Instrument Eight, in progress (Nat Chard)

I have started working on a new series of instruments. This is the first chassis of (probably) four instruments, two of which are developments of Instrument Seven and two of which ask for more direct engagement. They incorporate some simple analogue computers to drive architectural models – architectural automata.

Instrument Eight, in progress (Nat Chard)

They are made from quarter inch (6.5mm) aluminium plate. I had the pieces waterjet cut. All the joints are slotted for structural integrity and are held together by bolts. The cutting is slightly off so all the joints need to be filed to get the pieces to fit – better than too loose I suppose. The chassis is much stronger than the acrylic ones I built for instruments four to seven, to the extent that I can comfortably stand on this one without it complaining. It is also much more resistant to breakage from knocks. I will tell the story as the thing develops. The design of the chassis is a development of that for Instrument Seven. It has a slightly different geometry and there are no interchangeable parts.

Instrument Eight, in progress (Nat Chard)

Instrument Seven drawing (Nat Chard)

Instrument Seven drawing (Nat Chard)

Instrument Seven drawing (Nat Chard)

Instrument Seven drawing (Nat Chard)

Instrument Seven drawing (Nat Chard)

Instrument Seven drawing (Nat Chard)

A series of paint throws at Instrument Seven.

Note how the picture plane catches mostly the splatters that come off the drawing pieces  except at the right hand end where some of the main throw is caught. The folds int he picture plane are much more subtle than in the previous instruments and have a much greater effect. The degree of fold can be seen in the previous post.

Instrument Five (Nat Chard)

In the picture above you can see the view the catapult that is going to throw paint has of Instrument Five. As noted earlier, having the folding picture plane behind the drawing pieces means that many of the subtle splatters of deflected paint are obscured by the main body of paint that misses the drawing pieces and deposits a large splat of paint on the picture plane. The same instrument can be seen below, showing this relationship from the side.

Instrument Five (Nat Chard)

Instrument Seven has the same chassis as Instrument Five but has a new picture plane that sits adjacent to the flight of the paint (see below). The folding picture plane has adjustments between each individual plate plus the whole picture plane can rotate slightly. The plane is set up so that the area closest to the drawing pieces forms a harbour to protect that part from a direct flight of paint. Some of the direct flight can catch the back end of the picture plane (or the front if the catapult is turned far enough.

Instrument Seven (Nat Chard)

(Above) You can see how little of the Instrument Seven picture plane sits behind the drawing pieces.

(Below) Side view of Instrument Seven.

Instrument Seven (Nat Chard)

The Instrument Seven drawing pieces are also developed to be more robust and larger targets for the paint. We are no longer discussing the Bird Automata test track in this instrument – the drawing pieces shown here are a media test to push some of the thoughts about what the drawing pieces could achieve. There is a main wooden piece that is protected by a number of slatted screens. as the paint penetrates the screens to cover the wooden piece the slats become more opaque to the flying paint.

Instrument Seven (Nat Chard)

(Above) A detail of the Instrument Seven Drawing Pieces.

Instrument Seven (Nat Chard)

I will post some images of Instrument Seven drawing tomorrow. Below is one of Instrument Seven’s drawings.

Instrument Seven drawing (Nat Chard)

And another one…

Instrument Seven drawing (Nat Chard)

Drawing Instrument Five (Nat Chard)

The earlier pictures of Instrument Five concentrated on two of the four instruments. Here is the whole cast.

Drawing Instrument Five (Nat Chard)

Drawing Instrument Five (Nat Chard)

Drawing Instrument Five (Nat Chard)

Drawing Instrument Five (Nat Chard)

Drawing Instrument Five (Nat Chard)

Drawing Instrument Five (Nat Chard)

Drawing Instrument Five (Nat Chard)Drawing Instrument Five (Nat Chard)

Drawing Instrument Five (Nat Chard)

I will post when possible over the next few days when internet access is possible but there may be some breaks.

Instrument Six set up for direct viewing (Nat Chard)

THe shadow in the submarine photographs (previous post) float in the air because there is a parallax between the flashes of each photograph as well as the parallax between the two photographs. Instrument six has an object to cast shadows and a screen. For direct viewing there are two candles (see above) on a track that have a polarising filter for each candle. There is also a mechanism to adjust the distance between the candles. The screen is a material that maintains the polarisation of light in the reflection, and is made for 3D projection. The observer wears polarising glasses and the parallax between the two shadows locate a single shadow in front of the screen. By reversing the filters the shadow can be placed behind the screen.
When taking photographs a single clear light bulb is used on the same track. A left eye image is taken and then the camera shifted 65mm to the right for a series of right eye shots. For each of these the light is moved along the track progressively, so that when they are each combined with the left eye picture, they place the shadow at different depths.

Instrument Six, set up for direct viewing (Nat Chard)

Instrument Six, set up for direct viewing (Nat Chard)

Instrument Six set up in photographic mode (Nat Chard)

Instrument Six set up in photographic mode (Nat Chard)

Instrument Six set up in photographic mode (Nat Chard)

Instrument Six set up in photographic mode (Nat Chard)

Instrument Six set up in photographic mode (Nat Chard)

Instrument Six set up in photographic mode (Nat Chard)

Shadow from Instrument Six (nat Chard)

To view the shadow in 3D go cross eyed so that the two shadows register one over the other. Try to relax and the 3D image will appear. You will see the shadow sitting a short distance off the surface of the screen. When viewing like this you will see three images with the 3D version in the middle. The lines on the screen are there to help resolve the 3D image and are not needed in the direct viewing version.