tempestvr

September ’23 Update

Hi Guys,

I’ve got loads of stuff to talk about this month. I have several cool projects in the works: wifi enabled official firmware, a squeezer mechanism, and a TCode hand controller device.

Those of you who have been following my recent posts will know that I have been going through a bit of a rough time recently for various reasons. One by one those problems seem to be resolvin...

Video - Squeezer mechanism demo

Hi guys,

I've finally come up with a squeezer mechanism that I feel is practical and safe enough to build into one of my designs. In this video I give a quick demonstration of the principle behind it, and the concept demonstrator mechanism that I have built.

This will be my next project, getting this onto the OSR2/SR6 and maybe even the SSR1!

Thanks for your support!

Vid...

August '23 Update

Hi Guys,

First of all, I am pleased to be able to promote some inspired work by a fellow creator Sorites Paradox. They've already contributed a lot to our little community with Ayva Stroker Lite, which is an awesome web-based TCode toy control...

July Release - Hall Effect Sensor Mount

This is the Hall effect sensor mount for the SSR1. Mounted using 2x M3x8mm bolts with nuts and washers. You will need to also glue a 5mm cube magnet into the drive clamp.

The Arduino code is attached. Note that the Hall effect sensor startup mode is OFF (false) by default.

Video - SSR1 Hall Effect Sensor Setup

Hi guys,

I've had a really rough couple of months and I'm very conscious of being way behind, so I'm putting out this release now. This video shows you how to install the Hall Effect Sensor into the SSR1. I will be following up very soon with the sensor mount STL and the updated Arduino sketch.

Thanks for your support!

Video - Livestream from 23rd May 2023
...

July '23 Update

Hi guys,

First things first. I am pleased to say that I now have a promo video up on YouTube.

It's taken me far longer than it should have to get around to making this, but talking to you guys on the last livestream I realised that I am very short on routes to discovery. I spent a couple of days brewing up this 80-...

June Release - SSR1 Alpha4

This is the June release: SSR1 Alpha4.

I have made just a few incremental improvements over last month's release but I think that together these changes represent a big leap forward for SSR1.

I have updated the outer case parts so that they fit together better.

I have updated the mechanism with a 60mm-circumference drive gear that significantly increases the stroke speed of th...

June Livestream

Hi guys,

This is the Supporter ($2) post for June.

In this livestream I demonstrate the upgrades to the SSR1 drive mechanism, showcasing how it is now the fastest stroker in the west. I also show the upgrades I've made to the SSR1 outer case and some experiments I've been doing with electrocapacitive sensors.

I talked a bit about creating some short promotional videos of my m...

June '23 Update

Somehow it's now June!

This month I want to put out my last update on SSR1 for a while. I am going to release an improved set of case parts with better joins and a mechanism upgrade that should make the device a lot faster.

I seem to be catching up with myself, which is good. Having got SSR1 Alpha3 out there I still have a few improvements I want to make before I draw a line under i...

Video - Wiring & Soldering SSR1

This is the $2 post for May, recorded during my livestream.

This is a video guide to wiring up the SSR1. I use pre-crimped jumper leads and therefore the only tools you will need are a soldering iron and a craft knife. Be careful though, because as this video illustrates this can be a very difficult soldering job! I therefore also discuss some alternatives that you might want to consider...

May Release - SSR1 Alpha3

This is the March-May release: SSR1 Alpha3. 

I've made a couple of small changes to the hardware but some substantial improvements to the electronics, software and the documentation. SPI feedback is now incorporated, which represents a big performance improvement. Most importantly though I've written a 16-page accompanying document in which I go into a lot more detail about how to bu...

May '23 Update

Hi Guys,

Well I finally got here. I've finished a much more comprehensive set of instructions for SSR1, which will go live today and should make this device a lot more accessible to those of you who want to have a go at building one. I've also incorporated SPI feedback into the design.

The first thing I guess I should say this month however is that I'm sorry that I have gone the las...

Video - Brushless Motor Control Explained

This is the $2 post for April, recorded during my livestream.

This is a quick explanation of how the brushless motor inside the SSR1 works, and how it is controlled via the motor controller and encoder.

I'm still playing catchup, so sorry about that. The Maker release for March and April should go live in the next day or so. Mostly just incremental improvements to SSR1 as I learn m...

April '23 Update ...continued

I'm glad that there was such a positive response to my 1st April post. I've literally missed the opportunity the last two years and I wasn't going to this time around!

March and April have gone by crazily fast, and due to a mix of illness, some personal matters, and focusing more on background development I feel like I have a lot of catching up to do. The good news is that the development...

April '23 Update

Hi Guys,

It's a new month so I am pleased to be able to announce a new feature I will be adding to the OSR2 this month. 

Working on SSR1 has been taking up a lot of my time, but as you know I like to get out regular hardware releases for you guys. This is a feature that has been frequently requested, so it seemed like a great opportunity for me to finally get around to it.

Video - SSR1 Setup

This is the $2 post for March, recorded during my livestream this month.

This is a quick video guide that aims to explain some of the nuances to setting up the SSR1 drive train. I hope I've covered all the basics. Be sure to drop me an @ in the maker chat on discord if you have any questions.

