Escape Room Lever Mechanism

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[@matthewcharles7574]

Props to Devon for editing my ramblings to semi-complete sentences!

[@GratuitousSets]

You're the best!

[@ilzg2000]

I miss the escape room videos 😭 they really helped get me through the furlough period earlier last year. Hope we see more soon :)

[@GratuitousSets]

You will! 😃

[@ilzg2000]

@@GratuitousSets yay! :)

[@MartinDolan]

Love the magnets for the detent. Including the push one! That idea is locked away in my memory for further use. 😜 (and it's a jig 👯)

[@GratuitousSets]

Lol- You ever gonna come visit?

[@MartinDolan]

@@GratuitousSets yeah, as soon as the zombie covid virus is sorted

[@GratuitousSets]

Sweet😜

[@charlietighe]

The finger and thumb holes on your fixture for retrieving your part... chefs kiss.

[@GratuitousSets]

We are big fans of those thumb holes- in "Space Lunchbox" they are milled in the interior foam, as well as "Spaceship console" play deck!

[@GarlandLym]

Absolutely love the design and the process to refine it

[@GratuitousSets]

Thank you! Cheers!😃

[@CGRTist]

Excellent build as allways! That lever is quite clever!

[@GratuitousSets]

Lol-(with a polite groan) hehehe Thank you, Sir😂

[@joshdew5240]

Incredible work guys! I've just started my journey on learning how to design props for the escape room company I work for. Very impressed by how much detail you go into, keep up the great work!

[@GratuitousSets]

Great to hear! We'll do our best!😊

[@monteporche5552]

it's amazing to watch how your creativity works. I might have to steal this idea for something I'm working on. Oh, and one little thing I was thinking of. Since your drill press seems to have miter slots on the table, if you modified your fixture/jig slightly, you could have it register in the miter slot and against the front edge of the table for perfect alignment each time.

[@matthewcharles7574]

The thought did cross my mind, but after the 3rd iteration of the big fixture, I think Mark was going to beat me with the pile of "prototypes" if we didn't push on.

[@monteporche5552]

@@matthewcharles7574 c'mon Matt..we all know you can take him.

[@GratuitousSets]

Go for it!

[@JonathanRansom]

Such a cool idea. I would love to attend one of your brainstorming sessions... would be a fun time!

[@GratuitousSets]

Any time!

[@joshkendrick3764]

So smart. Love the idea of using magnets to simulate the contact closure and make it feel real!

[@GratuitousSets]

It's Bizarre-ly effective!

[@fredygump5578]

This is an interesting solution, making individual assemblies from wood and using magnets to give mechanical feel. I would immediately try the harder option, making a single assembly with all the levers, using metal and springs. Reason? I have not yet learned to visualize the entire world as a CNC router project! (But I have a router on order, so it's just a matter of time until that happens.)

[@GratuitousSets]

It's gonna warp your brain and change EVERYTHING

[@fredygump5578]

@@GratuitousSets It already warped my wallet...but I was expecting that!

[@GratuitousSets]

LOL🤣

[@KoenvanDommelen]

Very cool mechanism! The thing I dig the most about it is the middle magnet and the almost complete vandal-proofness! If you want the to look more like electrical switches for a other project I think it would be great to connect 2 of them with a rod to have that "big switch" look and keep the overall greatness :P

[@GratuitousSets]

Fantastic idea!

[@justinherman9443]

Could you guys give some more info on your rebuilt CNC router table? I think you had a video at the beginning of that but it would be cool to see more than it just in the background. A summary on how you design CAD/CAM the project would be cool.

[@GratuitousSets]

Way to call us out on the unfinished elephant in the middle of our shop!

[@justinherman9443]

@@GratuitousSets Just doing my part. ;)

[@CharlesYarnold]

How many spares do you usually make at this stage of the build, vs later down the road after you start needing more? I find its a tricky balance to find!

[@GratuitousSets]

For the levers puzzle, there's not much that can break, so, none...However, For operational bits, that are used as keys, every one gets a spare. For example, in the rooms we are building right now, there are 4 mcguffins that must be unlocked from pedestals and inserted in cubbies in a stone wall. Each mcguffin sits on a maglocked, magnetically coded baseplate. If players break one, there is a spare backup that will give the owners time to repair the original or call us for a replacement, that will then become the new spare. Our armored case with the resistor key comes with a spare key, etc. I'm not sure if I answered your question- did I?

[@chad499]

On a more serious note, with the current prices of ply , how has this affected you guys? I see you designing this stuff using ply but man, that must build up ... glad to see you guys still making videos! Love the levers, great design guys.

