The form was then cut into six sections, the edges were sanded round and holes were drilled for the wire.
Project intent
Timeline
5 weeks, March 2024-April 2024
Skills used
-Analog sketching
-Fusion 360
-Keyshot
-Woodworking
This project was centered around students ability to tell a story using a moving display piece. The installation had to be made from wood and wound by hand. Students used cams, levers and cranks to create the movement of the scene.
Sockeye
This project's direction was centered around the annual migration of sockeye salmon upstream for the oceans to lay eggs and eventually pass. This is symbolic of the growth within tradition as well as the resilience of a species.
Inspiration
The story I wanted to tell was that of a salmon swimming upstream. In order to have the character flow properly it would need to be in multiple pieces.
Aesthetic Ideation
Drawing inspiration from fishing lures, I was able to create a fish that, with the right mechanism, would sway from side to side.
Prototyping
A significant challenge faced in this project was figuring out how to create the desired fluid movement out of the fish character. After experimenting with a few different ideas, the solution was a mechanism that transferred circular motion into side to side motion using a cam and lever system.
Mechanics
The crank is spun using the handle knob, this knob hits the hollowed area of the "spoon" piece moving it as the crank rotates.
1.
2.
The pin acts as a pivot point allowing the "spoon" to slide back and forth.
3.
The two small dowels knock a piece back and forth as the "spoon" moves side to side. This rod is connected to the fish's head
Cedar
Green Poplar
Material Selection
American Maple
- Strong hardwood, good for building the base
- Lighter color serves as a "blank canvas"
- Softer wood, easier to sculpt the body
- Red color mimics the coloring of a salmon body
- Only commonly available wood with green grain
- Perfect coloring for the salmon tail
Using a glue-up of green poplar and red cedar, I was able to achieve salmon-like colors without using stains.
The pieces are connected by wiring and tung oil is applied as a finish.
Final Model
