The Inverse Graphing Calculator (version beta-1) is like a backwards graphing calculator. Normally, you enter an equation into your calculator and then get a graph of the curve. The way the IGC works is, you type something you’d like as your curve, like ‘Hello World’ or ‘I love you’. The IGC produces an *equation* which has this phrase as its graph!

(y-2x+2)^2(y+2x-10)^2((y-3)^2+|x-(5/2)|+|x-(7/2)|-1)^2(x-5)^2((y-2)^2+|x-5|+|x-7|-2)^2(x-8)^2
(y+2x-20)^2(y-2x+16)^2(x-10)^2((x-12)^2+(y-3)^2-1)^2((y-(1/2)x+5)^2+|x-14|+|x-16|-2)^2
((y-3)^2+|x-14|+|x-16|-2)^2((y-(1/2)x+4)^2+|x-14|+|x-16|-2)^2(x-18)^2((y-4)^2+|x-17|+|x-19|-2)^2
((y-(1/2)x+9)^2+|x-22|+|x-24|-2)^2((y-3)^2+|x-22|+|x-24|-2)^2((y-(1/2)x+8)^2+|x-22|+|x-24|-2)^2
((y-(1/2)x+(19/2))^2+|x-25|+|x-27|-2)^2((y+(1/2)x-(31/2))^2+|x-25|+|x-27|-2)^2(x-29)^2((y-4)^2+|x-28|+|x-30|-2)^2
(y-2x+108)^2(x-31)^2((y-2)^2+|x-31|+|x-33|-2)^2((y-3)^2+|x-31|+|x-32|-1)^2
((y-4)^2+|x-31|+|x-33|-2)^2(x-34)^2(y+x-38)^2(x-36)^2(x-38)^2((y-4)^2+|x-37|+|x-39|-2)^2(x-41)^2
((y-4)^2+|x-40|+|x-42|-2)^2(y-2x+156)^2(x-43)^2((y-3)^2+|x-43|+|x-44|-1)^2
((y-4)^2+|x-43|+|x-45|-2)^2(x-47)^2((y-4)^2+|x-46|+|x-48|-2)^2(y-2x+180)^2
((y-(1/2)x+(43/2))^2+|x-49|+|x-51|-2)^2((y+(1/2)x-(55/2))^2+|x-49|+|x-51|-2)^2+(y^2-6y+8+sqrt(y^4-12y^3+52y^2-96y+64))^2=0

I’m not going to say exactly how we got these.

But I will say there are several Tublians on Neblous-9 who risked a lot to get these to me. I hope none of them lost any gills.

There are Top Secret Rocket Corps documents (Dogstar clearance and higher!) that have full specifications and Materaliser specs for The Raygun Gothic Rocketship.

Normally these could produce a perfect, working Raygun Gothic Rocketship by printing on Piperarian Dimensional Flux Sheet, assembling it with nanobots and placing it in a 7-axis Materaliser.

However, because such technology is banned on Earth (don’t complain to me, send a beammail to your Universe Senator), I’ve printed them on on 100lb glossy paper.

You can use a sharp knife and some adhesive to make yourself a scale, paper model of The Raygun Gothic Rocketship.

For $12.50 you get a full papercraft model printed on 100lb. glossy paper that we mail to you.

Join the Rocket Corps today!

Well, I’ve decided to turn it into a lamp.

Fitting huh?

It’s still has that raw, being-worked on look to it but it’s close enough to the final idea that I’m okay posting it.

The light source will go behind the small circle at the center of the aperture and throw light onto the copper hemisphere.

I’m going to use an LED for the light source. Normally, I avoid LEDs on old looking work like this, however, I’d like to sell this and an LED will last longer.

UPDATE (March 7th):  I finished the lamp in time for the Five Ton Crane group art show opening on Friday night.  The Flicker set below has updated photos of the finished lamp at the show.  It will continue to be on display for the next three weeks and is for sale for $600.00.  When I get a chance I’ll try to post an updated video of the aperture opening and closing with the light on.  The lamp is adjustable, it can rotate and pivot.

