Machini the Marvel Performing 'The Study of Levitations' - an automaton by Dug North

I don't get to share my own work on this blog as often as I might like. I just realized that I've had this video for quite a long while, but have neglected to share it with the world.

I designed and fabricated this automaton, once again featuring my character Machini the Marvel! Here he is performing his world-famous act titled The Study of Levitations. When you turn the crank, you will see the magician lift his head and then close his eyes. With a slow wave of his hand, the ink in the inkwell slowly rises, the leather-bound book opens and the pen spins in its holder. As the magician moves his arm back to the starting position, the sequence is reversed.

For more details on this automaton, visit http://www.dugnorth.com/automata_machini_levitation.aspx

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"Topsy Curvy" automaton by Thomas Kuntz

Check out this new limited edition automaton by Thomas Kuntz titled "Topsy Curvy". Though it's a simple one compared to much of his work, the sculpting is -- as always -- second to none. As the description says, the peice "embodies the sensibilities of the surreal and the noir".

See more automata by Thomas Kuntz on his web site.

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How to make a working brass key to fit an old lock from scratch

Check out this video in which Jimmy DiResta creates a brass key sekeleton key to fit an old lock. So many great techniques are shown without a word being spoken!

See the full post: http://makezine.com/video/diresta-brass-key/

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Book: The Art of Tinkering from the Exploratorium's Tinkering Studio

The folks from the wonderful Tinkering Studio at the Exploratorium in San Fransisco have come out with this book. It looks great!

From the book description:

The Art of Tinkering is an unprecedented celebration of what it means to tinker: to take things apart, explore tools and materials, and build wondrous, wild art that’s part science and part technology. Join 150+ makers as they share the stories behind their beautiful and bold work—and use the special conductive ink on the cover to do some tinkering yourself!

In the book, they have profiles of important makers (any of my heroes, in fact) as well as inspirational information on how to start tinkering yourself.

Here here you can get The Art of Tinkering.

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Hand-cranked musical automaton featuring spinning ballerinas

Dancing Ballerinas - Hand-Cranked Musical Automaton #3 from John Hutchinson on Vimeo.

Check out the latest hand-cranked musical automaton designed by John Hutchinson! This is the third of his musical designs and features ballerinas twirling and jumping to the tune. Plans and instructions for this automaton will be featured in woodworking magazine in the not-too-distant future. I really like the mechanism for turning the crank of music box itself.

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Media Slave - an automaton by Pablo Lavezzari

Check out the new automaton by artist Pablo Lavezzari. There is a lot going on, both mechanically and conceptually.

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Automaton-making by master artist and machinist Thomas Kuntz

Thomas Kuntz and his incredible automata have been featured on this blog many times. There is a good reason for this: he is probably the most accomplished artist working in the medium of automata. He designs, engineers, sculpts, machines, fabricates, and decorates every element of his pieces. To be good at any one of these things is a major achievement; to be good at all of them is to be a master of the craft. There are few like him, and he is sure to be remembered as one of the greats. Enjoy this short film he created showing some of what goes into making his amazing auotata.

Here is where you can learn more about automaton-maker Thomas Kuntz.

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