Kinetic Art Table

This is the place to post images of work produced using Aspire
Tailmaker
Vectric Wizard
Posts: 699
Joined: Sun Jun 16, 2013 4:40 am
Model of CNC Machine: Home Built 4-axis Router
Location: Fort Collins, CO

Kinetic Art Table

Post by Tailmaker »

Just finished my latest project which is a kind of kinetic art coffee table. Practically that means a CNC controlled 2-axis plotter that drags a steel ball through a thin sand bed making pattern reminiscent of a Japanese Zen garden. The concept has been around for a while, probably best known from Bruce Shapiro's "Sisyphus" kickstarter project. Design was done in separate 3d-CAD, then 2-d drawings imported to Aspire (Vcarve would have worked as well) for all tool paths, mostly profile, also some pocket and moulding.

To fit my living room furniture, I made the table to match the design of my Ekornes chairs with a ring foot and looped legs:
IMG_0807.JPG
The chair legs are molded beech plywood, which I can not do. So I decided to cut everything from walnut segments that comes somewhat close to the color of the chair's stained beech:
DSC01550.JPG
All foot/leg segments glued up. I will post separately about my experience with a new type of glue (hybrid silane) that I used successfully here:
DSC01557.JPG
Sanded and finished. I had not planned for the alignment dowels to be visible in the ring. But I did not pay enough attention that the slope cut of the ring top surface (moulding tool path) would expose the (supposedly blind) dowel holes. Oh well, does not look too bad.
DSC01558.JPG
More pics to follow.

User avatar
Rcnewcomb
Vectric Archimage
Posts: 5887
Joined: Fri Nov 04, 2005 5:54 am
Model of CNC Machine: 24x36 GCnC/WinCNC with ATC
Location: San Jose, California, USA
Contact:

Re: Kinetic Art Table

Post by Rcnewcomb »

I had not planned for the alignment dowels to be visible in the ring
I like the effect. To my eye it make it more interesting.
- Randall Newcomb
10 fingers in, 10 fingers out, another good day in the shop

Tailmaker
Vectric Wizard
Posts: 699
Joined: Sun Jun 16, 2013 4:40 am
Model of CNC Machine: Home Built 4-axis Router
Location: Fort Collins, CO

Re: Kinetic Art Table

Post by Tailmaker »

More pics....

The complete foot assembled with the table baseplate (contains all the electrical/mechanical stuff), the sand bed (walnut frame with 1/8" glass sheet), the tabletop (walnut frame with 1/2" tempered glass sheet) and an enlosure frame (to hide the baseplate and technical things):
DSC01576.JPG
View of the complete table:
DSC01568.JPG
Detail view of the top frame joints. I experimented with a kind of frog finger joints (lacking a better term) that allows assembly without frame clamps. Worked pretty well:
DSC01571.JPG
More pics to follow...

Tailmaker
Vectric Wizard
Posts: 699
Joined: Sun Jun 16, 2013 4:40 am
Model of CNC Machine: Home Built 4-axis Router
Location: Fort Collins, CO

Re: Kinetic Art Table

Post by Tailmaker »

More pics...

Here some pictures of the guts for the technically inclined folks.

Baseplate with all relevant electronics:
DSC01545.JPG
Mechanical assembly of the 2-axis plotter complete:
DSC01554.JPG
LED light strip with diffuser (normally hidden under tabletop frame):
DSC01552.JPG
Night view:
DSC01566.JPG

That's it...

So, what is my next project? Maybe I should finally finish the shop reorganisation....

User avatar
scottp55
Vectric Wizard
Posts: 4713
Joined: Thu May 09, 2013 11:30 am
Model of CNC Machine: ShopbotDesktop 5.5"Z/spindle/VCP11.5
Location: Kennebunkport, Maine, US

Re: Kinetic Art Table

Post by scottp55 »

Came together BEAUTIFULLY G. !! :D
ESPECIALLY Like the Foot Assembly and LOVE the face frame "Fingers".
Well Done!! :)
scott
I've learned my lesson well. You can't please everyone,so you have to please yourself
R.N.

User avatar
WNC_Ed
Vectric Craftsman
Posts: 296
Joined: Fri Dec 07, 2018 5:56 pm
Model of CNC Machine: Shark HD4 AXYZ 4010
Location: Western North Carolina - Heart of the Smokies

Re: Kinetic Art Table

Post by WNC_Ed »

That is super cool!
Hopefully your next project will be detailing on this forum how to do your "froggy joints" - Hint Hint
Maker of sawdust

vgraves
Vectric Craftsman
Posts: 122
Joined: Sat Sep 29, 2012 2:04 am
Model of CNC Machine: CNC Router Parts PRO4848 w/LinuxCNC
Location: Knoxville, TN

Re: Kinetic Art Table

Post by vgraves »

Really love this! I've wanted a Sisyphus table ever since I came across them and toyed with the thoughts of a DIY version but figured the software would be the hard part. Did you write your code from scratch? I'd be very interested in getting more details if you decide to make an Instructable or something.