The first thing I did was quickly machine two stainless bits that screw on to the threaded ends of the pneumatic thing.  These are what I’ll use to attach the light and the base.

I did a quick CAD sketch to show all the basic movements it will have.

The pneumatic rod, now black, will be painted green to match the plastic green bit the LED will go in.

There is still allot to figure out about this one.

Oh, it’s called the Norgren Lamp because, the plastic bit was made by Norgren and still has there sticker on it.

The show is at 416 26th Street, Oakland, (Betw.Telegraph and Broadway)

This is the first show of the nascent Five Ton Crane.

]]> http://www.almostscientific.com/blog/2010/02/23/almost-scientific-showing-on-march-5/feed/ 0 http://www.almostscientific.com/blog/2010/02/11/spinny-thing-update/ http://www.almostscientific.com/blog/2010/02/11/spinny-thing-update/#comments Thu, 11 Feb 2010 07:47:12 +0000 Alan http://www.almostscientific.com/blog/?p=1619 A few weeks ago I posted about a few new sculptures I’ve started, none of which have any designs or plans, but are “make them up as you go along” projects.  One of them I’ve been calling Spinny or sometimes Spinny Thing and it’s going to, well spin.  The spinning is going to activate the sculpture much like a centrifugal governor and different kinetic elements will be engaged at different speeds.  The first step was to get the thing spinning so I can start to experiment.  Well, here are some photos of the mounting (I finally got to use that giant I-beam I’ve been lugging around for years) and a little video of Spinny Thing spinning under human control.

I’m doing the first in wood, and I just got done putting together a prototype.  This was laser cut out of 1/16″ plywood, it’s about 13″ tall, currently has 6 unique parts and is glued together.  There were some minor design problems with this first prototype, specifically, I made the slots where the pieces come together  a bit too big and I think that the 1/16″ ply is too thin for most people to work with (it was kind of annoying for even me to put together).  So, the next version will likely be out of 1/8″ ply, and have tighter slots.

When the design is locked in and detailed out, the models will be for sale here at Almost Scientific, the RGR webpage and any showings of the RGR we do.

For now, you’ll just have to enjoy the photos of the prototype:

I had allot of fun making it and photographing it.  But more importantly it really inspired me while working on it.  I had a few really great ideas that popped into my head while building it.  I’m continually shocked at how deep the connection is between my cognitive activity and building with my hands, even if it is just cutting up and gluing together little bits of paper.  That activity can be so powerful.

The Panorama was created by the McSweeney’s folks to show the wold how valuable a physical newspaper can be in today’s digital world, and I think the Rocket Sam model really speaks to that.  I’d really love if some little paper craft project showed up at my door each week, printed on heavy stock with bright colors.  Imagine all the great ideas that would pop into my head.  Imagine people all over the city sitting down to build the same paper-craft models each week.

One idea is almost directly related to this Rocket Sam model and our Raygun Gothic Rocketship.  I’m not ready to post about it yet, but I’ll have it ready for an upcoming show in March.

Enjoy the photos …

Every once in a while (usually at the prompting of Radio Robot) we gather up our hot glue guns, cardboard tubes, Estes motors, wires, pie, our custom designed Launch Control Case and whatever we have lying around, and together we build art rockets.  Since this is art rocketry not rocket science we work with a philosophy that the rockets don’t need to go up, but they do need to go somewhere.

We’ve built rockets out of almost everything: frozen turkeys, snow men, pods, ice, Slinky, Chinese food containers, steel, Popsicle sticks, feathers, and pork rinds.  We’ve launched them in rain and snow.

While the rockets we make are awesome and amazing to launch the best part is gathering with friends to spontaneously make art.

Below is a slide show of some of my best photos of WORC since it’s first meeting.

Enjoy. Go build your own, and leave the instructions in the box.

(and wear safety goggles)

I’m really torn between these two concepts.  Any preferences out there?

Also, please let me know if you are having trouble with the videos not showing video.  I’ve have sporadic glitches and can’t determine on what end there is a problem.

Same concept as above but at a different viewing angle.

Here is the other cool blade design.  This video also shows a bit of the housing I’m imagining.

Finally got a set of gears to build a prototype of the Deep Aperture