Check out this new handmade figurative, kinetic sculpture by Tom Haney. I love this one!
The piece took over 250 hours to make from start to finish. It features hand-carved bodies, heads sculpted from polymer clay, a scratch-built mechanism, and handmade clothes. 8 cams and levers control all the movements, which is powered by a 4.8 RPM synchronous gearmotor.
Have you ever wondered how a sewing machine works? I know I have. I mean...how on earth does the machine bring a thread through one side of the fabric and out the other, locking it in the process? And how does it do it so fast? When was the sewing machine invented and was it by some guy named "Singer"?
This great mystery will be solved once you watch this video, an episode from the classic TV program, The Secret Life of Machines, hosted by Tim Hunkin. Hunkin is a cartoonist, engineer and -- best of all -- automaton-maker. He's made dozens of large, interactive, mechanical sculptures, simulators, and rides to amaze and amuse. His deep understanding of machines, ability to create cartoons, and playful approach make him one of the best teachers around. In the video, Hunkin uses a 6 foot long sewing needle and four people to slowly sew two large sheets of foam together in the same manner as a sewing machine. You also will learn some interesting history (via cartoons) along the way.