And your woodworking is excellent as well :D !

Van

Tailmaker
Vectric Wizard
Posts: 699
Joined: Sun Jun 16, 2013 4:40 am
Model of CNC Machine: Home Built 4-axis Router
Location: Fort Collins, CO

Re: Kinetic Art Table

Post by Tailmaker »

vgraves wrote:Really love this! I've wanted a Sisyphus table ever since I came across them and toyed with the thoughts of a DIY version but figured the software would be the hard part. Did you write your code from scratch? I'd be very interested in getting more details if you decide to make an Instructable or something.

And your woodworking is excellent as well :D !

Van
Thanks Van!
The "real" Sisyphus table has polar mechanics, moving the magnet to certain programmed angle/radius positions. This has some advantages but is not compatible with typical motion controllers. Therefore I went for the standard Cartesian x/y concept. The other advantage of x/y is the availability of cheap (I mean really cheap) 3D printer parts like small linear bearings, small steppers and drives, GT2 belts and pulleys and the like. The most expensive part of this project was all the Walnut lumber.

I did not program the controller. I still had a motion controller from Planet-CNC sitting in a drawer that used to run my CNC router until I replaced it with the successor product.

I did write however the software to generate the ball trace patterns and g-code. Actually I modified the versions for making Guilloche patterns and mazes that I am selling normally for CNC maching purposes

If you want to build such a thing, check out the ZEN_XY forum. This is dedicated to building such sand tables with 3d printed parts, Arduino and GRBL/Marlin software. They also have a web based software to generate patterns/gcode.
I did it differently but got some advice there and posted my results.
Last edited by Tailmaker on Thu Jan 10, 2019 4:34 am, edited 1 time in total.

User avatar
mtylerfl
Vectric Archimage
Posts: 5865
Joined: Thu Jan 29, 2009 3:54 am
Model of CNC Machine: -CarveWright CNC -ShopBot Buddy PRSAlpha
Location: Brunswick, GA

Re: Kinetic Art Table

Post by mtylerfl »

Man, that is really cool! Super-fun to see your build progression, too!

Are you going to treat us to a video? Would love to see it in action.
Michael Tyler

facebook.com/carvebuddy

-CarveWright CNC
-ShopBot Buddy PRSAlpha CNC

User avatar
rscrawford
Vectric Wizard
Posts: 1102
Joined: Mon Jan 17, 2011 6:49 pm
Model of CNC Machine: CAMaster Cobra 408 ATC, ShopSabre IS408
Location: Wetaskiwin, Alberta
Contact:

Re: Kinetic Art Table

Post by rscrawford »

That is cool!
Russell Crawford
http://www.cherryleaf-rustle.com

Stephanie Downing
Vectric Staff
Posts: 555
Joined: Thu Jan 12, 2017 3:05 pm
Model of CNC Machine: xxx

Re: Kinetic Art Table

Post by Stephanie Downing »

Amazing work. The finished table is beautiful you should be so proud.

Thank you for sharing all of your pictures, advice and useful links :)

Bobtail Farm
Vectric Craftsman
Posts: 285
Joined: Mon Dec 01, 2014 3:53 pm
Model of CNC Machine: Homemade

Re: Kinetic Art Table

Post by Bobtail Farm »

+1

User avatar
dwilli9013
Vectric Wizard
Posts: 1237
Joined: Mon Sep 30, 2013 12:45 am
Model of CNC Machine: 3 axis Self Designed Self Built
Location: Machesney Park Illinois

Re: Kinetic Art Table

Post by dwilli9013 »

Very elegant. Especially like the corner frog finger joints. I also would love to see a video of this in action. Thanks for sharing all your photos processes and links. :lol: :lol:
D-Dub
Dwayne
Dwilli

Mobius
Vectric Wizard
Posts: 413
Joined: Wed Jul 09, 2014 1:19 am
Model of CNC Machine: CRP Pro 4848 Custom Build
Location: Drumheller, Alberta, Canada
Contact:

Re: Kinetic Art Table

Post by Mobius »

Wow. This is my favorite build this year! The whole project is amazing, top to bottom.
Connor Bredin
Distinctive Dimensional Concepts Ltd.
www.distinctive-concepts.ca

User avatar
mtylerfl
Vectric Archimage
Posts: 5865
Joined: Thu Jan 29, 2009 3:54 am
Model of CNC Machine: -CarveWright CNC -ShopBot Buddy PRSAlpha
Location: Brunswick, GA

Re: Kinetic Art Table

Post by mtylerfl »

Yes! I’m lovin’ the joinery, too! The more I look at this project, the more I appreciate it!
Michael Tyler

facebook.com/carvebuddy

-CarveWright CNC
-ShopBot Buddy PRSAlpha CNC

Post Reply