 |
free plans: how to make a
Large Harmonograph |
Basic Description
|
A harmonograph is a pendulum-based drawing board that produces beautiful curvaceous drawings.
After you give the large hanging platform a gentle push,
gravity works its magic while a pen records the results.
Each swing is almost identical to its predecessor: the minute discrepancies
are responsible for the remarkably sinuous curves.
The version that we have detailed in the plan below allows you to make drawings on paper or on
an erasable whiteboard. You can set up the harmonograph in a garage or basement
and hoist
it out of the way when not in use; it ends up taking virtually no space at all. We love to
enjoy the mesmerizing action, but it makes a great conservation piece at a party and kids absolutely
love it! It takes some patience to get everything working right, but it is definitely worth
the fine tuning that this project requires; as always,
we will walk you through all of the steps. |
| Materials |
pine lumber, plywood, bolts, wingnuts, smooth tileboard, screws, string, hinges, bricks or
other counterweight, dry-erase markers. A complete
material list is listed
below. |
| Tools |
jigsaw, table saw, miter box saw, drill, clamps.
A complete tool list is listed below. |
| Cost |
The plan itself is free! Estimated materials cost: $55 |
| Time |
10 hours |
| Difficulty |
Challenging |
| Legal Notice |
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| Item |
Qty. |
Description |
| #1 |
5 |
3/4" x 4" x 8' (19 x 100 x 2430mm) pine or similar |
| #2 |
1 |
3/4" x 10" x 8' (19 x 250 x 2430mm) pine or similar |
| #3 |
6 |
1/2" x 2' x 4' (13 x 600 x 1200mm) birch plywood or similar
|
| #4 |
- |
various colors dry erase markers, fine tip works best
|
| #5 |
~ 20 |
#8 x 1" (M4 x 25mm) drywall screws |
| #6 |
~ 30 |
#8 x 1 1/4" (M4 x 32mm) drywall screws |
| #7 |
4 |
#10 x 1 3/4" (M5 x 45mm) wood screws |
| #8 |
~ 24 |
#8 x 1 1/2" (M4 x 38mm) wood screws, preferably without threads below screw head |
| #9 |
1 |
3' x 3' (1m x 1M)smooth white tileboard or dry-erase board (whiteboard) |
| #10 |
50' (15m) |
1/8" (3mm) diameter nylon cord |
| #11 |
~ 20 |
3/8" (1cm) I.D. fender washers |
| #12 |
4 |
5/16"-18 (M8) wingnuts |
| #13 |
1 |
5/16"-18 x 5" (M8 x 13cm) bolt for pen holder counterweight |
| #14 |
3 |
5/16"-18 x 4" (M8 x 10cm) bolt for pen clamp and for vertical adjustment on pen holder |
| #15 |
8 |
bricks or similar weights |
| #16 |
4 |
rubber furniture glides |
| #17 |
1 |
wood glue, preferably polyurethane glue because it is faster drying than yellow glue |
| #18 |
2 |
small butt hinges with mounting screws |
and various drill bits 