[@GratuitousSets]

Not much- our old A/C plywood was about $48 per sheet, and the Baltic birch is $50-60. The quality and lack of voids is totally worth it, and we try to carefully nest all the parts efficiently before milling.

[@alexandermatthews6955]

Do you guys sell the designs for these kind of things? Love your videos but I’m uk based and not the best at CAD!

[@GratuitousSets]

Give us a call on WhatsApp- I'm sure we can figure something out! 214-529-0045

[@KB-yy7zt]

How are you attaching the file handles? Epoxy or threaded rod etc. You might have went over that but at the 8:00 mark your air hose was dangling above your head for the rest of the video and my OCD kicked in.

[@GratuitousSets]

Handles and rotors are drilled and tapped for 1/4" 20 threaded rod. I stared at that hose, too!

[@catworldtoast]

Do you sell these? I can't find a working website.

[@WhiteysWickedWorkshop]

You guys always make it fun....at the end when he was building was my favorite...was he reading a dictionary? LMAO!!

[@GratuitousSets]

Lol- It was the Machinists Handbook!

[@KrazeeKraftZ]

I'm curious, could I add more magnet positions to have multiple stop options?? And I need to have 5 levers together to be locked into whatever position the clue tells that to set them to, to activate the next prop.

[@GratuitousSets]

The center magnet repels to give a "break over" feel...but... it could be changed to an attracting magnet. That would give each lever three positions instead of two. The circuit boards are made in such a way that they can be daisy chained together so that can definitely work. You can give me a shout on WhatsApp if it helps at 2145290045 😊

[@KrazeeKraftZ]

@@GratuitousSets hey, thanks for responding, did understand the point of the center magnet, nice idea. I actually need 5 stop points, I think, there are 5 levers. I'm copying a scenario from a video game, at least I'm trying to. So far all is going well, was looking for inspiration for exactly what you did in this video, so yesterday I ordered file handles to be the levers, they will suffice for now, will have to have another look at how you attached them. I'm hoping I can place the magnets close enough to each other to simulate the possible stops and have the electronics activate only when each one is in the correct location. It's a bit tricky but I'm determined. Found a couple of awesome KZbinrs, like yourself, with great ideas and I'm really thankful for the inspiration, as soon as this starts making me more than it's costing me I'm planning to thankyou properly.

[@GratuitousSets]

If you have a moment, gimme a call this week. I have a few ideas that might help (besides, it's free)

[@GratuitousSets]

I see the time difference so, get up early or stay up late🤣

[@Carwyn.Morris]

Very nice and given how this functions it could probably be adapted to work with a tap system as well as a lever. though with taps i'd probably put an extra gear in there with the magnet on to allow for more turns of the tap before it aligns with the reader. Ok so it might be a big different system but the principle of how it would work would be the same.

[@GratuitousSets]

Good call! I'll film the pipes puzzle I'm currently working on to show EXACTLY what you described! LOL😂

[@matthewcharles7574]

The original seed of the idea (for a job that didn't happen) was basically an over-sized disc lock. We could also add an extra "pull" magnet in the center of the stator to be a third "null" read for the sensor (-1, 0, +1).

[@Carwyn.Morris]

@@matthewcharles7574 I wonder... can you combine 2 or more together I know that would make it more complex but in reality it would just be a system of logic gates wouldn't it? Having never used them I don't know. Like having one not work until the other is switched on. Maybe I'm over thinking it.

[@matthewcharles7574]

@@Carwyn.Morris, that's exactly what they do. Our "phesii" sensors are configurable to look for or north or a south, and can be daisy chained together, pretty much indefinitely. As logic gates, they are effectively NAND gates that output to a maglock.

[@GratuitousSets]

I just shot the intro for the next video-- Can I link to your channels in the description?

[@justinherman9443]

Did I see a bushing the rotor rode on? Do you ever see a need to use a bit of lock tite, on the nuts, as it looks like the box might be moved around (jostled). How are you setting the handle? Was it a set nut inside the rotor? How did you obscure the fact that it is made of plywood when plywood isn't period? I wonder if a sheet of plastic placed between the rotor and body would prevent the rotor from rubbing on the housing as I would think the plywood could swell if left in humid locations. How cool would it be if the detents could be digitally controlled allowing for the handles to jump or move by supernatural forces.

