Self-portrait drawing machine by Aaron Kramer

Check out artist Aaron Kramer's drawing machine. Using two large cams, a parallel linkage, and a great to deal of experimentation this machine is able to draw the artist's face with a single line over the course of about 15 seconds. It is still a self-portrait if a machine draws the picture? I think so...

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A gear-driven wooden machine creates intricate swirl drawings

Do any of you out there remember the Spirograph drawing toy? The "Cycloid Drawing Machine" shown in the video is like its cooler big brother. Various wooden gear and linkage combinations are used to produce a huge array of different drawings.

The drawings are also kind of a neat way to study the output motion resulting from different gear and linkage combinations. I love that it is hand-cranked. The machine is all wood and looks to be very well made.

The Cycloid Drawing Machine is currently a Kickstarter project seeking funding. There are two funding reward levels, both of which get the backer one of these nifty machines. Here is the Kickstarter page for Cycloid Drawing Machine.

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Children's drawings and basic materials used to create lively automaton

This charming automaton was made out of drawings by children. The paper drawings were mounted on to a thicker bristol board or foam-core and given wire pivots. All were then mounted to a common crank shaft. A quick and effective process with a nice final product.

Here is where you can see many more in-process photos of the paper anniversary automaton.

[ Thanks Tom! ]

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Wood harmonograph drawing machine uses gravity to create amazing patterned drawings

Joe Freedman at LEAFpdx has done it again. Check out his gravity-powered drawing machine! Dubbed the 'GatorGraph Drawing Machine', it uses laser and CNC cut wood parts and a couple of recycled 1 liter bottles to do its thing.

From the project description:

The power for the GatorGraph is provided by four 1-liter plastic bottles (not included) on a swinging pendulum. As they move back and forth the Gators produce what are called Lissajous curves. Where a Spirograph is bounded by a circle, the Lissajous curves are bounded by a rectangle. Changing the length of the pendulum alters the type of curve. The shape of the curve can be modified by using different hole positions on the rods.

Once assembled and set in motion, it is mesmerizing to watch. Better still, it creates amazing drawings! They expect to produce the first run in time for Christmas. Can you think of a better gift? I can't. Joe's products are always made with the best materials, fine craftsmanship, and incredible attention to detail.

Here is where you can support the project and get your own GatorGraph Drawing Machine.

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The Unwelcome Dinner Guest automaton by Dug North is available!

It's not often I get to say that I have something that is available for sale!

I've done a few posts about this The Unwelcome Dinner Guest automaton that I made for the article I wrote for Gizmos & Gadgets magazine. Those posts are scattered about, so I decided to add a new page to the automata section of my web site. The new page features the movie you see here, some additional information about the piece, as well as some photos and early sketches I drew while designing the automaton.

As I mentioned, this piece is for sale. Details may be found on the new page.

Here is the new page on DugNorth.com for The Unwelcome Dinner Guest automaton.

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Ingenious Mechanisms for Designers and Inventors, 4 volume book set

The Glory of a Four-Volume Set

A numbered set of four hardcover books in bright orange that all but announce that you are a brilliant inventor. That's what you get with Ingenious Mechanisms for Designers and Inventors. Looks alone may not be enough for most people to buy this set, but when combined with the wealth of information contained within, it was certainly enough for me. I am very happy with my decision. Read on to find out why.

Lots and Lots of Machines

There are a huge assortment of multi-component mechanisms described in great detail in this four-volume set. The books offer multiple solutions for each category of machine. The organization of the material is a little clunky; you will need to browse all four books to find all of the possible solutions for a given mechanical challenge. That's OK: it just means you get to look exceptionally brilliant when someone comes upon you reading all four books at once.

The machines depicted in the books are of an historical nature. This is not a shortcoming, however. Mechanisms of the sort found in these volumes were state-of-the-art at one time. They are a testament to a practical, real-world ingenuity that most of us can't comprehend. These days we would leave the tricky stuff to a computer. The creators of these machines didn't have that option.

Clear Drawings and Heavy Reading

The drawings in the book are very good -- clear and well labeled line art reminiscent of patent drawings. Here's a sample of what you can expect:

Be prepared to spend some time with these books; they require some careful reading of several pages to understand how a given device works. It's not exactly a quick reference, but it is comprehensive.

Uses beyond Vanity: Education and Inspiration

I have not used much from these books directly in any of my automata projects. For automata makers, the more complex systems may seem like a lot to digest. Nevertheless, there are hundreds of mechanical elements that certainly could be used in an automaton or kinetic sculpture. I can say that these books have greatly improved my understanding of complex machines and they have served as inspiration on more than one occasion.

Let's Talk about the Price. Worth it?

