just makers. We're a communal species, we move forward by helping each other.
What a fantastic lesson! We all get frustrated and disheartened when our tinkering goes awry. It is easy to forget that every maker experiences these moments, because most don't talk about them publicly. Thank you for sharing your making journey, as always!
My Sifu said this 30 years ago and it's been with me ever since.
"There comes a time in everyone's life, to attempt a thing. One may not Succeed or be Successful in the way one hoped to achieve by doing this thing; however by making the attempt, one shall learn great volumes of themselves and of the Nature of the thing being attempted.
The only point that Failure enters the Picture, is by Not having the Strength and Courage to make the Attempt in the first Place. "
As a graphic designer, I feel it when you say to know your limitations. Most os my friends are creators in various fields too and when they post something online involving design, I'll message them like "Dude, who did this?!" and sometimes they'll apologize for not hiring me but I let them know that there's no way I could've gotten the same results and if they'd ask, I would've turned it down. Knowing your limitations, especially when it involves someone elses project, you don't gamble on yourself; you work to strengthen that area by asking people who are better.
Adam, I'm sure it's always hard to put up a video where things didn't go right, but I hope you know how much we appreciate that you do. It means a lot to me to see that even someone with the level of experience you have has days when he struggles. It shows that it's normal and not something to be embarrassed about, not something to let destroy your love for what you do. That's a message I often need to remind myself about. And great advice from you, too - being honest with yourself and therefore honest with those seeking your skills is really important. I work in a different field but that's a lesson I've had to learn myself. I hope you keep finding the joy in this build regardless, and thanks for all you do.
Wow... Adam drawing on that metal was mesmerizing. Great inclusion
Even though the project was not a success, it is still an excellent learning experience. Thank you for sharing you father's advice with us.
@Adam Savage. Use metal hydraulic brake line to run your wire inside of, you can buy in different lengths it's easy to bend it's a very small it's lightweight and easy to cut and you can use a breakline tool to smooth ends off.
the way his eyes turned red while he was talking about his dad
it's shocking how that event still has an impact on him this many years later.
Brilliant work , i know Adam does not read all these but the hole cutters were awesome , you are a brilliant maker .
I always enjoy your builds although I am not a builder. I used to be a storyboard artist and now I'm trying to be a writer. The reason I appreciated this episode is your closing story of how some of the most successful jobs are the ones you turn down. I got diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 2006 and I was about to start a big storyboarding job. I turned it down, and it was the most painful - yet at the same time the best, decision I ever made in my career. And yes, it signalled the end of my career as a storyboard artist but it saved the production company so much grief, allowing them time to employ another artist. And I left the business with my honour intact, as it were.
Adam Sandler did that this summer at a golf course not far from where I live in Nova Scotia. He just Joined in some strangers, golf game.
Hi Adam, I've loved your work for many years, thank you for all you have given us.
As far as your animatronics go, have you thought about natures solution to the leverage problem on a dinosaur, why not try to replicate this by siting your cables where the jaw muscles attach, from the inferior temporal fenestra to the surangular on the jaw for closing and the robust temporal bars to the angular on the jaw for opening.
Once again thanks for all your work over the years.
11:15 to 12:50 mark aprox. Excellent pairing of music and video.
think about your bicycle break line you spoke about, it is not soft plastic, it is a steel wrap with a plastic coating to protect it and the core from smoo and goo. that steel wrap is not compressing when you apply force to the lever. you need the same strength in your guide tube. it must be able to withstand the pressure being applied to transfer it to the remote object.
I love the nuggets of wisdom you offer from your life experience. Thank you for sharing them with us. I've told several people about "always knowing the next step" when the situation seems impossibly big, from your video a few weeks ago. It's really helped.
watching you has made me realize how much i miss watching myth busters 😭 so glad you keep that magic with everything you do
Adam loving this series I hope you finish it
That finger actuated drill press chuck looks really cool!! Did he ever do a show and tell on that? Probably a bit too niche for a full video but I thought that was the neatest thing! 😊
I like to think of your One Day Builds, not as builds that take one day, but as builds that will be done one day.
