LASERFLY

Close up of the laser thingy

Finished and flapping

I used overhead projector film to make the wings and simply glued them to the axles.

The tricky bit is getting them balanced, I soldered a length of copper wire to each axle, one just long enough to rest on the “eye” with a 90 degree bend at the end. The second wire was coiled up at the far end and rested on the bend of the first wire. I slowly cut 1mm or less off the coiled end until the two where just light enough to “Flap” the trouble was I cut 1mm too much so when it flapped the wings stayed up! I put some solder on the end to replace the weight.

In full sun he flaps about 14 times a minute.

That is about it really, if anyone wants  to know more please feel free to mail me.

This is where it all started, a freeformed 1381J solar engine. I made one for another project and it didn’t get used. It was made using the diagram below. I can’t   remember where the diagram came from but I can’t take the credit.

I suddenly realised that the laser thingy in a CD drive actually moves. It is suspended in mid air by a series of magnets arranged around the outer edge. Different combinations of the four wires make the “eye” move left, right, up, and down.

This gave me the idea to use it to push or pull something, but didn’t know what.

Then while daydreaming out of the window I saw it! My wife has a wire model of a dragonfly hanging on some plants, that was the moment Laserfly was conceived.

I rushed outside and stole the model to use as a pattern. I started making the legs out of copper wire from household lighting cable, soldered them together and then made two simple “U” shapes with small loops at each end to take the axles. These were soldered under the leg assembly with enough room to fit the laser thingy in between.

Originally I was going to mount the SE and cell all on top of the fly but after I had started it seemed a shame to spoil the looks so I decided to utilise a small box I got from Maplins. It was a bit too small really but I didn’t want to start over or go and get a bigger box.

In the bottom picture you can see the wires from the laser which I glued to the inside of the middle legs and drilled small holes in the box for them to pass through. I left plenty of wire inside so I can open it without dismantling the whole thing.