From the archives: Why Knot? -- an insane Rube Goldberg neck tie machine

A post today on Boing Boing reminded me of this post from 2011. This kinetic sculpture by Seth Goldstein does not involve a person, no neck...just a robot and its knotted tie. I admire the dedication and considerable ingenuity!

Feeling inspired? Why not consider this outstanding book about Rube Goldberg and his overly-complex machines?

From the book description:

Not many of us make it into the dictionary as an adjective. But then again, Rube Goldberg was no ordinary noun. He was a cartoonist, humorist, sculptor, author, engineer, and inventor, and in a 72-year career he wrote and illustrated nearly 50,000 cartoons. Goldberg (1883–1970) was the most famous cartoonist of his time, best known for his comical inventions, which were syndicated in daily newspapers throughout the world. Author Jennifer George celebrates all aspects of her grandfather’s career, from his very first published drawings in his high school newspaper and college yearbook to his iconic inventions, his comic strips and advertising work, and his later sculpture and Pulitzer Prize–winning political cartoons. Also included are essays by noted comics historians, rare photographs, letters, memorabilia, and patents, many reproduced here for the first time. Brilliantly designed and packaged to capture the inventiveness of Rube Goldberg’s work, The Art of Rube Goldberg is a coffee table book the whole family can enjoy.

Here is where you can check out (and order) The Art of Rube Goldberg: (A) Inventive (B) Cartoon (C) Genius.

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A Useless Machine device that is in danger of NOT being useless

I'm sure you've seen some variation on The Most Useless Machine? Perhaps your read about the kit I posted about here on The Automata Blog or maybe you saw my own take on the gadget. Mine uses a miniature trunk in place of the generic box and a hand-carved fist punches the button closed.

The version shown here is in danger of NOT being useless because it is so highly inventive and entertaining. I won't bother to try to describe all that it does, but rest assured, it does more than just turn itself off!

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Lovely hand-cranked wooden gear machine

The other day I posted about plans for a wooden gear clock designed by Clayton Boyer that are available in Scroll Saw Woodworking & Crafts magazine. It's lovely and functional. Here are some gears for their own sake. The Gear Machine shown was posted by YouTube user elegler33. The piece is described as table top-hand operated gear train with an interesting and soothing motion. I quite agree.

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Book - Model Engineering: A Foundational Course

OK...this one is completely new to me, but I sure like the looks of it! The book in question is Model Engineering: A Foundational Course by Peter Wright. Anybody out there have this one? Can you tell us if you like it?

Here's what Amazon has to say about the book:

Written by an experienced engineer, this textbook covers all the basic techniques of model engineering, including: understanding engineering drawings; setting up a workshop; buying materials; marking out; sawing; filing; bending and forming metals; and drilling and boring. The author includes a review of the properties and characteristics of engineering materials and describes the hardening of carbon steel for cutting tools in the home workshop.

I've added it to my ridiculously long wish list, but am waiting to see it in person or get some first-hand feedback before I order it.

Here's the link to Model Engineering by Peter Wright.

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Video tour: Craftsmanship Museum in Vista, CA

If you are interested in things mechanical, miniature, or machined you'll want to check out the The Craftsmanship Museum in Vista, California. Here's a little video tour of the exhibit. The is some unbelievable stuff there!

From the video description:

The museum features projects at the small end of the size scale that exhibit exceptional craftsmanship. Included are model steam, Stirling, jet and gas engines, model aircraft, tractors and trains, miniature guns, tools, clocks and more. There is also a working machine shop on site where a master machinist can be seen building a small engine or other project. The 6500 square foot museum is on two levels with an electric stair lift available for handicapped access to the 2nd floor. It is located at 3235 Executive Ridge, Vista, CA 92081.

Here is where you can get more information on The Craftsmanship Museum.

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Claude Shannon's juggling machine

Claude Elwood Shannon, mathematician and electronic engineer, was the creator of a device called the "Ultimate Machine" -- the grandfather to all of those Most Useless Machines now out there.

In addition to the study of information theory and cryptography, Shannon was interested in juggling, as this video demonstrates. Here we see his machine that could "bounce juggle" (with a little help and some good timing).

[ Thanks Dave! ]

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Contest: Make a mechanical vending machine

The good folks at the The Kugelbahn Blog have announced a competition! The goal is to design and build a coin-operated vending machine that dispenses small German chocolate bars. The deadline for the competition is January 31st, 2010.

Machine Specifications
The apparatus is to be purely mechanical and hand operated. With the input of a 20ct-coin the machine should output one little chocolate bar. The ALDI Moser-Roth chocolate package (found in Germany) contains 50 pieces measuring 5mm x 35mm x 35mm each, which are cheap and stack well (see the picture above). The coin-acceptor unit is to make possible the chocolate output with one 20ct-coin. Other coins with a smaller diameter should fall into the return area.

For all of the competition details visit KugelbahnBlog starts TINKERING COMPETITION for chocolate vending machines.

