Experimenting with Mechanics
In this piece, I experimented with using rivets for the first time to create a retracting set of mechanisms. Leading up to this project I made a variety of prototypes that explored different forms of movement with tin-plate, but was interested in the range of motion I could achieve from rivets. Two parts move (as shown above), in a chain-like structure, while the other two parts are still to provide stability.
Reflections
Prior to constructing the final work, next time I would have done more prototypes that showed how the smaller pieces would build a whole. There were a variety of issues that rose from the assembly of these chains. One was the flexibility of the rivets. The range of motion was moving in different directions, which provided difficulty when trying to disperse the movement equally on the whole piece. This resulted in the movements being off balance. Additionally, relying on the rivets alone proved to be difficult as I had to gage how much to tighten the rivets equally. Some are tighter than others, which contributes to the random shiftiness of some of the connection points.
Prototypes & Progress Photos
