Friday, October 31, 2014

How Build A Pvc Pipe Kaleidoscope

Kaleidoscopes can be mythical elsewhere of PVC main and some mirrors.


Using a little length of PVC tube, some mirror and other customary items from the hardware store, you can brew your own PVC kaleidoscope. It does not bill all the more and can entertain children for an afternoon. There are a couple of variations of drawing that can be used extremely.


Mirrors


The most conspicuous Element of a kaleidoscope is the mirror array. To care for the weight of the kaleidoscope down, account acrylic mirrors. You can acquire acrylic mirror sheets online or from frame shops. The mirror sheets should be decrease by someone experienced in doing so using a carbide-tip maxim. Solicit to your resident frame shop to create this for you. Vacuum the mirror strips once they are abbreviate to eliminate any particles that could fall into someone's eye when they observe down the kaleidoscope.


For a kaleidoscope that is 8 inches stretched, intersect the mirror into 8-inch strips. The breadth of the strips is dictated by the width of the PVC drainpipe used for housing. For a housing that is 1-1/2 inches in breadth, the strips should be 1/8 inch Broad.


PVC Pipe


Advantage PVC drainpipe for the housing that is a capital extent to fit inside the labourer, such as 8 inches elongate and 1-1/2 inches in calibre. PVC cylinder is sold in lengths of assorted feet, so you Testament compass to chop it to immensity. You can act this with a hacksaw or hold the household improvement centre end it for you. Disinfected up the section drainpipe with sandpaper and soap and douse, whether required.


You Testament as well commitment a PVC endcap becoming for the eyepiece of the kaleidoscope. It should, Sure, match the diameter of the PVC pipe housing. Drill a 3/8-inch hole in the center of the endcap. This hole is where you will look into the kaleidoscope. Sand the hole as well.


Light End


The end of the kaleidoscope opposite the eyepiece must allow in light. For that reason, it is best to use a clear glass material. The bottom of a 60mm Petri dish works perfectly for a PVC pipe that is 1-1/2 inches in diameter. Petri dishes can be found online through scientific supply houses.


If the kaleidoscope will just reflect things outside, leave the bottom of the Petri dish clear. If you would like it to reflect colors, use permanent marker on the inside of the Petri dish and draw some designs. This will cushion the mirror "tube" inside the PVC pipe housing.Slide the mirror array into the PVC pipe; the weather stripping should end up near the Petri dish lens. Once the mirrors are in place, insert some foam rope behind each mirror strip at the eyepiece end.



The reflective sides of the mirrors should face each other and remove any plastic film coating from them.


Glue the bottom of the Petri dish to the end of the PVC pipe using clear PVC cement. Use this in a well-ventilated area. Apply the cement only to the outside of the PVC pipe end. Do not get any on the Petri dish lens; it may obscure the light or images entering the kaleidoscope. Allow the cement to dry completely.


Stick an inch or so of adhesive-backed foam weather stripping to the back of each mirror strip near one end. Avoid using paint because it can flake off and become a hazard to your eyes.

Assembly

Assemble the mirror strips. Form three strips of the acrylic glass into a triangular "tube" and tape them at each end using transparent tape.



Cement the endcap eyepiece onto the PVC pipe housing. Allow this to dry and you have your kaleidoscope.