Halloween Pneumatic Prop - Pop Up Scare from AutomationDirect

It's that time of year again! Yes, time for me to show YOU how to create a fun, inexpensive Halloween prop that will be sure to scare the local trick or treaters! As you know, we have been creating DIY Halloween props videos since 2012! These videos are fun, informative and attract a lot of DIY Halloween and prop enthusiasts. If there is something you would like to see for future videos, please drop us a comment down below. This year, we decided to build the most simple and inexpensive prop that I could think of. No electrical systems, no wires, just an easy pneumatic prop that pops up when you decide. I purchased a few sticks of steel from an online big box supplier and dug up a spare door hasp and spare pneumatic parts we had in the shop. Even if I had to buy all these parts, this prop would still cost well under $100 and if you have a lot of spare materials lying around, I am sure you could cut that cost in half! Once again, I am using our NITRA pneumatic products to control this prop that simply pops up or swings up as we are using a hinge style mechanism. To make the prop move, I grabbed a three-quarter inch air cylinder with a six-inch travel. This cylinder is part number A12060DP. This cylinder can lift 40 lbs. with 100 psi. If I need to move a larger prop or item, I would have grabbed a larger air cylinder like this one. I installed a few of our flow control fittings part number FVR14-18N to the cylinder and a few feet of our black quarter-inch tubing. To control the whole system, I used one of our NITRA foot pedals part number CVS-5272-FP. This foot pedal requires three fittings for the three pneumatic connections. I used MS14-14N push-to-connect fittings. One is for the supply air, one for the pedal in the down position and one for the pedal in the up position. Now, I just supply 100 psi of air and when the pedal is pressed, the prop pops up! When I release the pedal, the prop falls back to the ground. As you can see, I simply stuck an old mannequin on the two by two post that I attached to a piece of right-angle steel. The steel is welded to a hasp that is used as a hinge. The hinge and air cylinder are all attached to this rectangular welded frame. If you don't have access to a welder, don't worry, you can build this same structure out of wood or aluminum or even by bolting steel together. If you don't like the foot pedal, AutomationDirect sells manual valves like this one. They cost less than the foot pedal. Most of my previous videos explained how to automate the props with sensors and a PLC. You can do the same with this prop if you have the time and money. It really doesn't cost that much to animate when using AutomationDirect products. Once everything is operating, I can adjust our flow control valves to increase and decrease the speed of the air cylinder. It works great! Hmmm... I think I may have a sport that I can use the prop on after Halloween is over. As I always mention, there are many ways to achieve this same project whether it be selecting pneumatic components, building the prop or adding automation controls. If done properly, they will all bring you to the same finish line. I hope you are able to stop by AutomationDirect's website and pick up a few parts and be on your way to creating your own automated Halloween prop or just something fun. Please, if you create something cool, let us know, we would love to see what you have created. If you have any questions about using AutomationDirect products, please contact AutomationDirect's free award winning support team during regular business hours. They will be happy to help. Click on this short video to learn more about AutomationDirect's support options and click here to learn more or see more videos on the pneumatic products. And be sure to click here to subscribe to our YouTube channel to be notified of new Videos. Don't forget to hit the like button below!