Hasta La Motion!

The Hamster Powered Hamster Drawing Machine is the machine hamsters everywhere have been waiting for, finally bringing workout selfies to the animal kingdom. The hamster drawing is encoded in two large wooden cams. The cams were generated by creating a simulation of the drawing machine using openFrameworks and Box2D. They were then exported as vectors and CNC milled from plywood. To be able to have the drawing encoded on the inside, rather than the outside, edge of the cams, it was necessary for them not to have a central axis. This was achieved by milling two aluminium circles with a groove in each of them for a roller chain to sit in. The sandwiched chain then sits on three sprockets around the edges of the back part machine. The drawing arms were also milled from aluminium with pockets for laser cut acrylic inserts. The hamster is displayed on a small LCD screen connected to a Raspberry Pi hidden behind the screen. The Raspberry Pi is running software written in openFrameworks that sends ASCII commands to an Applied Motion STM23IP-3EE stepper motor over ethernet to control its speed. Thanks to Joji the hamster for hamstering, Jesse Fleming for videoing, Inessa Demidova for drawing and Philip Rugo and Kytten Janae for allowing Joji to pursue his artistic career. www.neilmendoza.com