Backdate- Solution to Hydraulic problems

I tried vegetable oil, seemed to work great , pulling back as well. But 6 hour after the line, the plunger, seized, not able to push the plunger in. I tried other liquids, motor oil, yet right from the start the line does not move. Solution was to get clear elastics to help with the pull back of the plunger, seems to work great. Yet more pressure retained in systen because elesatic working against the other end, so manifold having some issues with power and pushing at higher pressure, but still works.

Projection

Proof of Concept seems to be working okay, have been tweaking the manifold and the track/ trains. Not sure how long it will run before a train derails. The projections in the room are starting to get interesting, perhaps we can have a combination of project projections on the east wall for exhibition.

Review Notes

Here are the minutes:

- Study of the uncanny-ness… Exploring the above and below
- “Fluid” network – fluid of the technology


Comments

What is your idea of the uncanny?
- unhomely, disconnection with what you think something should do… it is not real (automata) – notion of devices behaving on their own.
- Fearful response, something that you think should not happen.
- Pleasure principal – we love to be scared

Amazing thing in itself – standing in as a representation it is unclear. What would these things be?

- Play off of public / private – lower surfaces as a more private nature.

What surface are you referring to? Grade?

- Model suspended at eye level – ground plane
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Is the position literally there? As in underground?

Can you go down there?

- Not necessarily literally 30 m underground – but you can build lower.
- Not intended just for hobos
- Exploration of the unknown world

Nat

Would be very helpful to be specific about what things really are.
Pleasure of the infrastructure... Inputs are very simple – trains are going by. Meaning of the thing is basically a train going by tells people a train is going by. The complexity is the articulation of what is happening underground. Pleasure in trying to understand infrastructure that is unclear about what it is. Very helpful to start to say very practically, how much of this can I get in contact with, how do I get in contact with it? Hiding behind the abstract / figurative. Define the spaces in terms of reality. What are the surfaces? Spaces lead to other spaces? Describe what it is. How do I engage with it?

Rob

Got caught in the “unconventional”. Totally seduced by it…
Not working as well as it should.
Do not see the connection between the hobo culture and the model. Not convinced about the representation of the thing.
For me I would flip the thing on its head and have the whole piece as some kind of installation in the air.
Why did you go underground?
Why does the hydraulics say “underground” to you. – Idea of what might be at the site. How we dream into the ground.


“Stop Market Planetarium” – Danish artists ** Example.
- Could not read the thing literally, but you were aware of a world.


Another pleasure in the specificity of the translations – how the passing of the train is understood by each one, individually – different trains, sorts of trains, triggering different meanings. Is there a sensitivity to certain conductors that might suggest that they would be more welcoming to hobos, etc…

Rob – Still unsure why it is underground. I want to enjoy the thing not only as a model, but as a real thing. Idea of the uncanny is the least convincing aspect.

Patrick: It is a speculation – It is a possibility. Parallel would be the want to travel into the subway tunnel just to see what is there. Could just say “okay there is infrastructure” but really it is about speculating beyond what is underground. Dream of an imaginary infrastructure. An imagined world.

Absolutely need a section of what is really there. Draw in the piles, etc… How I would come across this space.

Early aspect of reconnecting the two sides of the city that are divided by the trains. Opportunity to address this through cross-section.


Reflection:

My presentation was good for the most part, i recognize my presentation of the work was poor, repetition and generalities became an issue. I agree with all the comments, and will be addressing these issues in the portfolio through the drawings. My regret was to get hung up on the uncanny in my presentation, the work is involved within the uncanny, but my work was more about exploration into abandon sites , finding a potential to bridge the neighborhood that was once divided. My focus for my porfolio will be to address these main issues.

syringes- real hydraulics?

Hydraulics (syringes) getting air in system, and not able to pull back. will try oil, or other fluid. if that does not work will fake it coming the other way, string or something to pull it back.

Started populated the underworld with wire mechanicsms, need some more on top, and to fill with network of tubes.

Here are some pics

Hydraulic network

Current Progress

Currently working on the underworld. The strategy is to create a network of hydraulic lines throughout the site. Extensions have been fabricated, and slowly are being assembled to support the network and a series of manifolds that will operate the hydraulics. The intersections of the lines themselves, areas of collisions and grouping will be areas of focus for inhabitable space. The following sketch illustrates the idea of using the the lines to suggest a inhabitable space.



I plan on developing this imaginary, network of lines. My focus can then be on the intersections of this network to develop areas of inhabitable space. These spaces will incorporate syringe activated surfaces that will influence and manipulated these possible inhabitations. But my goal is to create a series of uncanny moments within the site based on hobo symbology.



My intent is to sketch sections as i develop these unknown worlds, its been hard for me to get started, so i have just gone right into the model,building the 3d form to get a better idea of what i am dealing with in section.

Hydraulic manifolds

I was trying to figure out a way to activate the syringes that i will be using to represent a pneumatic hydraulic device. The idea i came up with uses a couple of motors and a gear system to move the plunger of the syringe up and down, activating the syringe on the other line. The intent originally was to create valves, which can be done for technologies proof of concept, but i decided to simplify by creating separate arrays of syringes within a manifold, where each array is activated separately. Here is a sketch showing such an array:

The strategy is to rig up the structure for the manifolds, and get the hydraulic network up, and then i will focus on some of the technical aspects of operating on it. If the motor, gear thing does not work, i might have to use muscle wire, or a servo motor.

Design Schematic in progress

Here are some sketches of my design intent. Exploring the relationship between architectural space and the manipulation of a fluid network, the underworld will explore the use of cells activated by syringes. Each cell will explore how space can transform through a series of movements within a structured assembly. For example some cells will consist of a series of enclosures that will respond to the switching of the train. As the train hits a contact line or grid, the space's dimensions will transform. These cells will act as a starting point, and as the cell evolves, in response to hobo symbols and train behavior, the connection between these cells well evolve as well. The syringe tubes and the fluid network will also become a structure component of architectural space.