Thank you SO much for that thought! I just hope that I can/will remember it when comes around again (and it will!) 😅
Thanks for being so honest and transparent, Adam. I feel like this can really help people be vulnerable and admit that sometimes we do need help, and that's okay! It's totally okay to need help! I am really looking forward to the outcome of this raptor
Rarely is the creative process purely linear. Combine that with soft skills that can overlap in weird ways and it can be very difficult to determine what falls into one’s wheelhouse and what doesn’t. No one is BORN with maker skills and unless you’re the Mozart of Makers, you’re going to make some mistakes. And those mistakes can be learning opportunities if you frame them correctly. Or you can look at them as failures. Your choice. I always enjoy when Adam shares one of his not-as-successful endeavors because I feel that gives me (and others) the freedom to fail and learn from those failures. Looking forward to a fully operational jaw (and indeed, an entire velociraptor) in the upcoming episodes! Thanks as always for just being you, Adam.
I can relate to this video HARD. The thing about building animatronics/mechanics is that you often only learn the right way to do things after you have failed. There is so much that can go wrong and much of the work involves a fair bit of trial and error. Even if you have experience building animatronics, your experience often doesn’t tell you the best way to do something, but rather how NOT to do it so you can iterate a working solution faster. Over time, you tend to build up a mental library of things that you are pretty sure will work kinda/sorta well for a given application -and even then those solutions may not work 100% right out of the gate.
I love your work no matter what and your willingness to show us your failings makes it even more admirable. When you started the video with an explanation of a small soft tube encasing fishing line, I was already primed for an uh oh moment. I'm sure you'll come up with an unexpected solution.
As an idea why not think more Henson and simplify the design, use a spring to keep the jaw closed with minor tension. To open the jaw at the pivot point of the jaw lowering the bottom jaw requires anti clockwise movement. Using a pulley wheel and cable setup should be able to achieve this. Or to not reinvent the wheel repurpose a bike brake then just use a spring like on a bike brake to open the jaw.
That really is one of the best things that covid brought us. No offence to the team but build videos where Adam records himself are truly the best.
Thank you for sharing your dad’s wisdom. I just recently quit my job and I learned a lot from it but it was time to move on.
Sharing the true way of making is what makes this channel one of the best in my opinion. Love it!
I think I love when you say “Frack” the best. ScFi forever!
I too am a master of few things, but spent a career designing products, often blending technologies from other areas. Looking at your jaw activation, I first think of RC aircraft technology. It’s come along way since the days of pushrods and bell cranks. Now with lightweight servos, they’re able to move large control services. I would suggest looking into the push pull mechanisms in use today. Important criteria are lightweight, rigidity and strength. I think you might find something useful there.
Cheers,
Dan
Make a counterweight to lighten the jaw and make it neutral in weight, thus reducing the leverage needed to operate the jaw.
This. Also, Lawn mowerThrottle Cable on a custom thumb paddle trigger.
could you use the neck tubes as the tubes for your cabling so it runs no risk of collapse?
I appreciate the more ASMR focused edit. Its not just me is it? It seems to be more centered on the process sounds without as much backing music
That’s bad ass. I used wood to house some bearings and thought that was so cool.
Then you do it with aluminum. It’s so much cleaner.
I need a drill press and table saw
I'm definitely not proficient at animatronics but speaking as a fisherman, if you want sensitivity and to eliminate flex in the fishing line, I highly recommend braided fishing line Trilene(berkley), or spider wire... the line you showed on screen I believe is a monofilament which is plastic and even though it is rated at 100lbs it will stretch at far less than that. I say all that fully aware that this does not solve you housing issue for the cable, but after hearing the end of your video it's all a moot point, sounds like you're in good hands. Looking forward to the rest of the one day build, some other day.lol
I see that you are technically gifted as well
you must have worked in other departments in the sfx film industry, light engineering at some point, I like that you show in depth how practical fx are done.