I've unfortunately been quite unwell for a lot of this month so I don't have a lot to relea...

March ’23 Update

Hi Guys,

This month I’m going to be making the SSR1 Alpha design a bit more accessible, and I’ve got some exciting news from a major adult video site adding TCode support (ie SSR1, OSR2, SR6) to their player.

As you will know I am currently bringing a new device to you guys called SSR1, which is a single axis stroker robot like The Handy or Kiiroo Keon. I want to create a device...

February Release - SSR1 Alpha2

This is the case that fits around the drive mechanism released last month. Two of the parts have been updated (Spine Top and Spine Base).

There's also an updated Arduino sketch. This is an interrim version that doesn't require a microswitch, instead it simply drives the receiver gently against the bottom end stop. I'll be adding in a hall effect sensor at some point, but in the meantime t...

SSR1 Progress & February Livestream

Hi guys,

This is the Supporter ($2) post for February

I've been working very hard this month on getting the SSR1 design to a state where I can release the STLs for the outer casing. I thought you would appreciate a few pictures of how it's coming along.

If you want to see more about the design I discuss it at length in this month's Supporters' discord livestream, which I have ...

February '23 Update

Hi Guys,

We now have a working single axis mechanism driven by a brushless motor. This month I will be completing the design and you will get to see the SSR1 with its jacket on.

I have also created a fully 3D-printable case designed to go in the SSR1's receiver. This is based on, and compatible with, the Kiiroo Feel Stroker case used in the Keon. This is essentially a Flashlight cas...

January Release - SSR1 Alpha

Hi Guys, this is the first release of my first brushless motor device. Exciting!

I've run out of month so the Arduino code will follow in the next couple of days, but otherwise this release should be everything you will need to build the mechanism. I've included the STLs, a parts list and a description of the wiring.

Next month's release will be this same mechanism integrated into a...

Video - SSR1 Demo

This is the $2 post for January. It's a first look at the Silent Stroker Robot, 1-axis, recorded during my second livestream this month.

The SSR1 is a an experimental design that I will be releasing to you guys in the very near future. It's a single axis machine that uses a brushless gimbal motor and this means that it is an incredibly quiet machine for what it can do.

I've also upl...

Tempest's Dispatches - December

Hello Benefactors. I'm slowly getting back on top of things after being unwell. Here’s what I was working on in December.

Despite my illness I actually managed to get a surprising amount done. The area that saw the most progress was my brushless motor gearbox, which I was able to print, assemble and get working before Christmas. I also managed to get the AS4058a encoder working with the...

Tempest's Dispatches - November

Hello Benefactors. Sorry for the delay. Here’s what I was working on in November.

As you will know my November release was a set of adaptors that allowed the Feel Stroker fleshlight alternative to be used with the OSR2 and SR6, and with the T-wist. This toy is probably better known as the one that comes with the Kiiroo Keon.

The main focus of my efforts, however, was to demonstrat...

January ’23 update

Hi guys,

It’s time to look back on 2022 and to talk about some of the really cool stuff I have planned for 2023. Essentially, this coming year is going to be the year of the brushless motors and some new machines driven by them.

In terms of my work, 2022 was actually a year of two halves. In the first half I spent most of my effort consolidating my two current designs, OSR2 and SR...

December Release - Open Receiver

I've had a number of requests to support other toys with OSR2 and SR6, so here's another. As expected it's a simple one, but hopefully useful.

This is an open receiver design for OSR2 or SR6. It's designed so that in theory you can strap any caseless toy you like into it, such as an Onahole or Tenga for example. I don't have any of these toys I'd love to hear any feedback you might have. ...

Video - Brushless Motor Gearbox Progress

Hi guys,

I'm not feeling well enough to do a livestream this evening, so instead I've recorded a quick video showing you what I was was going to demo on the stream.

This is a quick peek at the progress I've made toward my long term goal of building a near silent OSR2-like machine using brushless motors.

I think I'll have to do two livestreams in January or something like that....

December '22 Update

Hi Everyone,

This month there's some new hardware for OSR2/SR6, a quick update on my brushless motor work, and some exciting news for all TCode device users.

Those of you on my Maker ($8) tier will have already seen my recent release of a selection of parts that make my machines compatible with the Feel Stroker toys. These are the fleshlight-like toys that fit into the Kiiroo Keon. ...

Video - November Livestream

This is a video recorded during the November livestream.

I talked about Kiiroo Keon compatible parts I have been designing, and CAD modelling in general. I also gave a sneak peek at the gearbox I am considering for a brushless motor based OSR2.

Skip to about 48 minutes in if you're interested in what I've been doing with a brushless motor based OSR2.

My computer doesn't seem t...

November Release - Feel Stroker Receiver

I've had a number of requests to support other toys with OSR2 and SR6, so this is the first.

This is a full suite of options to allow you to use the Kiiroo Keon's Feel Stroker with the OSR2 and SR6, with or without the T-wist. The fixed receiver is a common design that can be fitted with fixtures for either device. Use 2x or 4x M3x10 bolts with M3 washers to attach these.

Alternativ...