As for the above world, the intent is to expand on a network of switches and contacts. The trains will extend upwards, and will come into contacts with a shifting conductive canopy. The canopy as shown in the schematic will evolve into to something much more, creating an invisible network. The main material will be mono filament, with select areas composed of thin wire. The canopy will move horizontally through the manipulation of tension straps to the ground plane, and will move vertically through the up/down movement of select posts, through the syringe mechanism. I wanted to explore the shifting of surfaces and orientation of planes in relation to the uncanny network created by the train.

I am currently working on sections through these spaces, to elaborate on some of the spaces created by this network.

Gear Ratios

The whole motor torque issue is still a problem. I didn't want to have to use a system of gears but it seems like the logical choice, and solution for remedying the following: motors need less voltage because less work, less spin outs, and the trains will run slower. This is actually a good thing considering the exposure or contact to the switch lines is dramatically reduced with the present trains. Hopefully the use of three gears, 9 teeth on the motor and next gear, and the last one in the series, attached to the wheel will be 18 teeth. The 2 to 1 ratio should increase the torque dramatically compared to the 1 to 2 ratio before.

Grounding

Lately i have been having some difficulty with the train, in particular the gears getting stuck, the current not getting to the motor, the wheels slipping and the motor torque. Fabricating the trains has been tricky, because of the necessity for accuracy, a lot more than the typical architectural world. But anyways here are my solutions:

Motor will have to remain the same, but a second motor will be added to the chassis on a few trains, to see if it works, and it add a variety to the bunch. I thought i could remedy the slipping wheels, with pieces of plastic intended to wrap the wheels, but the size is wrong. Unfortunately can't find the right size anymore. But if i use either wrapped electricians tape, or epoxy on a thin rubber band, that should provide adequate traction. In regards to the power to the motor, connecting to the rail is the issue. I need to redo the grounding strip and added another strip that connects to the side rail. With the use of copper wrapped in a spool, a spring like surface is created, allowing some inconsistency with the track.

I have tried this with one train, and it seems to be working. With the Arduino hooked up, it works well. Another thing i noticed was the motor is getting really hot. The voltage is to high, so i might just reduce the voltage through resistors

Pneumatics Studio Application

Evan and i discovered the use of syringes as a device that mimics hydraulic, pneumatic application within our studio project. The assembly is quite simple, 1/4 inch tube just fits onto the end of a oral syringe nozzle. The manipulation of the device will be addressed through exploration in valves, electro mechanical or manual. The use of different syringes also explores the use of minimal push distance on one end to result in maximum extension on the other end: playing with the multiplication of force through the different syringe diameters.


Here are some other examples of pneumatic application:

Pneumatics technology

Abstract:

The following technical study looks into the use of pneumatic devices: exploring a method of physical movement within our architectural studio application. Fluids are a malleable substance that can be controlled: used to direct movement and force. Our interest lies in the direction and redirection of fluids, in this instance air: using compressed air to actuate a device. Research includes multiplication factors and pneumatic principles: to serve as a guide in the extension and contraction of a piston in a linear direction. Further exploration, and research includes the manipulation of this pressurized system, specifically the control and switching of the airflow and speed. Our research also includes a demonstration model, where further exploration into switching, through mechanical, pinch, and electrical valves can be pursued later.


Our intent is to develop a proof of concept in the form of a lever mechanism that will be actuated by a pneumatic cylinder. One such device will be a folding stair: exploring the use of ‘architectural switches’ through the activation of electrical / pneumatic means. Redirection of a fluid becomes the uncanny entity within the architectural studio exploration. The second device, a pneumatically actuated drawbridge, similarly explores the notion of an architectural switch in that a door opening or closing causes the bridge to unfold in front of the user allowing them to enter into a building.

Mechanical switches

Switching has changed a bit, here is the latest schematic. Tilt switches are being used at the top of the posts. Also the posts have been simplified. I didn't want the focus to be this articulated posts, but more about the articulation of the space above and below.

hydraulic/ pneumatics research

Device to spray water
Bent Siphon


Here is some preliminary research for the hydraulics/ pneumatics applications. Evan and i came across the treatise on pneumatics bu Hero of Alexandria and some of the following devices that explore the principles behind it. The vacuum becomes the main principle in the manipulation of the fluid.

Symbols of Automata Behavior

Hobo Signs incorporated into behavior of the train Automata

This is the Place

Here is a sketch of a beginning to the space below. The hobo symbol is used as a guide for spatial structuring, with train activated movement through the 'walls' . The intent is to repeat the rib like structure to create a cavity, and vary its height , perhaps extending it above the train plane to create a continuous space above and below? I have also started to create connection fitting to the bottom of the platform structure to allow extension below. I hope to have some extension done by the end of day, to allow for a base to build off from. Next laser cut job will be stairs and some other kind of transportation space method/ corridor or whatever.

Lever posts

I have been playing around with contact post for the trains to interact with. With overhead contacts in mind, i am also interested in using contact points mid height of the posts. The lever started to emerge as a mechanism that would respond to the switch: it may be a movement of the post itself or changing space below. The lever is just a start to attempt to transfer the movement of a hydraulic piston into motion of a lever.

Automata

The train is starting to change into something different. With the chassis staying the same, the rest of the frame is either being removed or replaced with Automata mechanisms. The trains are working, and the contact posts are starting to emerge. I am just currently drawing out the mechanisms that will respond to the switching of the trains and address issues of space above and below the train plane.