Experiments! I've been trying out mechanisms that use pneumatic power.
In this mechanism the top block with the air hole is a valve, below that are two opposing pistons.
The pistons move the valve, the valves move the pistons and so the whole thing goes back and forth - or that's the theory. Unfortunately is doesn't work. It is really close though. I reckon I need to make the air holes bigger, to let more air flow through.
So, I'll make some modifications and try another iteration.
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(YouTube!) The Pneumatic Giraffe! An air powered model to download, print out and make. The finished model is a simple wooden crate marked with the words. "Warning! Wild Animal"
All looks perfectly normal until you blow in the airhole on the side of the great when, Woooshhh! A Giraffe flies up out of the crate to see what on earth is going on!
As a member you can download the model for free at the end of this blog post. None members can download the file for a small fee.
The Pneumatic Giraffe comes in two versions, mono and colour, both of which are in the same file. Choose the version you prefer then print the parts out onto this card. 230 micron white photocopier card is perfect for the job.
Notice that the parts pages for the first three sheets of the colour version are marked front and back. Print out the front, flip the card over and return it to the printer then print out the back. Let the ink dry completely before moving on.
Solid black lines show where to cut. Dotted and dashed lines are score lines. Score the parts and cut out any holes with a sharp knife before cutting out the parts.
Fold round and glue together the neck piece marked #1.
Glue two tube stops into place on the grey areas. Two on each side to make a double thickness stop. This parts will stop the neck flying out of the giraffe when you blow into it.
Fold round and glue together the neck piece marked with #2.
Glue on the the #2 end cap then glue the second #2 tube stop on top of it to make it double thickness.
Glue together two #2 tube stops to make a double thickness. Glue them into place on the same side as the other tube stops but at the other end and inside - as shown above. Repeat on the other side.
Line up the two neck parts so that the small cut out is uppermost.
Carefully fit the #1 tube into the #2 tube.
Push it down to the bottom of the neck tube. Pull the neck in and out a few times to ensure that it moves freely.
Assemble the #3 tube in the same way with end cap and double thickness stop.
Fit the first two neck pieces into the third neck keeping the cut out . Move them back and forth to ensure everything is working smoothly.
Assemble the forth and final neck piece. This piece has internal tube stops but no end cap.
Fit the pieces together. Extend them and compress them a few times to make sure all is working well.
Glue the air tube into place on the #4 neck piece. Be careful to line up the crease lines with the end of the neck piece.
Glue the neck support into place.
Fold round and glue the two top tabs of the back sides to make triangular sections as shown. This will make the make the box strong and give it depth.
Fold round and glue together the box sides with the base piece as shown. Be as accurate as possible with your alignment.
Glue the neck and air tube assembly into place in the bottom of the box.
Glue the other side piece into place as shown.
Glue the long tabs of the two head sides into place on the head top lining up the end of the tab with the back of the giraffe horns.
Curve round and glue the rest of the head into place. Glue on the ears.
Fold round the tabs on the box lid and glue them down.
Fold round and glue the other sides to finish off the lid
Glue together the lid inner as shown.
Glue the lid inner into the box lid.
Extend the neck for easy access. Glue the head into place using the grey square for alignment.
That's it!
Once the glue is dry, blow through the hole in the base of the box and the giraffe will pop out of her crate.
Keep it on your desk at work and amaze your colleagues!
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I've completed the parts layout for the forthcoming Giraffe model. It's one of those where it has slightly too many parts of four sheet but not quite enough for five. I might try a bit of scaling to tidy it up.
I'm now experimenting with creating giraffe skin textures in photoshop.
<-----edit -------->
Making some progress with giraffe skin texture. That's if for one day though- off for a nice glass of red.
Night all.
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I've been working on the Pneumatic Giraffe model today. The main part is the telescoping neck. I've decided to use four sections, that said, the model could be easily modified to include more. Notice though that the wider sections get progressively shorter so there is a natural limit. Anyway - I've gone with four.
The sections of neck fit inside the other. To stop them coming right out I've glued a small double thickness card rectangle on both sides of each piece. The narrower tube has this lip on the outside, the wider piece on the outside.
The tube fit together, then, when the inner tube is pulled out the two lips meet and stop the neck flying apart.
When the head is pressed back down into the giraffe crate I had problems with some section going down too far so that when I tried extending the neck again the lips caught on the bottom end of the tube. To stop this happening I fitted an end cap to the end of the tubes with an air hole in the centre. Works a treat!
I've completed the model by making a box with lid and adding a giraffe head.
Blow through the hole and the giraffe pops out - at some speed!
Okay - so now I need to make some changes to the layout, for example I'm going to move the neck back a bit in the box to allow room for the head, then it'll be time for a bit of colour. Coming on nicely!
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Mushroom is a paper animation model for you to download, print out and make. As a member, you can download the parts file at the end of this blog post. None members can download the file for a nominal fee.
The mushroom model is powered by pneumatics. Pump the piston on the side of the model and the mushroom lifts up revealing his eyes. Stop and the mushroom drifts back down to the box as the air leaks out of the box.
Download the model and lets get started making this fun and quirky model.
There are two version of the project in the downloadable file, colour and mono, pick the version to fit your needs. Print out the three parts pages onto thin card. 230 micron board is perfect for the job. You'll need a few basic tools to make this model. Scissors, ruler, a sharp knife, some PVA glue and a glue spreader. Carefully score along all the dotted lines and cut out any holes before you cut out the parts form the sheet. Both these jobs are easier on a whole sheet. Cut and score as accurately as possible for best possible results.
Fold up and glue the mushroom cap. Set it to one side as the glue dries.
Fold round and glue the stalk tube. Make sure that you line the ends up accurately so that there is no twist in the tube.
Fit the stalk tube into the box top and glue it into place.
Fold round and glue together the stalk.
Thread the stalk into the stalk tube. Glue the stalk base into place on the end of the stalk as shown in the picture.
Flip the stalk over and glue the stalk top into place as shown.
Assemble the cap stand as shown above.
Thread the cap stand down through the hole in the top of the stalk, glue the three flaps down.
Glue the grey area on the cap support to the cap stand. Let the glue dry thoroughly.
Apply a thin strip of glue to the cap support in the three areas arrowed above.
Fit the cap to the cap support. Line up the ends with the crease lines on the cap where the arrows point.
Let the glue dry thoroughly. The mushroom should be free to move up and down.
Glue the two box sides together. Glue the spacer to the box base as shown above. Glue the base to the box sides.
Glue the box top with the mushroom into place on the top of the box.
Assemble the two parts of the piston.
Glue the piston onto the side of the box as shown.
Pump the piston and the mushroom will pop out of the box!
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