Project Description
My project will be a 3D-printed kinetic sculpture with a rotating centerpiece, driven by a system of gears. The user will rotate a single crank or shaft, activating a series of gears, and transferring motion to the centerpiece. The goal is to create a visually engaging piece that smoothly translates the manual input into a continuous, flowing rotation.
Deliverables
- CAD models and Grasshopper scripts for generating and optimizing the gear shapes, sizes, and positioning.
- Test prints to assess gear interaction and alignment.
- A fully assembled model that demonstrates smooth, hand-driven rotation.
Team Members
- I will be working alone on this project.
Timeline
- Week 1: Research gear ratios and finalize the mechanical design concept, focusing on how each gear will interact. Begin initial CAD and Grasshopper modeling of the gear system.
- Week 2: Print and test individual gear components, refine the design based on test outcomes, and prepare for final assembly.
- Week 3: Complete assembly, make final adjustments for optimal movement, and document the completed piece with photos and video.
Related Work
- Theo Jansen’s Strandbeests: These kinetic sculptures offer lifelike movement through a purely mechanical approach. I’m inspired by Jansen’s use of simple cranks and levers to achieve organic motion, and I aim to capture a similar fluidity in my design.
- Arthur Ganson’s Kinetic Sculptures: Ganson’s sculptures showcase the beauty of visible mechanisms. His focus on gears as both functional and aesthetic components will be used as inspiration for my approach to designing the gear system and the overall aesthetic of the sculpture.
Hey Andrei, this idea is so cool! I think the idea of incorporating moving gears and components is so interesting and I think it will be so rewarding for you to see the construct the final product as well. One question I had is , Do you plan on using all 3d printed materials or a combination of 3d materials and other materials like string, rubberbands, etc ? I think either option you go with will be extremely cool. I’m really excited to see your final product!
Ian
Hey Andrei! I think this a great topic to choose. This a big field in the world of 3d printing and I think we are just beginning to realize all the capabilities of 3d printed kinetic objects. I would perhaps explore making some sort of wearable as part of your collection. Maybe a hat or arm-band. I think if you combine your 3d print with other materials like rubber bands as Ian was suggesting, you will be able to make some amazing moving objects. Looking forward to how this final project metastasizes!
Hey Andrei,
Really cool idea, I remember seeing a video a while back of a massive contraption like this on a beach, using the wind to walk around. It was really impressive. During our research we were thinking of doing some kinetic art of some sort. All the different types of projects people have thought of left me speechless. I hope everything is able to come together like you invision, I look forward to seeing the final product!
Justin