[@matthewcharles7574]

Yes! I've been brain-storming a way to do that last one, let me know if you come up with anything. To answer other questions: 1) There's a nylon bushing that lets the rotor move around the 1/4"-20 bolt that serves as the axel without the threads cutting into the ply. 2) We usually loc-tite *everything*, just not on these. The head of the bolts gets held in the hexes milled into the base plate, so those can't spin. The way each assembly slots into the box prevents the pieces from being able to wiggle loose. 3) The smaller drill press fixture lets us pilot a hole in the center of the rotor, we then widen that out to a 7/32" and tap it for 1/4"-20 threaded rod. Same inside the file handle. 4) We didn't really. Stained it dark and didn't draw attention. Gave ourselves a pass on full authenticity for this one. 5) In similar designs in the past we've made custom polycarbonate washers, but the thin insulator washers seem to be doing the trick. As for swelling: the baltic birch ply is pretty good stuff. Left outside, or in standing water, that could certainly be a problem.

[@justinherman9443]

@@matthewcharles7574 there is always an option to replace the permeant detents magnets with electro magnets. This would provide a zero wear option with sacrificing fidelity of the motion. Another option could be to add a motor that would be powerful enough to override the magnetic detent. Maybe a push rod and the end stop that could be actuated that would push the lever away from its detent.

[@justinherman9443]

Also I find it faster if I batch out assembly operations especially if I have the workspace. Add bolt to all of them, then add washer to all, then add spacer, yada yada yada. You are able to keep focused on a certain task and reduce the possibility of missing a step and prevent the losses from grabbing small parts (washers, nuts) when assembling. Maybe you are already doing this but maybe not. This is perfect for building kits and a set of disposable cups ready to receive each part makes quick work of gathering parts.

[@matthewcharles7574]

@@justinherman9443, I think we just invented the stepper motor. Mental wheels turning...

[@justinherman9443]

@@matthewcharles7574 Gotta keep those rotor wheels turning...

[@stevehawker6220]

How did you secure the ‘file’ handles to the ply? Was that also with metal inserts?

[@stevehawker6220]

I have just ordered some metal inserts to try this type of fixing 👍

[@GratuitousSets]

We tapped threads into the ply and the file handles, then we epoxied 1/4" 20 threaded rod into the file handles. The handle/rod combo is then screwed into the ply. We did it this way because the handles are bigger than the lever slots and must be attached from the front. Also, the handles are removable so the machine can be disassembled for any repairs should it ever break.🤔

[@stevehawker6220]

@@GratuitousSets I can picture people unscrewing the handles in our game and shouting.. look I found this, where does it go!? 😣

[@stevehawker6220]

Really lovely build btw, if you need a cool new challenge I would love to see some ideas on a non mechanical rotary encoder.. 👍

[@GratuitousSets]

@@stevehawker6220 LOL

[@cynicalrabbit915]

Why use a hall effect sensor when all you really need are magnetic reed switches?

[@KoenvanDommelen]

Hall effect sensors are way more reliable in the long run, and you can detect the poles with them, so you have 2 states with 1 sensor (or even more if you measure magnet power with them)

[@GratuitousSets]

An excellent answer!

[@cynicalrabbit915]

@@KoenvanDommelen While it is true that reed switches do fail. The military has been using them for over 50yrs very successfully as part of fuel system controls in some very critical equipment. Not saying that escape rooms don't require more complex systems, it depends on how complex the game masters want. For the amateur or at least someone just starting to work on puzzles like this, keeping it simple and as inexpensive as possible reed switches would be a workable solution. Mechanical versions using roller switches and or cams are also workable solutions.

[@KoenvanDommelen]

@@cynicalrabbit915 Indeed, that is very true, it will be a good alternative and very easy to wire and install. The worst problem with reeds is the sticking of the internal parts and that is hard to overcome, also for the military ;)

[@matthewcharles7574]

A simple security-system reed switch could certainly get the job done. But As Koen pointed out, it's the ability to tell North from South that the radiometric hall effect sensors allow for. And the PCBs we've designed don't need any other external components to use with a basic maglock. LEDs give you immediate feedback that the sensor has seen a magnet and on what pole, there's a trim pot to dial in what strength of field counts as a read. They've also got pins to easily connect them to an Arduino, or other micro-controller for more granular control.

[@nagranoth_]

Wow. 1 second in and you're already coming on to nearly 9000 subscribers... you're not really picky, are you? :-p

[@matthewcharles7574]

I am not. Please don't tell my wife.

[@GratuitousSets]

LOL- Not picky at all! 🤣

[@chad499]

First??

[@GratuitousSets]

Yes!!!