I had many scraps that encouraged experimentation, but also made my process a bit scattered. It was difficult to grasp at a vision for how my machine should work..
I have an old car ashtray (in the center, below) which has a great shape and reflection. I wondered how I could rig this up – not with an LED, but a small glow stick. The motion of the machine would snap the glo-stick, creating light.
I chose to stick with the motor & LED instead because it’s more advanced machination. I laser-cut a gear track, which would work like a bike chain in reverse, corresponding with the spur gear that I also printed. The idea of using this gear ‘railroad’ was inspired by a few lighters that I took apart. I was really stuck on this idea of making fire from an abrupt moment of friction — early humans scraping stones together.
I stitched the track using an empty tape roll for a foundation. I added green putty to one end of the track to make it solid. I was happy with the look of the track and the unfixed gear seemed to correspond perfectly. Then I spoke to David Rios who pointed out a serious design flaw: there are 19 panels, or ‘teeth’ on this track, making it assymetrical. He encouraged me to go ahead & fit it to the gear and see how it works out...
I am sure glad that I pulled a child’s telescope from some recycling – it makes a perfect base for this. I took the telescope apart and stuffed the bottom with drill bits to give it some some weight.
Rios’ drawing of how to fix everything in place.
When I added the motor and the gear, I saw that the movement of the track was not turning the motor – it was undoing the gear from the motor, releasing the small drill bit that kept it in place. This is when I decided to make use of a simple crank on the other side as the thing that lights.
In the end, my project resembles a hookah.
It really has a way of evoking... 🎶 araabian niiiiights
I studied tape dispensers and joined Lulu’s kinetic sculpture club for their meeting on Linkage.
My initial idea: working with pedals. As it turns out, this piece of garbage is a wonderful workout.