I'm not good at much, but I am a professional bike mechanic. When Adam demonstrated the materials for the cable system my first thought was to wonder if that tubing had enough compression strength. The force the cable receives in tension is applied to the housing in compression. Eh, that said, I'm still in awe of the sheer amount of stuff Adam knows, expert or not.
I wrenched on bikes for years too.
As soon as he showed the housing and the line he was using instead of the cables he was using to actually explain it, I knew there was going to be a problem.
All he needed to do was add a boss to either end of that top bar of his 3-bar linkage, and have a short run of regular housing on either end with the bare steel cable between the bosses.
The steel cable doesn't weigh much, and is needed at these lengths.
I'd go as far as to say that fishing line is terrible for the job, except for very short runs, because it is designed to stretch when loaded, where the steel cable is designed NOT to stretch.
This seems like a solved problem in the bike world.
My first rule is always to know your limitations !!! It doesn't mean don't try, but not afraid or too big not to ask for help !!
You are quite the humble man. That being said. I would use a line feeder and threaded compression fittings on either end. And use braided wire instead. Worked for me. You mentioned brake line, it would actually work well.
I always appreciate the life lessons and advice
Oh MAN!!!! Knowing when to say NO is the hardest skill and one of the most important.
im a cosplayer and i also do my crafts alone.. its ok to fail coz thats where be try to make it up and fix it right in order to craft it easier the next time we make the same or similar thing..
also dont hesitate to ask help even thou there are some people who are newer to some field but we may never know me missed somethign SO basic that it is actually what we need, in a way you also teach em what you know.
this video spark something in me to craft even moe things in the future and failing will not hinder me from knowing how achieve that goal.. thank you
I believe in you Adam, you'll come up with something even better and more efficient! You always do.
Whatever you do, just make sure the default position of the jaw is closed not open
So cool that you share your work like this. I love it!
The greatest thing about RUclips is the fact that a creator can share their fails and find hundreds or thousands of comments telling them to keep trying and usually, somewhere within those comments, will be a few people that have the hard knowledge and experience of a master at whatever niche thing and share that knowledge.
Now, I don't have that knowledge, but I'm excited to see who here does because I've always been fascinated with mechanical movements and the push/pull cable system has been one of my favorite systems since I was a kid and learned how simply complex that system is.
And my Dad always said "Son, you can't unfuck that which has been fucked."
Greatest words any kid can hear after completely disassembling the gear changer on your first mountain bike.
At the dinosaur factories I work with in China, we produce costumes like this.
For the jaws, we just use the bicycle brake cable to pull a lever at the jaw hinge joint and use the spring to close the mouth.
Granted, you need a bit more force because of the short lever and the long jaw, but I'm curious why you think that mechanism is more complicated.
What's with the finger at 10:07? Were you stabilizing it? Trying to get a feel for the vibration to know when to pull back? Something else?
'Not spooky action at a distance; that's quantum mechanics.' Oh, man, that gave me a chuckle. Talk about out of left field! You are such a wonderful guy, Adam.
Try using a more robust cable (nylon) in a wound steel sleeve. Think throttle cable...
hi adam is there aany chance you could make more videos where you go out and see new technology those are brilliant. Also, would there be one myth that you would love to re test and give it a second chance after having finished 13 seasons
Asking for help is always a strenght, never a weakness. We all need help sometimes and that's fine. It's not failing, it's learning to become better.
1- To reduce the power needed on the handle (and the tension on the pulling cable, that is crumbling the tube), you should counterbalance the weight of the jaw. This could a cable fixed on the jaw, that goes in a pulley in the skull, and fixed on a mass guided in a "vertical" tube (when the skull is horizontal). Then whatever the inclination of the skull (sideways, or looking up or down), you have the exact compensation of the effet of the gravity on the jaw.
2- Use the same cables and sheath as for bicycles, those are rated for the strength of a hand, and the overweight is irrelevant compared to the weight of the whole raptor head.
I would have cheated and used a self closing hing for the jaw ( think pool fence gate) . But the next part of this build will be interesting. Thanks Adam and the Tested team.
I really admire Adam for being willing to put up an entire video of a failure. As someone who dabbles in DIY and craft projects from time to time, I know full well the pain of being entirely sure something is going to work, spending many hours and lots of effort, only to find out it simply does not work. At that point, it's very difficult to find the courage to continue, and even more difficult to decide whether to keep trying, realize you're in a sunk-cost situation and start from scratch, or admit you're just not good enough and seek help.
I'd freely admit that I would be way outside my element on this, because while I can grasp the mechanism of a bike's brakes when both ends are on a rigid fixed system (the handlebars rotate, but the distance between the brake levers and wheels remains the same) this is totally different. The distance between the dino's mandibular joint and the operator's controls are constantly in flux due to the complexity of the joints connecting to the armature. Just imagine strings taped to the sides of your jawbones, both attached to the middle of your chest, how they would tighten and slacken as you more your head around.
In my mind, it doesn't seem possible with the free movement of the neck and lack of any rigid attachment points in between... but there's likely a simple solution that someone experienced in the field of animatronics can point to in a second.
Such an important closing monologue; thank you for sharing, Adam. It'd be great for that part to be edited into a standalone video (with a little context) and shared widely.
How about using a light cheap motorcycle throttle twist grip with push pull cables?
You wouldn't need levers?
I wonder if the combo is better at pulling than pushing. Have a spring for jaw closure. Or to betray my lack of hands-on, will your wheel support a push-pull where the hard work in both directions is pulled? There would need to be a bit of slack so that changing direction is always a pull.
A possible off the shelf solution might be a motorcycle throttle control assy with push pull cables. Harley stuff uses a control sleeve that is build for a 1 inch diameter bar and a wide variety of cable lengths are available. Also, you said you don't want spring return, which is valid, but spring counter balance might be helpful to manage the weight overhang of the jaw.
touching life lesson Adam
You may find that by using the fishing line, that it will stretch well before the snap length. It tends to happen *that give*. It may offer way too much give to be used and you may wish to add extra on the pull of it to begin with to give the added opening effect. Happened to have that happen to myself. It can be nice, yet is too forgiving when used as a daily for that. You may end up having to replace after 1 or 2 cons because of overuse and the stretch.
So that makes you a Jack Of All Trades, or even the Greatest Jack Of All Trades, but really The GOAT JOAT...
I wish there was more of a demo of why it didn't work, but I think everyone knows the pain of a long day of work and at the end nothing has. As a kind of generalist I worked as a studio catalog and fashion photographer, as a Photoshop and desktop layout design guy and middling woodworker over the decades.
And all of them have been full of the "that was quicker and easier than I thought it would be" and "why is nothing working?!?" moments.
The frustration moments feel like Clint Eastwood mocking "Man's gotta know his limits" and then pushing through and bam it all works. And sometimes you have to punt and ask for help.
And isn't it great when YOU get asked for help and see the pain and frustration and walk in an make a little tweak and they are OH MY GOD and you have to grin and say, BEEN THERE DONE THAT, HAVE THE TSHIRT and explain it took you time to learn that tweak.
I always think of the panic John Lithgow's character Curnow has in "2010" when they space-walk from the Leonov to Discovery and Max the Russian Cosmonaut Max assures him all his panic is normal - "Same thing happened to me the first time I did this!" and Curnow asks "You did this before?" and Max grins and says "Never!"
Sometimes you need a hand to help you push through...
Tensioned cables with a spring return like a throttle cable on a motorcycle or old school car or truck is your best bet. Hand pumped pneumatic system would be neat, and you can use the same system to actuate different parts of the head too (eyes etc.).
I hope Adam learns about compression less housing for this! It’s what has allowed for such precise indexing for up to 13 speed bike drivetrains
I've been employed as a bicycle mechanic for almost a decade, and I found myself wondering how that housing was going to work when Adam talked about it at the beginning, and I guess I got my answer! You just need something with more structure. I wonder if the fishing line would work with regular brake cable housing? Sure, it would be heavier, but it's easy to get and would probably solve the problem
IMHO I think a spring return system for the jaw (even tho you hate it) would be the easiest to puppet while also being able to puppet the head.. e.g. you can put the jaw movement on a trigger and roar sounds on another etc.. =)
As someone who does freelance work, I do agree that if you find a job coming at you that you absolutely can't do, It is best to say no. I do want to add though, that there are many times we may say no to something we've never done before, and wind up not furthering our knowledge into unknown territory. I have turned down jobs before, but I have also accepted jobs I've never done in my life, and did a huge research, did the job, and learned a new skill in the process. We can hold ourselves back at times, by just being safe, and saying no. But we can learn so much more if we tackle a job, learn the skills, and do our very best at it. More times than not, you will succeed, just because the drive, the excitement, and the thrill of conquering of a project.
Having said all that, you at least made the attempt, and I thought you had it going! But if you know you need help from someone who has done it before, there is no shame in that either.
Can't wait to see the results!
Will the raptor head have speakers and make noises?
Thank you for sharing your dad’s great wisdom. Take care brother.
Maybe it might benefit to look at some resin/3D printed fursuit head jaw mechanisms for inspiration? The lower jaw on most fursuits is held closed with either elastic or springs which snap shut (attached at points on both the top and bottom jaw)and for something that's mounted on a human head there's a place your chin rests that pushes the lower jaw open with your own mouth movements. Perhaps, when upscaling this, there's a cable system you could use that applies pressure to a "chin" of sorts (a metal plate?) and pushes the jaw open? You'd just have to use a little bit of fabric to hide the springs (fursuiters use fur or minky fabric for this), and a way of covering that mechanism with the raptor's tongue, perhaps? Incorporating that "tongue-chin" (?) into the down-force of the "chin" that pushes the jaw open? I do agree with other commenters though that you might be overthinking the engineering and mechanics a little though (I could be overthinking this myself).
It's okay to admit when things don't work though - you're just eliminating problems one annoying lesson at a time. It's like Bob Ross would say, it's just a happy accident that points you a few more steps towards discovering the right way to do something. Don't be too hard on yourself Adam, it's okay to sit the big project on the shelf and practice with some smaller prototypes and mini-models as well which won't hurt so much if they break.
I wonder if talking to that one british hand/finger puppeteer who made Dabchick (forgotten the guy's name unfortunately) might help? There could be a way to upscale something he made. Alternatively, I don't know why this popped into my head, but I feel like Colin Furze might have an idea for something cool (although he also has the potential to turn this raptor into a dragon that shoots fireworks or something equally as dangerous).
You can borrow a trick you will find on some push bikes, in that they do not run the brake cable sleeved all the way, rather where it needs to be flexible, its sleeved, where it isn't its tied to the frame and the frame provides the rigidity. This I suspect both reduces cost and weight. You have three struts, if my memory serves, are hollow - running the cable inside is also possible.
I'd also set it up so the jaw is closed by being pulled via spiral spring on the lever control end, sort of a version of a grip spring - i.e a X with a spring opening the bottom and the cable running across the top - the opposite of a bicycle break lever. This way you active it with grip strength and when not using uses no energy. Plus you can 'grab' things and play with them without effort...
Savage! Pretty pretty please don't touch a spinning drill. I know your rpm was too high to make a scary chip, but I like your fingers attached to your body and intact.
Adam: breaks out annular cutters on aluminum plates
Me: "Ah, yes, high-speed murder foil" 😂
here is an idea Adam: let gravity do half of the job: opening the mouth ... maybe you just need a pulley inside the head and a ratchet wheel (?) to keep the mouth closed. We can't wait to see the raptor finished. Congrats on your great work and videos!
I think it should spring closed and open when you activate the control. Otherwise, you'll be spending all day holding the mouth shut to avoid the raptor looking a bit daft whenever you want to relax your hand. This also provides a predictable "bite force," for safety.
A mechanism that works like a lawnmower pullstart would work. Coiled spring steel inside a housing and the operating cable around the outside.