Three-Pendulum Rotary Harmonograph

March 21, 2010 8:21 AM

How to Make a Three-Pendulum Rotary Harmonograph
posted by Wolfdog (10 comments total)

A previous post on harmonographs now has mostly broken links.
posted by Wolfdog at 8:22 AM on March 21, 2010

Well, yeah, sure, if you publish instructions anyone can do it.
posted by OmieWise at 8:38 AM on March 21, 2010

That is so awesome. Suddenly I wish I had a free Saturday and a bit of lumber.
posted by koeselitz at 8:42 AM on March 21, 2010

WANT
posted by spikeleemajortomdickandharryconnickjrmints at 9:30 AM on March 21, 2010

From Karl Sims, creator of such artificial life wonders as Panspermia and Evolved Virtual Creatures. Has there never been a MeFi post about his work?
posted by Nelson at 9:38 AM on March 21, 2010 [1 favorite]

Utterly groovy. Someone should make a version of this that breaks down easily and then do a national tour of MeFi meetups, perhaps charging a pittance for people to set the pendulums in motion and make a drawing to help cover their bar tab.
posted by hippybear at 9:55 AM on March 21, 2010

For those lacking time and tools, try Thomas ten Cate's online Harmonograph in JavaScript.
[requires Firefox at least, and use the Time Speedup Factor box at lower left for faster results.]
posted by cenoxo at 10:24 AM on March 21, 2010 [2 favorites]

Another virtual harmonograph is the colorful Trochor - Animated Virtual Harmonograph, one of several interactive generators by Fergus Ray Murray at Oolong's Playground.
posted by cenoxo at 11:18 AM on March 21, 2010

Ah. Now I just need to cover it in superfluous gears and paint it to look like old worn brass.

...Mabye add one more goofy technical sounding word to the name. Hmm.
posted by Hicksu at 11:46 AM on March 21, 2010

I was wondering what to do with myself today, and now I have my answer!
posted by Alexandra Kitty at 12:25 PM on March 21, 2010 [1 favorite]