Originally, I wanted to machine a complicated mechanical drawing machine that utilized a motor mechanism to rotate a plate and pen, but I decided to simplify this based on budget and choose an approach that focused more on the aesthetic of the machine than the drawings. I’ve always liked steam punk/ braised copper tubes, so…

I’ve been-pricing out my drawing machine design, and I think a fully electronic design is well beyond my budget at $1149, so I think I’m indeed going to pivot to something gravity driven. At my last job, I did a lot of copper pipe soldering, and I always thought it was a cool technique. I’ve…

I had been going back and forth on how to implement my drawing machine, and what aesthetic to pursue. Originally I wanted to do a fully automated, motor driven drawing machine, but as I learned more about various drawing machines that’ve been built, I found that you can accomplish quite a bit with a gravity…

What I want to build a mechanical drawing machine that produces spirograph style images. My inspiration comes from various artists doing this, but in particular James Gandy: Mr. Gandy produces beautiful artwork with his drawing machines. His primary machine has a clean looking, industrial aesthetic using intricate machinery. I think there’s something nice about being…

I’m planning on building a mechanical drawing machine. I’ve been considering two general approaches, one is a motorized mechanical machine primarily made of metal while the other is a pendulum based, gravity driven device primarily made of wood. I’m currently leaning towards the motorized version. Examples of drawing machines at work Five Specifications: Adjustable drawing…

I’m considering two different aesthetics for my drawing machine. The first is all metal parts mostly aluminum and brass with a rotary mechanism and pulleys that allow for rotation of adjustable drawing arms. The second approach is mostly wood with small parts of metal. This is likely less expensive, but may have less repeatability and…

My personal aesthetic is generally to keep things simple or minimal. I like clothing that can be used for multiple things without much text or logos. I like a simple workspace and room, and I like natural colors in my spaces, and love the look of minimalist modern art in my decorations. I think my…

James Dyson is a British designer, amongst other things. He studied furniture and interior design and then moved into engineering at the Royal College of Art, eventually switching into industrial design. He is famous for his vacuum cleaners, where he took a cyclonic separation approach so that it wouldn’t lose suction as the vacuum cleaner…

I work as a mountain guide part time on the weekends, which means I have a fair amount of gear to maintain and catalogue. I live in a small space, and need to be really efficient with my space, so I want to better organize my gear closet. Currently, I just have a handful of…

In my last blog post, I left off with a good sense for what I wanted to do for my project. This was to develop a better gear storage rack in my closet, with a rural/ industrial aesthetic. I had brainstormed on a few material ideas, including metal piping, and chain-link fence. Thinking more about…

I have chosen to pick a rural industrial aesthetic for my upcycling project. I live in a rural, mountainous area (western slope, CO), so the materials available here are generally rural or rural industrial in their aesthetic. I work as a mountain guide on the weekends, which means that I have a lot of gear…

“Industrialism adheres to a simple, strong aesthetic with a focus on the raw functionality of the elements” – Alison Giese (designer) Industrial aesthetic in design gained popularity in the early 2000s and has remained popular. Most of the context I’ve seen it in is in interior design, or the design of city spaces. Generally, industrial…