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Al's Automata Blog

Automata -An Inside Story.

3/12/2020

1 Comment

 
Every now and then you come across a project that begs to have part of the mechanism hidden inside the automata character. This usually means you have to build the moving parts inside as you fabricate the rest. You have to take care because once sealed in, it's a major mess to tear things apart again. This is one such example.

The photo on the left below shows a drawing of the torso of a bird without it's head and legs drawn. the head will be on the upper right on the brass rod. This bird will tip forward and then return to a standing position.  As it stands it's head will turn to look at the viewer. 

The tipping linkage connection and pivot point can be installed from the outside of the bird, but the mechanism to turn the head must be built inside the body of the bird.  Since this is an exhibition piece there is the added complexity of bearings and collars required to ensure long term operation.   There is a 3/32" brass rod that extends through a 1/4" hole in the block. At the top end there will be a small bearing and a shaft collar. Only the flanged bearing is shown here. The collar will serve two purposes. It will keep the shaft from sliding down into the body and will be firmly attached to the head to prevent loosening of the head. The lower end also has a  bearing and collar to hold the shaft in the correct position.

Finally a brass plate is soldered onto the shaft at an offset that allows it to turn. It is bent slightly to help prevent binding as the bird rocks up and down. On the end of this small plate is a universal joint, the type used in RC cars and airplanes, that will connect with a rod to the mechanism in the base. The connection is through a threaded rod inserted into the black sleeve.

​On the right is the mechanism as it sits in the body block. what is important to note is that to insert this piece, a segment of the body had to be cut out to allow it to slide in from the left side of this photo. Once installed the little wooden piece was glued back onto the block. The body of the bird is shaped from three body blocks of which this is the centre one.
Picture
Picture
The photo on the left below shows the reverse view of the centre block sitting onto of one of the outer body blocks. Note here that some of the thickness of the outer block has been removed to give the lever arm enough space to rotate, enabling the head to rotated through about 90 degrees. This is sort of a chew-it-away with a Dremel burr until things move smoothly job . The little black pencil dot is the location of the linkage hookup for the tipping motion. The hole will be drilled when the body is assembled. The picture on the right has the spot for the pivot disc on the leg assembly cut out. It was the subject of a previous  blog entry. The 1/4" diameter hole is drilled through all the body blocks to help maintain critical alignment as I build.
Picture
Picture
Next, place the other side block on, check all the alignments, sand everything smooth so there is nothing to catch one and glue it all together. Be smart with the glue though, you don't want to glue your internal bits together! When it dries, start shaping the block into the semblance of the bird. At this point it looks more like a Sopwith Camel!
Picture
Picture
Next, make a pair of wings and add a little pyrography to get the appearance of feathers and also burn in a few tail feathers. I never profess to build perfect carvings, but rather give the semblance of the character that allows me to build things inside and provide movement.
Picture
Picture
Finally, although not finished in this next photo below, add a head, and a beak with a few magical bits in it and you begin the see "Rocky" the caching raven emerging hiding a precious berry.

​More to come!
Picture
1 Comment
Steven Fischer
3/13/2020 06:29:14 am

Al...absolutely brilliant!, I just am in awe of how skilled you are in constructing this piece for the museum...well done my friend

Steve

Reply



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    Why Automata?

    Automata is a creative blend of my life interests , engineering, art  and woodworking. 

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Conquergood Creative
Home     Contact    About   
  • Automata Blog
  • Home
  • Tubing The River Styx
  • DJ's Bee Bop Palooza
    • Roles of Bees in a Hive
    • The Bee Bop Characters
  • Automata Gallery
    • Swimming With The Dolphins
    • A Boat, A Boy, And A Dog
    • The Invisible Audiophile
    • Black Bear Bliss
    • Parking Lot Wars
    • The Chase
    • Baa Baa Bad Sheep! >
      • Baa Baa Bad Sheep Photo Gallery
    • The Penguins' Revenge
    • Cirque de Poulet
    • I'm Thinking & Laura
    • The Bipolar Brain
    • Tempest in a Teacup
    • Inner Demon
    • Sewer Rat Symphony >
      • Musican Profiles
    • The Captive
    • Bored Out of My Skin
    • Waiting at the Clinic
    • The Diagnosis
    • Snowbirds
    • The Not So Early Bird - The Common Sleptin
    • 1 HP Heart Pump
    • The Trojan Cat
    • 7-1/2 Horsepower
    • Howdy!
    • The Bus Stop
    • Rhinoceros Racing
    • It's an Uphill Battle
    • When an MRI Goes Badly
    • A Moment of Silence
    • Who Slew the Chicken?
    • The Dentist's Office
    • Owl Hijinx
    • Horse of a Different Colour >
      • Horse of a Different Colour Features & Specs
      • Horse of a Different Colour Photo Gallery
    • March of the Penguins
    • The Extraction >
      • The Extraction Media Gallery
    • Poultry in Motion
    • School's Out!
    • Pond Life >
      • Pond Life Photo Gallery
    • Rat Co. >
      • Rat Co. Employee Profiles
      • Rat Co. Photo Gallery
    • Happy Birthday Daddy! >
      • Happy Features & Specs
      • Happy Birthday Photo Gallery
    • The Raving Fans
    • The Waiting Room >
      • Waiting Room Photo Gallery
    • Cottage Cabernet
    • Neighbourhood Watch
    • Check Please!
    • Fishing >
      • Fishing Photo Gallery
      • The Mechanism
      • Brutus the Catfish
      • Crawford the Crayfish
      • Bigmouth the Largemouth Bass
      • Buddy the Chocolate Lab
      • Gertrude and Heathcliff
    • Ian's African Lion Safari
    • Call Before You Dig >
      • Features & Specs
    • Crossing The Mara >
      • Features & Specs
    • Migrating Caribou >
      • Features & Specs
    • Rocket Pack Raccoon
    • Urban Terrorists >
      • Exploring the Urban Terrorists
      • Features & Specs
    • Top Gun
    • Miss Communication
    • Hula Hoop Girl
    • Java Jane
    • The Cranky Caterpillar
    • A Case in Point...
    • The Leafs Score!
    • Enough With The Fish!
  • Learning Centre
  • Automata Store
  • Workshop Tour!
    • Sanding
    • Drilling
    • Cutting
    • Measurement
    • Carving Tools
    • Hand Tools
    • Working With Brass
    • Work & Assembly Areas
  • Mechanisms, Tip & Tricks
    • The Why and How Of It!
  • Who Am I?
    • Making Automata
  • Contact Me
  • In The News
  • Links
  • The South Bay Railway
    • Murray's Mill
    • Rivers, Creeks & Ponds
    • Early Days Photo Gallery
    • Layout Photo Gallery
    • Layout
  • Totems
  • Some Other Small Projects
    • Misc Projects
  • Driving Home for Christmas
    • Designing the Float
    • A Penguin Prototype
    • The Human Flock
    • The Float Penguins
    • The Float Video
  • Members Page