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Hack a toothbrush lately? — Parallax Forums

Hack a toothbrush lately?

gibbmangibbman Posts: 98
edited 2006-01-14 15:17 in General Discussion
I got to thinking that this $5 electric toothbrush I use has a pretty good life on two AAs. Probably at least 100 minutes. And it looks a lot like it might be easily mountable. So I think, how about using this inexpensive technology to move a·BEAM or other small bot. (Yes, it might be rather tall...). Anybody ever hack a toothbrush? I guess a relay to fire it after hacking around the switch, with a Stamp or SX controlling things (not on a BEAM, of course...). Anybody played with these? I mean for $4.67, including the 2 AAs, they're pretty cheap!

Comments

  • bulkheadbulkhead Posts: 405
    edited 2006-01-09 04:31
    gibbman-sounds interesting, I guess it could work depending on what type of linkage could easily be mounted to it and how powerful/fast it is. What type of toothbrush is it exactly? Could you post a link?
  • LoopyBytelooseLoopyByteloose Posts: 12,537
    edited 2006-01-09 11:53
    How about a BEAM fish? There seems to be a lot of wiggle.
    Or maybe a snake?

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    "When all think alike, no one is thinking very much.' - Walter Lippmann (1889-1974)

    ······································································ Warm regards,····· G. Herzog [noparse][[/noparse]·黃鶴 ]·in Taiwan
  • bobledouxbobledoux Posts: 187
    edited 2006-01-09 13:43
    Braun is selling an $12 toothbrush powered by two AA cells. It has a built-in two minute timer. I'm waiting for it to wear out so I can see if the timer is a PIC. Some more expensive units have an LCD screen.
  • Paul BakerPaul Baker Posts: 6,351
    edited 2006-01-09 15:26
    I diasected one of the diposable vibrating brushes when it's bristles became too worn, it required a coping saw at the proper place, net result a duracell AAA (suprised they used a namebrand since you couldn't see it without destroying the brush) and a miniature vibrating motor. I had no qualms diasecting it since it was disposable, but I wouldn't destroy one in which the head is replacable, since it still has usefulness for its original intended purpose.

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    ·1+1=10
  • Chris SavageChris Savage Parallax Engineering Posts: 14,406
    edited 2006-01-09 15:34
    I'm surprised they call them disposable with the battery inside...

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    Chris Savage
    Parallax Tech Support
    csavage@parallax.com
  • Paul BakerPaul Baker Posts: 6,351
    edited 2006-01-09 15:44
    I forget the specific brand and model name (its one of the major companies), but the head isn't replacable and neither is the battery, it is form molded in plastic that uses sufficent adhesive that opening it up is not possible without permanently destroying the brush, hence its called disposable. I think they when to such lengths encasing it so that if the battery leaked it would be self contained and wouldn't leech into landfills. Physically messing with the brush only snaped off the bristle head, no amount of human physical strength will cause the battery compartment to open, and·only compaction of a very large (and precisely situated) force would comprimise the battery compartment (I really dont think kitchen compactors would open it), and I dont think the compactors in truck would ordinarily either unless it was situated with other garbage (such as thick walled steel cans) in a statistically improbable fashion.

    People disposing of alkalines by simply throwing them in the trash poses much more of a contamination risk than the brushes do.

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    ·1+1=10

    Post Edited (Paul Baker) : 1/9/2006 3:48:22 PM GMT
  • Chris SavageChris Savage Parallax Engineering Posts: 14,406
    edited 2006-01-09 16:08
    Paul Baker said...(trimmed)
    People disposing of alkalines by simply throwing them in the trash poses much more of a contamination risk than the brushes do.
    You'd think we'd have learned our lesson a long time ago.· <sigh>· Thanks for the information.

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    Chris Savage
    Parallax Tech Support
    csavage@parallax.com
  • gibbmangibbman Posts: 98
    edited 2006-01-10 01:49
    Well, this is a Crest SpinBrush. It only goes round and round. The SpinBrush Pro has the round and round part, plus an oscillating up and down part. It costs a bit more. The batteries (2 AAs, Duracells, included) are easy to replace with a flick of the wrist. Also the bristle-end. Photos of a dissassembled one, after my camera batteries charge. These don't have the 2 minute cycle, you push the button and brush until your sick of it. I guess the two minute time is about what most people do, anyway. It doesn't beep to tell you when to change mouth-quandrants, so no controller, I suppose. However, this is a forum dedicated to providing support and uses for controllers, and a place for hobbyists, so I propose:

    1) We have a toothbrush-hack contest, wide-open.
    2) Our friends at Parallax provide a small gift, perhaps a BS2 or a few SX48 protoboards, or something similar, to the winner. Or just a posting that Joe Blow won the contest.
    3) Parallax employees can play.
    3) We judge it here in the Sandbox. Whatever seems fair for the large prize offered.

