Long time coming...

Monster...

Machine or...

Ninja

After nearly two weeks of working on my drawing machine, I've finally managed to create something that seems to satisfy a portion of the firgure 8. Patrick's emphasis on drawing prompted me to sit down and really look at what I was trying to build. Shortly after I began drawing potentional parts and mechanisms of the machine, taking into account the simple geometries that were produced movement. Consequently, playing with the geometry of the machine and its parts helped me figure out important factors like length of rods and placement of stationary points. However, although the drawings proved more effective than my intitial trial and error method it did not completely solve of the machine. It wasn't until I paired the information I gathered from my first experiments and the drawings that I began to gain headway.

Recap: Models, Past to Present

Experimenting with layering:


Incorporating a track system to keep rods at a 90˚


Relying solely on sliding mechanisms


Considering replacing one central pivoting system with a gear


Combine intial ideas of track and sliding systems to maintain 90˚

The final bass wood kit of parts. Using dowels as pivoting points and soap to minimize friction

Plain Curves - Figuring things out part 3.

Model No. 3: A re-evaluation of the materials being used was again needed. The push pin heads were too bulky and interfered with rotating pieces and each other. Instead small bent pieces of wire were used to fasten parts together. This new method works better in comparison to the push pins however does not make for a very secure connection. The varying depths of parts have also increased mobility however forms of the same problems recur. To remedy this I will play with "forks" and "U's" on the next model.

" Image of whole "machine":


Depth and securing mechanism:


Depth:

Plain Curves - Figuring things out part 2.

Model No. 2:
The bulky qualities of my first model of cardboard, butterfly hinges and masking tape forced me to use more refined materials; Strathmore paper and pins. I was able to achieve more fluid motions with the second model however ran into a few of the same problems: 1. Inventing effective pivoting and sliding methods and keeping "rods" parallel or perpendicular. 2. Creating parts that were ridged enough for the stresses of the movement. 3. Understanding/figuring out how to layer parts, above or below each other in order to avoid "getting them stuck together.

" Playing with tracks and depth of dimension:


Varying depth of dimension and sliding system:

Plain Curves - Figuring things out

Background - not mechanics...
Reading and understanding typical plans takes little to no effort, however trying to make sense of schematic drawings are much more difficult. I found I was able to derive more information from the complex, moderately mathematical description of the drawing than from the drawing itself. Peer to peer discussions were also very useful as common symbols as grounded points or fixed connections were foreign to me. Once a few basic elements were figured out I was able to start playing around with building a working model.

Model No.1
The first attempt at modeling was with corrugated cardboard, butterfly hinges and tape. Although crude, the first model allowed for a better understanding of the need for dimension within the machine.

Image of whole "machine":


Sliding and pivoting system:


Sliding system:


Fastening system: