How to cut a wire from an arduino - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / projects

author: Fr34k
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: December 15, 2017, 06:28:20 pm
content: I'm making an escape room and I want to make a box fall when an ultra sonic sensor senses movement and I want the box to fall with the wire that is holding it cut how can I cut the wire

author: technix
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 15, 2017, 07:05:04 pm
content: Solenoid-controlled scissor?

author: Freelander
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: December 15, 2017, 07:24:09 pm
content: Quote from: Fr34k on December 15, 2017, 06:28:20 pmSolenoid,Heat,Definitely the solenoid controlled scissorsSemtex,High velocity rifle round,RPG,SLAM,Samuraii sword with micro gas turbine..One must ask..is an 'escape room' and why do you want a 'box' to fall, and what weight is it. ?Why not just put a bucket on top of the door like we did 50 years ago ? - always worked (at least once)If you get some photographic flash powder, a small tin (for example - a .22 air rifle pellet tin) - add two feedthrough caps to the lid, a bit of fuse wire inside between the cap inners, and add some strontium nitrate (screw lid on tight and connect bell wire to other end of FT caps..... all you need to do is put a reasonably small current on the bell wire and it will certainly bring your box down. It is very cheap to make and we have successfully used it to make a reasonably sized crater from a rabbit hole. I recommend at least 10 mtrs between yourself and the 'tin' of boom boom...

author: jaycee
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: December 15, 2017, 07:52:03 pm
content: Spring loaded rod with a sharp edge ground on end of it, held under compression by a latch pin. Solenoid to disengage the latch. Have the rod fire at a plate with your string/wire on it, so that the impact of the sharp end of the rod severs the wire.

author: technix
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 15, 2017, 07:54:34 pm
content: Or you can use fusable wires, discharge a big cap into it to break the wire.

author: TK
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 15, 2017, 08:29:42 pm
content: Answer will depend on the type of wire you are using to hold the box (Wire gauge, or box weight just to image what type of wire will be required to hold it)

author: james_s
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 15, 2017, 08:43:14 pm
content: A servo operating a pair of scissors or something similar seems like the easiest route. Does the wire have to actually be cut, or could you have the end loop around a pin that is pulled back by a servo or solenoid to release it?

author: ez24
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 15, 2017, 08:59:12 pm
content: Will the box be empty or full of bricks? ie what is the weight and size of the box?I think the difference is between "ha ha ha" or RIPHow about an electrified net that falls down like in Big Bang Theory?

author: rstofer
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 15, 2017, 11:09:05 pm
content: The wire doesn't need to support the load, it only has to hold the catch mechanism that holds the load.Solder would probably work well if there is a battery battery to melt it.

author: jeroen79
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 15, 2017, 11:44:14 pm
content: The problem with cutting the wire is that you ahve to replace it every time when resetting the room.How about a springloaded clamp to hold the wire and a solenoid to pull against the spring to open the clamp.Saves the wire and only consumes power when opening.

author: rstofer
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 15, 2017, 11:59:38 pm
content: Ah...You can take a clothespin, wrap each jaw with copper or aluminum foil, make the connections as Normally Open. You then put a small piece of insulator between the jaws and this is physically connected to the trip wire. When the wire is pulled, the insulator pulls out and the circuit goes closed.

author: phil from seattle
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 16, 2017, 02:07:48 am
content: Do you need to cut the wire? There are plenty of ways to release a wire without cutting. I'd use a solenoid to pull a pin which holds the wire.

author: DBecker
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 16, 2017, 03:31:07 am
content: NASA Standard InitiatorThey are very well characterized and understood devices.I'm half kidding. But only half.

author: sleemanj
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 16, 2017, 04:37:03 am
content: Quote from: Freelander on December 15, 2017, 07:24:09 pmhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Escape_roomHave become quite popular in the last couple years.

author: westfw
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 16, 2017, 05:02:28 am
content: Spectra is a polymer that is very strong, but with a low melting point. I always figured this sort of thing would involve a length of spectra, a piece of nichrome wire, and a relatively high-current switch.

author: CopperCone
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 16, 2017, 05:12:57 am
content: a surefire way to do this would be to discharge a supercap into some steel. The stuff that holds paintings would work. You just unravel some steel cable, then connect a strand to some copper leadwires (use a western union splice for the junction) and put the hanger in the middle of the steel wire. You can buy it at a hardware store real cheap, and you will have a ton of it for different escape room experiences. You could also use a lithium battery with high current.I would not recommend pyrotechnics due to legal issues. This could result in a drop of molten steel falling on someone though.I doubt a solenoid is as reliable as this method.Personally I find escape rooms a bit creepy, perhaps due to certain movies. I believe the "Cube" series takes them to a logical extreme.