    Chris, Jon, Ryan, other undervalued Parallax folks, what do you think?
    Forum members, how 'bout you?
    Jim
  • Chris SavageChris Savage Parallax Engineering Posts: 14,406
    edited 2006-01-10 17:13
    I can picture pitching that to Ken...A Toothbrush Hacking contest...Hmmm....I think I'd feel like I was grasping here...BTW, are you aware we have an Inkjet Design Contest?· =)

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    Chris Savage
    Parallax Tech Support
    csavage@parallax.com
  • gibbmangibbman Posts: 98
    edited 2006-01-11 02:08
    Well Chris, in the light of a new day, I guess I can't picture it either. A tad too goofy. But for those with an interest (I think bulkhead asked for links), here's the patent, or one of them, with exploded drawings.

    http://www.freepatentsonline.com/6973694.pdf

    So many goofy projects, so little time....
    Jim
  • Chris SavageChris Savage Parallax Engineering Posts: 14,406
    edited 2006-01-11 05:07
    gibbman said...(trimmed)
    1) We have a toothbrush-hack contest, wide-open.
    2) Our friends at Parallax provide a small gift, perhaps a BS2 or a few SX48 protoboards, or something similar, to the winner. Or just a posting that Joe Blow won the contest.
    3) Parallax employees can play.
    3) We judge it here in the Sandbox. Whatever seems fair for the large prize offered.
    As long as we're having fun, I love your numbering scheme...1, 2, 3, 3...LOL· You should've allocated more·memory for storage than just 2 bits!· Darn toothbrush controllers!· =)

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    Chris Savage
    Parallax Tech Support
    csavage@parallax.com
  • LoopyBytelooseLoopyByteloose Posts: 12,537
    edited 2006-01-12 15:39
    Unbelieveable ! ! !

    Not only do I not own a T.V., I have no electric toothbrush.
    But, I have been thinking of making an HP printer for putting advertisements on chopsticks for that contest.

    Maybe I should have a printing toothbrush and enter both.

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    "When all think alike, no one is thinking very much.' - Walter Lippmann (1889-1974)

    ······································································ Warm regards,····· G. Herzog [noparse][[/noparse]·黃鶴 ]·in Taiwan
  • Chris SavageChris Savage Parallax Engineering Posts: 14,406
    edited 2006-01-12 16:03
    Kramer,

    ·· Advertisements on chopsticks?· I could see fortunes maybe so you wouldn't have to break up your cookie!· BTW, I don't feel so bad now.· Since my move to CA I haven't had a TV or TV service at all.· The only things I watch are DVDs or sometimes clips on the internet.· Fortunately I get the news on the internet as well.

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    Chris Savage
    Parallax Tech Support
    csavage@parallax.com
  • LoopyBytelooseLoopyByteloose Posts: 12,537
    edited 2006-01-12 16:11
    You will find that you actually can read 4 hours a day if you don't own a T.V.
    That is how I am learning to program the SX-48 and Chinese at the same time.

    I let the cat out of the bag. I was keeping the chopstick printer a secret.
    Nonetheless, both contest are great.

    They get people into really making something.

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    "When all think alike, no one is thinking very much.' - Walter Lippmann (1889-1974)

    ······································································ Warm regards,····· G. Herzog [noparse][[/noparse]·黃鶴 ]·in Taiwan
  • Chris SavageChris Savage Parallax Engineering Posts: 14,406
    edited 2006-01-12 17:01
    Well stick with it...Cat out or not, you have a jump start.· See what you can do!· It will certainly be original!

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    Chris Savage
    Parallax Tech Support
    csavage@parallax.com
  • Paul BakerPaul Baker Posts: 6,351
    edited 2006-01-12 17:17
    Kramer, have you figured out a linear drive mechanism for moving the printhead yet? I bought my gf a new car stereo for xmas since her old unit stopped ejecting CDs. Since I had to dissasemble the old unit to retrieve the CD stuck in it, I continued to dissasemble it to see what parts I could salvage. Inside was a very nice linear drive mechanism for the laser pickup, my first idea was it would be great for the HP printer head, you could probably do the same with any spare CD player you may have laying around.

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    ·1+1=10
  • LoopyBytelooseLoopyByteloose Posts: 12,537
    edited 2006-01-14 15:17
    Ironically, my HP inkjet took a nosedive from atop my PC to the tiled floor last October.
    I disassembled the remains and it has a beautiful linear mechanism with a belt drive that is a bit longer than a chopstick.

    I will have to create a lathe type of mount that is turned by a stepper motor to rotate the chopstick for width and use the linear device to move along the shaft.

    I have several linear devices from CD players as I got about 8 broken ones from a recycler for $3USD. But they are limited to about 3 inches.

    The problem with both is that they are NOT driven by stepper motors.· It seems that continous rotation motors are now pulsed and positioned precisely via a feedback loop and are cheaper than steppers.· SO I must change the motor tothe more easily programed stepper.

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    "When all think alike, no one is thinking very much.' - Walter Lippmann (1889-1974)

    ······································································ Warm regards,····· G. Herzog [noparse][[/noparse]·黃鶴 ]·in Taiwan

    Post Edited (Kramer) : 1/14/2006 3:36:18 PM GMT
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