Tube assembly

Our team has completed the assembly of the aluminum tubes that will be used in the nervous machine. The material for the tubes were surpluss stock from place called The Yard. Most of the Assembly was done using a cable crimp-er. The crimp-er is made by Fehr Brothers and was special ordered for a job I did some time back. The cell phone motors were purchased froma electronics surplus company called Allelectronics.  I have also finally decided on what the body of the machine will look like. I have attached a drawing that was created in cad and than converted to a pdf file for other to see. I apologise for not having any dimensions on the drawing. The drawing is basically a flat pattern that will be used to cut the metal on the cnc plasma cutter.

sound design nervous machine.pdf

Building the machine

I am uploading a batch of images so that people can see whats going on with the machine. I am planing on putting about 80 of these 6' long tentacles on the machine and each tentacle requires the manufacturing and assembly of 16 parts. 16 * 80 = 1280 or in art terms a butt load.

My hat is in the ring

I want to continue with my original idea and explore the realm of human non-verbal reactions transposed on machines.  I think it’s interesting when people come in close proximity to large machines that thy will often get nervous and intimidated by the sheer size and power.  Especially when there is a true potential for pain or even death and dismemberment.  What would it be like if the tables were turned and the machine became nervous when in the presence of viewer.  I have some ideas in how the machine will look and react but not sure about the important guts of the thing.   So I am looking for an EE or ECE to take on the schematics and/or gut work.

Interesting links

I found some real interesting uses of technology in art.

MIT Advertising lab

3d metal printing

Tristan Drawing Machine and Wooden Synthesizer

Limor Fried

Wood Mirror 

Contact

I can be contacted via e-mail slatwood@cox.net or on my cell at 259-7084

Pure Data

This is a link to my first PD file. (My Pd) [to download, right click and save target as]  Push the green button and then try to shut it down, it gets annoying real fast.  Be sure to take a look at the other class members work. (Class work).  I took Josh Tatems work and expanded on it in this pd file called play1update. Be sure to do the right click, save target as to get the file.  I just wish I knew all the command to make it do some great things.

hello world

I have recently finished a Masters of Fine Arts in Sculpture and decided to take this class because I thought it would benefit my work. The majority of my work is fabricated steel with some found objects. I am currently dealing with the symbiotic relationships of machines and the human figure. These images are from my thesis exhibition held at the Fisch Haus Studios last May. Contact me at slatwood@cox.net

Sculpture and technology idea

I want to propose building a work of art that has aspects of both machines and organic life forms.  The form would react to the presence of the viewer by possibly shaking or quivering and intensifying as more viewers surround the work.  As the work quivers I think it would be rather interesting if a sculpture calmed down if it were to be touched by the viewer and possibly start to purr or hum in what may be perceived as pleasure or comfort.