The first glance, the price might set you off. Bear in mind that each of the four volumes weighs in at 500 pages or more. That's 2000 pages of detailed information on mechanical devices! The last time I checked (August, 2012) the set was selling for $108 (at 25% off). That comes out a little over $0.05 per page! Compared to less expensive books on mechanisms and devices, this set is actually quite a good deal -- especially if you factor in the free shipping of four heavy books.

While probably not the first book on mechanical devices you should buy, it is a set than any serious student of the subject should have. Here is where you can learn more and order you own set of Ingenious Mechanisms for Designers and Inventors

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507 Mechanical Movements: Mechanisms & Devices

Book Review of 507 Mechanical Movements

There is a small, scared part of me that doesn't want to tell you about this book. You see, I fear that you will buy it, read it, and use it so quickly, and for so little money that whatever head start I have as an automaton artist will be lost!

But that's being paranoid, isn't it? You aren't all automaton makers out there. And even if you are, you will find a different use for mechanisms in this book than I will.

Copyright 1868...and I Love it!

This book is unchanged from the date is was published over 130 years ago. The title is so long that amazon's listing can't fit it all. Just so you don't miss out on the charm of it, here it is as written on the title page:

Five Hundred and Seven Mechanical Movements, Embracing All Those Which Are Most Important In Dynamics, Hydraulics, Hydrostatics, Pneumatics, Steam Engines, Mill and other Gearing, Presses, Horology, and Miscellaneous Machinery: and including Many Movements Never Before Published and Several Which Have only Recently Come into Use

A Mechanism Gold Mine

One review of this book on Amazon.com's site, complained that book is "just a collection of line drawings". Right! That's why I love it. I think it's a great little book, certainly of great value to automaton makers.

Of a similar vintage to Ingenious Mechanisms for Designers and Inventors, this book deals with only individual mechanisms, rather than complex multi-stage machines. With about 9 mechanisms on every other page, this little book is a dense gold mine compared to the more text-heavy Ingenious Mechanisms -- a four volume set.

The left hand page of each spread shows 6 to 9 mechanisms or "Contrivances" as they were called. The page on the right side gives a short description of each of the mechanisms. Almost all of the mechanisms shown in this book are practical and straightforward. I have no doubt that they represent tried-and-true solutions to real-world problems.

Dover Does it Again!

For me, this book serves as mechanical inspiration, similar to the way I use Mechanisms and Mechanical Devices Sourcebook. I can browse through the pages to solve a specific problem. Or, I can start with a neat mechanism and design around it. At the time of this writing, Five Hundred and Seven Mechanical Movements costs less than a quarter of Mechanisms and Mechanical Devices Sourcebook.

Yes, the pictures are black and white line drawings. Yes, the language is a tad archaic. That's part of the fun. Seriously!

The Bottom Line

Listen, if you are considering buying Ingenious Mechanisms for Designers and Inventors or the Mechanisms and Mechanical Devices Sourcebook but are not sure that you will find a way to use them, why not start with this book? Then, if this book works for you, you can invest in the more costly books of this sort.

If you are looking for mechanical inspiration and are short on shelf space, cash, or attention span, this book is a really good choice. Your best choice, actually.

Here it is: 507 Mechanical Movements: Mechanisms and Devices.

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Mechanisms and Mechanical Devices Sourcebook

Here is my review of the book Mechanisms and Mechanical Devices Sourcebook, 4th Edition by Nicholas Chironis and Neil Sclater.

It's Love!
Though I like my 4-volume set Ingenious Mechanisms for Designers and Inventors, I like this book even better. I am man enough to admit that I fell deeply in love with this book the moment I opened it in a bookstore one day. I resisted buying it, but not for long.

Short and Sweet
My interest in mechanical devices does not typically involve elaborate multi-stage industrial machines. Rather, in the course of building an automaton I will come upon a design challenge that is limited in scope: How do I convert this motion into that motion? I wonder how one might use a gear here?

There are typically any number of potential solutions. This book gives you a great reference tool to explore your options. I find that by browsing this book, my brain is jogged into finding a solution, even if it does not come directly from the book.

Great Graphics
I'm one of those visual learners. This book is ideal for me. The text in this book accompanies a very nice graphic or two. It's concise; that means I'll actually read it rather than just skim over it.

The images in this book use a combination of line art and greyscale tones. This subtle difference really makes the images easier to decipher.

Easy to Use
My favorite method of searching through a book of this sort is to leaf through the pages randomly. However, I should point out that is book has both an excellent table of contents and a full index. (You can see the entire index at Amazon.com if you click on the 'Look inside this book' link above the book cover image.)

In Sum, Highly Recommended
This book is really, really, good. I know it's a little pricey, but it is pretty cheap as engineering textbooks go.

In addition to the stately hardcover, Mechanisms and Mechanical Devices Sourcebook is also available for you Kindle at a greatly reduced price.

I encourage you to order a hardbound copy of Mechanisms and Mechanical Devices Sourcebook, Fourth Editionat Amazon.com.

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