Mechanics
After many iterations, attempting different modes of accomplishing linear motion, I've finally arrived at a simple wench mechanism. As things sometimes go, the simplest approach is the best. This system lowers cost and removes the strict necessity of precise construction that a rack and pinion system demanded.
Details:The motor is a high-torque (110 oz/in) continuous rotation servo.
2 Horizontal drawer slides mounted to each other in opposing directions provides smooth movement plus precision through rubber stops . 16" long with 12" of forward and backward movement.
36" Square wooden dowel, mounted to slides. Acts as "spine" to hold/support acrylic.
Acrylic "cube" will be 8"x8"x36", collared around the central support stud and attached to the horizontal spine.
A 2" winch is attached to the motor shaft, but this will get updated to 3" for increased speed. Coated wire rope is wrapped around and mounted to eye hooks on the front of dowel. Oval couplers on these ends control tension.
Labels: linear motion, new media, responsive architecture, thesis
posted by perry.gnoid at
2:43 PM
3 Comments:
Stephen - I am glad to see you working on your thesis and documenting the work in this fashion. I can appreciate your greatly simplifying the mechanical design and focusing energy on scripting the system action in Max/MSP. I look forward to reviewing your progress - and am very pleased that you haven't abandoned the project nor completing your MFA. Best, Dana
September 14, 2007 at 2:11 PM
thanks - I appreciate both of your encouragements. Things have certainly been "touch-and-go" lately. This summer was good proof of Maslow's hierarchy of needs theory for me.
To answer some of Daniel's questions:
The configuration allows for movement both forward and backward. 12" is the maximum the drawers can produce in both directions, but will in practice become shorter because of motor issues (more on that soon). So, two neighboring faces could theoretically have an offset of 24" total.
The centrality of the support allows for the physical mechanisms to remain within the cube form - regardless of movements produced. This was an exciting discovery in that the surfaces will not reveal supporting architecture - from any angle of viewing. This allows the physical planes that it inhabits to become deconstructed from a multitude of spectatorial positions.
I will generate a separate post to discuss the imagery concept shortly. I will email when this update is complete.
September 17, 2007 at 3:21 PM
Your piece fascinates me. The feat of engineering is astounding.
However, where can the essence of your expression be found?
Please tell us more about the thesis/installation.
Gary Martin
April 2, 2008 at 3:53 PM
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