A Drip in the Pond

DESIGN 11 | Spring 2024

Overview

A hand-cranked mechanical sculpture with seven moving mechanisms.

Driven by a single crank, two rows of mechanisms move to create an animated scene.

MATERIALS: Limited to foam core, hot glue, plastic straws, rubber bands, and paper.

TIMELINE: 2 weeks (team of 3)

I. Sketching + Ideation

Sketches of designs for various mechanisms and decorative elements.
Click for a closer look!

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i. First Prototype
(Basic mechanisms)

  • Complete working automaton, minus the decorative elements.

  • Five main mechanisms:

    • Shaker (x2)

    • CAM

    • Crank Shaft

    • Friction Wheel

II. Rapid Prototyping

ii. Second Iteration
(Designing custom mechanisms)

  • Iterated off the initial prototype to create a new automaton.

  • How can I design a mechanism that spins vertically instead of horizontally?

  • Two custom mechanisms added:

    • Double Friction Wheel (x2)

Double Friction Wheel

To animate fish jumping out of the water, I designed a custom mechanism that combines two friction wheels to create a vertical spinner.

III. Final Product