Kinetic Sculpture...

[rdukas76]

Hey Guys-

Any good ideas on where to get simple motors (wind up, electric, battery, etc.) to make a sculpture turn, move up and down, rotate, repeat a motion...I'm wanting to do some simple stuff that moves...I've only tried wind power so far, with very mixed results...lol.

I was thinking about the kind of stuff I used to see moving figures in store windows at christmas when I was a kid (sorry, still a kid)...any suggestion about where to find or how to make would be useful.

Thanks, rdukas76

[mantrid]

Depends on the size and weight of the sculpture. If small you can get little electric motors from retailers that sell electronic components.

[CroftonGraphics]

I find this area interesting too,
Have you looked at Make magazine?
Google it you can subscribe to some of it online.

That has a lot of articles about making things move, wind power, robotics, etc etc.

[Ries]

For medium size and bigger, Surplus Center is good-
https://www.surpluscenter.com/home.asp

All kinds of motors, timers, switches, hydraulics, and much more.

For tiny stuff, maybe clock supply places?

[evaldart]

Or you could go with the wind...put things on springs, let lightweight cogs, and levers and balancers roll with the flow. Get the movement for free.

Of course you know that you can thank Duchamp once again in your bedtime prayers for naming the "mobile". Calder only dangled it...it took a real genius to make it kinetic art.

[suburbanartists]

If you are going to use wind. Balance is the key.

[CroftonGraphics]

I plan to go to this museum -
http://www.kinetica-museum.org/
Next time in London.

[desertrock]

Goodwill and other thrift stores.
Mark

[SPRINGFIELD]

Hey Guys-

Any good ideas on where to get simple motors (wind up, electric, battery, etc.) to make a sculpture turn, move up and down, rotate, repeat a motion...I'm wanting to do some simple stuff that moves...I've only tried wind power so far, with very mixed results...lol.

I was thinking about the kind of stuff I used to see moving figures in store windows at christmas when I was a kid (sorry, still a kid)...any suggestion about where to find or how to make would be useful.

Thanks, rdukas76

Wind power sounds real cool I've been tempted to make a windmill with reduction gearing. So that the wind would easily spinn the blades real fast but the reduction gearing would move something slow with lots of power to spare.
I guess the main question is how long do you want the sculpture to move?
A weight or spring driven motor will only run for a very short time unless you want the movement to be a simple back and forth like a pendulum.

The next thing would be a battery driven dc motor. The best ones will run for only a month on D cell batterys. The ones made for store displays that you mention were designed to run for a month for the Christmas season.
You can also use an inexpensive DC power supply {wall transformer] to drive the motor. But if I was going to use the main power supply than I would just go with an ac synchronious timing motor or a geared shaded pole motor. You will get a stronger motor with better gearing. {make sure that the ac motors are rated for continious duty]

Here are some sources for motors most have both AC and DC gear motors



http://www.surpluscenter.com

http://www.herbach.com

http://www.surplusshed.com

http://www.alltronics.com [wall transformers dc motors]

http://www.skycraftsurplus.com



I actually find that you get a much better deal on motors from these guys than buying from EBAY.

Also if you dont like messing around with 120 volts some of the synchronous motors are rated for 12 and 24 volts ac and will run of a 12volt or 24 volt AC output wall transformer. {make sure the amp rating on the wall transformer is enough} Some wall transformers are very inexpensive. I've bought some from allelectrinics in VanNuys Ca for $2 .

[troy picou]

wiper motors, disco ball motors.

[furby]

yeah windscreen wiper motors, i got one of those. If you get the long stick that comes off it , it has a ball joint end & you can get some cool stuff happening in an eccentric off centre circular fashion. Of course you can modify that or even add more struts & get a whole raft of cool stuff going. They can have a lot of torque (ask your car wreckers for a strong one, mine is a Ford & it is mighty). They run off a 12v powersupply which you can find around the place, i got a couple of good ones off very old audio visual gear. Or you can use a car battery of course. Best to avoid mains voltage when making kinetic works, not just for your sake but for viewers safety as well..

[Biomorph]

If you've tried wind, you're outside. I didn't see any mention of solar powered motors coming directly off the panel. Slows or speeds depending on sunlight---make that a feature.

[Merlion]

I have experience making hanging mobiles that rely on wind to move. I started trying out making a small one. The pieces cut from aluminium sheet knock on each other making noises like a wind charm.

I then make a big version to hang at a high indoor lobby space. The pieces moved around from the air-cond wind.

I then notice an outdoor space where the wind is not strong as it is a small open air enclosed courtyard. I hang the same large version there and it gently moves around fine.

When the wind is too strong a hanging mobile can be dangerous.