This sounds like a LOT of fun.
I have a couple of questions.
Is the Wonka-vator rising through the
deck and this opens to let it out ? If so would it ever bee seen? I'm going to assume that the
iris will be standing on
edge and the Wonkavator < that's really hard to type for some reason> will
roll on through it.
My next question would be what do you want to make it out of? Mechanically it would be easier and more efficient to construct it out of steel with possibly some aluminum components. However, if you don't have access to a metal shop or you metal skills are not as strong as you Carping then a wood/ plywood device would be called for. This is something I'd be glad to thumbnail as it's pretty straight forward, but need to know budget and automation requirements as well. his could be a pneumatic or hydraulically activated device or could be just plan old human powered.