Mark_Isbister Posted September 5, 2013 Share Posted September 5, 2013 Hi there,Im looking for a mirrorball rotator that works from the bottom as it were. I can find small freestanding mirrorballs on disco suppliers websites but my client want's a great big mirrorball rotating on the top on his roof.I've got a sneaky feeling this is going to have to be a custom made solution but any leads or idea's greatly received Cheers Mark Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarfaLights Posted September 5, 2013 Share Posted September 5, 2013 100 pounds, 2 RPM, $261. http://www.mcmaster.com/#rotary-tables/=odnzuu Try searching for motorized turntable or motorized driven rotary table or something like that. Many DIY projects out there as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigclive Posted September 5, 2013 Share Posted September 5, 2013 When you say "roof" do you mean doing continuous duty outside? Perhaps as an advertisement for a nightclub? The British Turntable Co makes signage rotators that would do that. They include clutches for dealing with high wind conditions that might stall signage (not such an issue with a ball). Wind resistance on anything that was a useful size (bigger than you might think) is an issue, so structural support is more complex than just banging it on a roof. Planning permission for a large "skyline" display would probably have to be sought too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark_Isbister Posted September 5, 2013 Author Share Posted September 5, 2013 Hi,Yes continuous duty outside for 5 weeks on a temporary event site over Christmas.The motor will be built into the roof structure from the get go rather than "banging it" in so should be ok and I'll give the weights to the design team,Good leads thanks fella's MWhen you say "roof" do you mean doing continuous duty outside? Perhaps as an advertisement for a nightclub? The British Turntable Co makes signage rotators that would do that. They include clutches for dealing with high wind conditions that might stall signage (not such an issue with a ball). Wind resistance on anything that was a useful size (bigger than you might think) is an issue, so structural support is more complex than just banging it on a roof. Planning permission for a large "skyline" display would probably have to be sought too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gyro_gearloose Posted September 5, 2013 Share Posted September 5, 2013 I'm pretty certain that you'll need planning permission for this, even if its temporary. Might be worth checking before any building work is done, just in case the powers that be say no. You don't want to find out after the building work has been done and paid for. ...so should be ok and I'll give the weights to the design team,For something outside you need to take into account not just the weight of the motor and mirror ball, but also any loads that might be imposed due to strong winds. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kerry davies Posted September 5, 2013 Share Posted September 5, 2013 Besides the permits, the wind (especially if in Brighton) and the rotator itself, where on earth is he sourcing a giant, weatherproof mirror-ball without custom building an inordinately expensive beast? Two metre ones are thousands of pounds and are certainly not weather resistant. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
musht Posted September 6, 2013 Share Posted September 6, 2013 Two metre ones.... Outdoors even 2m may look a bit,er, Stonehenge Pink Floyd`s was 5m Blackpool`s is 6m, 46,000 facets http://www.cameoglass.co.uk/Mirror_ball_BLACKPOOL.jpg current World record holder is 9.98m http://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/records-1000/largest-disco-ball/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kerry davies Posted September 6, 2013 Share Posted September 6, 2013 Lovely things, Musht, though they cost so much that even the Floyd had to use theirs for years and then sell it off to make it economic. I doubt that anyone asking BR for advice could afford Mark Fisher designed, Hollywood specialist built mirror balls or even the student labour built, four and a half tonne Blackpool one that took engineers a week to re-install. Anything bigger than about two or three metres is going to be bespoke costing a lot more than a few thousands. Best check if the invoice is going to be paid? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ImagineerTom Posted September 6, 2013 Share Posted September 6, 2013 http://www.mirrorballpaul.com/ If he hasn't got everything you need in his hire stock he'll build it for you; it'll work perfectly first time and you'll be getting the job done by someone who understands EXACTLY what the forces and problems involved are and someone who deals with crazy mirror-ball related projects every day. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark_Isbister Posted September 6, 2013 Author Share Posted September 6, 2013 Thank you all for your helpful and constructive answers couple of points maybe I should have explained the situation a bit better the project isn't in Brighton or by the sea at all rather in a large temporary christmas attraction where I happen to be the technical production manager and that is why this little request has fallen into my inbox.While I may not be contacting stufish to build these balls / rotators for me I do think it's a little cheeky to insinuate that just because I asked for advice on this forum I don't have a budget or the means to make this request reality I just want to ask some advice as it not something I have had to source before.I'll be giving Mirrorball Paul a call thanks Tom M Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigclive Posted September 7, 2013 Share Posted September 7, 2013 We're not implying that you aren't technically capable. This forum often gets requests from all sorts of people so we always have to assume the lowest common denominator for safety. For all we knew you could have been a DJ who had volunteered to stick a huge mirrorball on top of a cheesy nightclub with no grasp of the consequences when it unexpectedly fell off in a storm and careered wildly down a busy pedestrian precinct before coming to an explosive stop on a pram with a big squishy "blood splat" around it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jivemaster Posted September 8, 2013 Share Posted September 8, 2013 Terralec offer a 2m suspended ball for about £4k plus transport (motor extra). They advise that it weighs half a ton. These balls are made of hard foam and may well take in water over a winter season and get a LOT heavier. Consider a custom ball on a GRP substrate. Consider how you will start the rotator. A suspended ball uses the chain to soft start the ball when the motor is switched on. You may well need a 5 -30 second ramp up time for a moderate motor to start a ton of ball, and some provision for slowing the ball without driving it into a locked gearbox. The CAA will need a notification of a significant light feature too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
musht Posted September 8, 2013 Share Posted September 8, 2013 Whatever happened to Glitter and Twisted who made the mirrored scupltures for now gone Light Engineering? Big ball but probably not suitable for on a stick operation, outdoors: http://airworksinflatables.co.uk/pages/rent_pages/Objects/mirrorball.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.