Project Information
Carapace is a wooden kinetic sculpture that simulates the motion of a sea turtle swimming. A complex series of mechanisms allows Carapace to swim up and down, tilt forward or back, and even lift its head up for a breath of air. As each mechanism is carefully linked to the next, each of Carapace's flowing motions are driven by turning a single crank.
This sculpture has over 600 parts.
Its mechanisms include:
- gears
- hypocycloid reducers (one is single stage, one is dual stage)
- Peaucellier linkages
- cams
- a synchronized gear mechanism (to keep the flippers moving at a constant speed regardless of vertical motion)
- four bar linkages
Here's a video of Carapace in motion:
If you'd like to make one yourself, detailed woodworking plans are available on my website:
www.derekhugger.com
Please leave a comment and let me know what you think!
-Derek
This sculpture has over 600 parts.
Its mechanisms include:
- gears
- hypocycloid reducers (one is single stage, one is dual stage)
- Peaucellier linkages
- cams
- a synchronized gear mechanism (to keep the flippers moving at a constant speed regardless of vertical motion)
- four bar linkages
Here's a video of Carapace in motion:
If you'd like to make one yourself, detailed woodworking plans are available on my website:
www.derekhugger.com
Please leave a comment and let me know what you think!
-Derek
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