{"id":816,"date":"2020-10-15T16:27:33","date_gmt":"2020-10-15T20:27:33","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.joshuarosenstock.com\/teaching\/lightart-a20\/?p=816"},"modified":"2020-10-18T22:50:53","modified_gmt":"2020-10-19T02:50:53","slug":"light-zoetrope","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.joshuarosenstock.com\/teaching\/lightart-a20\/tbugdin\/light-zoetrope\/","title":{"rendered":"Light Zoetrope"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

A zoetrope<\/strong> is one of several pre-film animation devices that produce the illusion of motion by displaying a sequence of drawings or photographs showing progressive phases of that motion. A similar type of animation is stop-motion. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This light zoetrope is a series of two dimensional “frames” which are joined by a central hub. The hub is rotated on its axis slowly and the frames are lighted one at a time from an above light source. Each frame shows slight progression from the last frame, giving the illusion of motion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This Project<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

I began this project wanting to animate something complex in an unconventional way. I settled on a back flip because of its 2 dimensional motion and its identifiable profile. The main points of designing this project were the hub, the frames, and the light source.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The hub began as an easy design. It was just a wheel with 60 slots all around it which would fit the frames. The slots were perfectly vertical, and the frame connectors would be tilted so that the above light source would land on the face of the frame. This would make it incredibly difficult to manufacture the frames. It was suggested that I instead angle the slots and laser cut the frames and connectors. The motor was chosen to spin at 60rpm so that the animation would last about one second, and the mount was designed around the motor, and would be wired with a battery and a switch.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The frames were the most time consuming portion of the project. Slowly, each frame of a real video of a back flip was screenshot. The screenshots were uploaded into SolidWorks and traced with a spline. Then the connector was added. After doing this for 60+ frames, each one was added to an assembly in order to make a drawing to send to the laser cutter. The most difficult part of the frame design process was maintaining proportions and fluidity between frames.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The light source it just a flashlight, but the delivery of light was tricky. A thin sliver of light was required to light only one frame at a time. I tried cutting a hole in cardboard and shining the light through it but the light diffused too quickly. After some tinkering, I learned that if the slit has a ling height, the beam remains fairly constant at any distance. I then modeled a holder for the flashlight which implemented a narrow slot with a significant height. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Once everything was designed, I took to manufacturing. All the 3D printed items were easy to make, however the frames offered a struggle besides scheduling time at the laser cutter. The first batch that was cut was too small, about 2 inches tall. They were fragile and did not extend far enough from the hub to be properly lit. The second batch was roughly twice as big and offered better spacing for lighting. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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In the week or so leading up to assembly of the final product, I was very nervous it would not come out right and I would need some serious design changes. However, it came out looking good. The first part of the back flip (before the tuck) everything animated quite smoothly. The second half of the back flip (the rotating body) did not come out so well. I think this is because those frames are so wide that the frame in front of them blocks some of the view. It still looks good and I am proud of it. The link below will bring you to a brief YouTube video showcasing the final product.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

https:\/\/youtu.be\/fSqNniMILD4 <\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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