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Hand-cranked mechancial laughing device

Take a look at this beautifully made mechanical laughing machine. The Pink Tentacle web site does such a nice job with the description that I will just quote them (below.) I love this thing!

Description of WAHHA GO GO from Pink Tentacle:

According to the video, WAHHA GO GO is activated by spinning the torso-mounted metal disk (an optional crank arm can be used for greater speed). The disk's rotational energy is transferred to the machine's left and right arms via a gear assembly in the lower back. As the arms rotate, the accordion-like lungs expand upward, drawing in air that is then exhaled through the machine’s artificial vocal cords.

Another set of gear wheels in the spine transfers some of the spinning disk's rotational energy to the head assembly, which includes a pair of tiny arms that stretch and relax WAHHA GO GO's artificial vocal cords (thus regulating the pitch), as well as an arm connected to a valve that controls the flow of air from the lungs. This arm also opens and closes the mouth, which alters the so-called "formant characteristics" (resonant frequency) of the laugh, producing the "wa" and "ha" sounds.

By incorporating a series of mechanisms that work together to control the pitch, resonant frequency, and amount of air supplied to the artificial vocal cords, WAHHA GO GO is able to produce an uncanny human-like laugh.

Here is the original post: Video: Anatomy of WAHHA GO GO.

[ Thanks Joanne! ]

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1800 Mechanical Movements, Devices& Appliances

Another classic from Dover books...

From the product description:
A fascinating compendium of early-20th-century mechanical devices, this expansive work ranges from basic hooks and levers to complex machinery used in steam, motive, hydraulic, air, and electric power, navigation, gearing, clocks, mining, and construction. More than 1,800 engravings include simple illustrations and detailed cross-sections.

Here is a link to 1800 Mechanical Movements, Devices and Appliances (Dover Science Books)

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Del's peg & slot rotary drive with wooden chain

Del never ceases to amaze me with the amazing wooden machines he has built over the years. This one features a nifty drive made up of two discs -- one large one and one small. The large disc has a grooves cut into it that run from the center to the edge. The small disc has thee protruding pegs that engage the grooves and drive the larger wheel. Also of note are the nice wooden chains and sprockets -- one with a chain tensioner!

Check out Del's YouTube channel at http://www.youtube.com/woodificood

[ Thanks to Art and Del! ]

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Del's Beautiful Wooden Machine - Final Details

I posted a while back about Del Short's Amazing Wooden Contraption. He's added the final details and the machine is now finished.

The best news of all is that he says he has some new ideas and will probably work on them! Personally, I cannot wait to see what this master craftsman comes up with.

I also love the way Del and Art interact. I am putting my vote in for a cable TV show.

[ Thanks Del and Art! ]

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Papercraft Locomotive with Gears

Posted today on BoingBoing.net...a locomotive made with paper! This post comes to them (and us) via Neatorama.

Into paper gears? Maybe you want to try to Make Your Own Working Paper Clock.

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Video and Images of Wood Machine by Del Short

I posted recently about an amazing wooden machine. I've learned that Del Short is the unassuming master craftsman behind this piece that he describes as "a nutty device".

Not only is the entire device a marvel, but it's held together with pegs and threaded wooden dowels with wooden nuts. It is even built in components, so that it can be worked on in sections. Remarkable.

If the YouTube video didn't satisfy, here is a higher resolution video of Del's Amazing Wooden Machine.

Also, here is a link to a few large photographs of Del's machine, courtesy of Art Maddox.

If you want to get started with this sort of thing (on a more modest scale), check out these books:
* Making Mechanical Marvels In Wood
* Making Wooden Mechanical Models
* Making More Wooden Mechanical Models

[ Thanks Del and Art! ]

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Amazing Wooden Machine Video with No Metals

With the exception of Brad Litwin's piece entitled Extra-Universal Movement, I don't know if I've seen such an elaborate hand-cranked wooden machine. This gentleman has constructed an amazing device using only wood and glue -- no nails, no screws or ball bearings. It is quite an achievement. It is my sincere hope I'm doing things like this at 70 years old. Bravo!

[ Thanks Falk! ]

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Video of Clever Mechanical Matchstick Lighter

While not as complex as this match-lighting alarm clock, check out this simple, but effective little device for lighting a wooden match.

The Harmonium: Amazing Analog Gear Computer

I won't pretend to understand everything this thing is capable of, but from what I can tell it is able to print out various sine functions (like a graphing calculator) but does so by a purely mechanical means.

I gather that you can do two things with the machine. First, the machine will produce various sine waves for you on paper after you set values for the amplitude and phase angle. Second, in a reversal of this process, you can trace a curve and use Fourier analysis to extract the phase and amplitude of the curve.

The Harmonium is the invention of 64-year-old Dutch inventor -- Tatjana van Vark -- who has been building complex gadgetry since she was 14.

Here's a link to a site about The Harmonium Analog Computer which has tons of gorgeous photographs of the device. This info comes to me by way of the Retro Thing blog.

Thanks bhaaluu!