The days of punks, matches, and lighters are gone. Today’s savvy pyromaniac sets off their fireworks with an electronic ignition system. If we are anything, we are savvy.
Our first system was a RFRemotech – MS32Q 32 Cue Remote Wireless Firing System. All 32 channels were on a single unit which had a “dumb” remote. Programming was limited to firing each channel manually, or having the system step through the channels with the push of a button. It worked. It allowed us to be in the audience during the show, away from the fireworks (and danger), and got us used to electronic firing.
What was not optimum was the need to fuse together (old school) several items to put on each channel so we could fire 140 or more elements with only 32 channels. The fusing took a lot of time, was not always reliable, and was impossible to accurately time during the show.
When the Ignite system came out we were intrigued. We had looked at the more complex systems from Cobra and others, but didn’t feel we needed that level of complexity. The Ignite system offered the flexibility we wanted with a simple iPhone or iPod app interface.
We have six of the i36 modules, giving us 216 channels (more than enough for our current show size with room to grow.) Having six modules means we can spread out the elements (before, everything had to be within about 16ft of the controller) reducing the chance of fire and other related problems, as well as giving us some flexibility in how the show appears to the audience.
The modules are controlled with an app that allows for a show to be created in the online Show Designer and then downloaded to the app. Each channel can be fired precisely and even in sync with music. Being able to use an electric igniter on every element will reduce failures and tighten the timing immensely.
The modules are robust, but unprotected by any type of a case. Great Lakes Mortar Racks makes a 3D printed case, but we decided to design and print our own, and to print them in the six colors that the modules identify themselves with. One of my co-workers has two sons who are very interested and active in engineering projects and subjects. My son drew our design in Solidworks and one of my coworker’s sons printed them. We used a dissolvable filament to create the embossing on the lids.
Then we needed a case for all the modules in their cases…
