New Renders

Quick update, I decided to export our semi-finished model to HL2 so we could get some nice renders in game. Here are the pics...


I think it will look quite awesome when the blue neons shine through the pin holes, maybe even red. Hmm...

The Design

We are attempting to build the entire project for under £20. Therefore we will build a frame with PVC tubing as its cheap and easy to work with. The surface will be made of a laminated sheet of wood (type to be decided - but we're routing for MDF).

The lift will be provided by 2 small desk fans (the most powerful we can find) mounted one either end facing inwards. We will make an airtight box underneath the table spanning the entire surface.

It will be 65 inches long by 45 inches wide and 35 inches tall (roughly waist height).

The goals will be made out of wood. I would describe it to ya, but here's a pic:


Detailing

We're thinking about putting blue neons underneath the table to shine through the holes because it looks uberly epic.

Eventually we'd like to suspend a small projector (made from a PSone screen) from the top that will project an image of the scores onto the table. Maybe with some wibbly wobbly swirlyness added. We will design and create software with flash and use spare computer parts to assemble a basic system. To detect goal scoring we'll probably use a keyboard and extend a key to each goal with wire and then use that as input for the software.

We will probably just source our pucks and pushers from ebay for a decent playing feel.

That's all for now. All details of the build will be included when we commence.

TTFN

Small-scale experiment

Intrigued by our epic idea, we decided to carry out a small scale experiment using a cardboard box and a desktop fan. The goal of the experiment was to find out what spacing of holes was best for the surface of the table.

We made a grid on the top surface of 1 inch squared. Then made pin holes on every inch. We then sealed the fan as best we could (we ran out of duct tape ffs) and ran the test with a CD as a puck.

Initial Results

We found that while effective, 1 inch squared was not enough to provide lift to the puck. Results were dramatically improved when we added half inch diagonal holes. On a side note we found that blocking off the central hole of the disc increased the lift dramatically.

We then moved onto the designing the table, but that's for the next post...

Genesis

And so, in the beginning, there was Glenn and there was Lewis. And after the 15th change of underwear whilst playing FEAR: Extraction point, they came across a room containing a disc like object (see Figure A):

(Figure A: Said object)

"What is that?" inquired Glenn.
"why, it's a hockey puck" proclaimed Lewis.

And so, much banter ensued about how cool it would be to make an Air Hockey table.

So that's pretty much what we're gunna do and why we made this blog.

Cya