September 17, 2020:  Three of Them

For years I’ve watched ‘sign-spinners’ stand on street corners spinning their signs.  Many times I’ve thought about developing a machine that they would sit on and pedal that would spin their signs for them.

In 2016 I started to focus on automata, and in 2017 I think it would be fair to say that I started obsessing on automata.  At some point in there, I caught the scent of thought of ‘product spinners’.  In April 2020 I started the first one…and in September 2020 I finished the third one.

The next week or so is going to be spent completing the videos and the marketing materials that I think I will need.  And then after that, I’m going to hit the streets to see if I can find rental customers for these little guys.

Here are links to the Project Sheets:

• Two Tier #1
• Peddler #1
• Stair Stepping Bottle Spinner #1

It will be interesting to see what the reaction from the marketplace will be.  Positive I hope.  I definitely will learn something…probably many things.

Remember to vote for anyone OTHER THAN Donald Trump this next election.  We need to get him gone.  He is not a leader.  And he lies.  It’s embarrassing. 

September 15, 2020: Creation is complete

This afternoon I completed Stair Stepping Bottle Spinner #1.  I am pleased with this little machine…it is and does exactly what I had envisioned.

At the last moment, I had to remove the belt drive and replace it with chain.  The belt drive stored energy near its couplings.  There is just a tiny amount of work being done to turn the bottle.  As a result, the ‘elastic’ stored energy in the belt was causing the bottle to spin ahead of itself.  I replaced the drive belt with a plastic chain and the spinning motion is now exactly in sync with the rest of the mechanism.

More images can be seen on the Project Sheet. 

This has been quite a year.  COVID-19, and now here in California there are wild fires.  Where we live there are no fires, however, there is haze and there are beautiful ‘fire sky’ sunsets.  Some of the other parts of the state that are burning are a terrible shame.  That said…fire is one of Mother Nature’s tools.  She is strong and she will use her tools.  Personally I think that it is possible to live in nature and not be in danger of having your home burn down.  Burrowing underground would be one way.  I think living underground is appealing and would not hesitate.  The opportunities, however, are rare.

On the automata front, it has been announced that Automata Magazine will cease production at the end of the year.  Too bad…I’ve really appreciated the magazine.  Apparently there is a possibility that someone will step up and take over from Marc.  I hope so.

Again, I urge a vote for anyone other than Donald Trump.  He is not good for this nation.

Cheers

-Jim-

September 2, 2020, Wet Paint

Stair Stepping Bottle Spinner #1 has racked up about 15 hours of runtime on its clock and has subsequently been disassembled and is being painted.  The painting process is very important and it takes time.  And then everything needs to dry.  I find the drying time part of the process to be frustrating.  That said…the drying time is extremely important.

I’ve never been political in my business communications until now (this election cycle).  One of the quotations that I respect says “A Democracy is not a spectator sport”.  I don’t want to be a silent spectator right now…this coming election is very important.

I want to also point out that I’ve been a registered Republican for my entire life.

I am disappointed with the process.  I’m disappointed that the Republican Party cannot offer up someone more qualified than Donald Trump.  It would seem to me that we would want potential candidates on a “track” to the White House.  Being trained and groomed.  And I would expect the Republican Party to put forth a forward-reaching platform.

Instead what we’ve got is a gross individual, one with no sound principles, who is not a leader, continuing to lie to us, and continuing to isolate us from the rest of the world.  He is certainly unacceptable to me…as I hope he is unacceptable to the majority of the electoral college.

Donald Trump does not represent the value system that I want leading this country.  Please vote this coming election.  Please vote for anyone other than Donald Trump.

August 15, 2020: Stair Stepping Bottle Spinner Modules are being completed.

It’s been three weeks since my last post…too long.  I’ll try to be more consistent with 1-2 week updates.

I’m working on Stair Stepping Bottle Spinner #1.  This will make a total of three product spinning automata.  When this 3rd one is completed I’m going to take the three of them out and try to find a home for at least one of them.  I hope that this “automata rental” program will work.  It seems reasonable to me.  I know that when I have my automata with me when I’m playing my street organ in public that people are very attracted to them.

I’m learning how to build in a ‘modular’ fashion.  Major components that fit together to make a whole.  Part of the process is creating in a manner that does not look modular.  I don’t want someone looking at the automata to see ‘modules’.  I want them to see the whole thing.

We are having a high heat weekend here in the San Diego area.  I’m glad that I spent 20 years in Las Vegas.  Those 20 years let me think that this San Diego heat spell is very tolerable.

On the national front, it’s looking more likely (to me) that we will have a different President next term.  I’m so glad.  Our present President is causing me a lot of angst.  I don’t like him representing our country.  It will be nice to see him go.

21 July 2020: Heads Up!

Heads have been difficult for me.  I’ve tried creating heads several different ways and am finally settling on Basswood armatures and Sculpey clay medium.  In the image you see: a) a 2″ long piece of 1″ X 1″ Basswood.  b) The armature that has been carved.  This armature sets the proportions.  c and d) completed heads.  These have been baked and are ready for installation and paint.  After I have the Sculpey head the way that I want it I bake it for 15 minutes at 275 degrees.  And if I want to do more I can make the changes and re-bake.  

In the past, I have whittled faces but I find that I do not have the control over the detail that I would like.  So I have used a two-part product called Apoxy.  Apoxy works pretty well…it handles detail and it’s very strong…however it starts to harden right after it has been mixed.  Working time is 2-4 hours.  I find the working time a bit frustrating so am now working with Sculpey.  In the image, the biped that is painted does have an Apoxy head.

I made my own whittling knife out of a Gerber hunting knife that I had laying around.  I worked the metal for a long time getting the right shape…and then I’ve been stropping it for months.  Finally, it’s (perhaps) sharper than a razor and a pleasure to use (and dangerous).

On the national political front: I have no comment this week.  You’ve heard it…”if you cannot say something nice don’t say it at all”.  I just sad about it all.

11 July 2020: Peddler #1 has a face

The most difficult part of automata creation for me is the creation of the biped.  Of primary frustration are body shape, hands, and head/face.  I’ve finished the Peddler #1 biped.  My wife and I were looking at it today and I remarked that “it’s distorted enough to be fascinating and yet not so distorted that it’s not real”.  This particular biped is painted with acrylic paints and then waxed with hand-applied paste wax…several coats.  It’s the application of the paste wax that signals to me that I’ve finished a biped.  Once the paste wax is applied nothing else can practically be done…no more sanding…no more painting, etc.

I’m considering the purchase of a 3D printer.  High on the list of what I want to do with it is creation of heads and hands.  We’ll see how that goes.  COVID-19 has disrupted my revenue stream, so the purchase is delayed.  Meanwhile, new  3D printer models are being introduced and prices are dropping.

Peddler #1 is almost completed.  It’s got a motor in it that is jerking…so a replacement is ordered from China.  I might mention that the eBay seller that I’ve been dealing with in China has been EXTREMELY helpful.  The seller is efreeship…here is a link to their store.  I was in a hurry and screwed up an order.  They caught my mistake and worked with me to correct it.  It was very nice of them.  I buy my motors from them.

On the Trump front, I’m trying hard to disregard.  The Stone pardon happened yesterday.  What a jerk.  And I believe that it’s going to get much worse before he is out of office.

My next automata project is going to follow the theme of ‘All Lives Matter’.  It will be a Jim’s Gym creation.

Stay healthy, everyone.  And try to keep your communities healthy.

Cheers

-Jim-