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Desktop Experiments

Desktop Experiments

These tabletop interactives were made as part of a series of visitor centres we designed, built and installed for EDF Energy. They take the form of a series problems that must be solved; the first on how to wire up a lightbulb with on-off switches at the top and bottom of a set of stairs, and the second on which material is the best conductor. The other two demonstrate the principles of electrical resistance and how a motor works. Users solve the problems by experimenting with various positions of the patch cables plugged into jacks in the top surface. The internal circuitry is housed in durable acrylic cases with jacks, patch points and buttons fixed to the top plate.

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EDF Energy Exhibition Information Trees

Made as part of a series of visitor centres we designed, built and installed for EDF Energy. This Tree Interactive was designed and built around a welded steel 'trunk', sleeved with plywood panels. It incorporated a series of flip-flap panels displaying relevant information and simple lasercut leaves suspended from the canopy. The trees were securely bolted to the ground on-site during installation. The trees and the other units in the EDF Energy Exhibition can be seen and interacted with at any of the Visitor's Centres at their sites dotted around the country.

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‘Generate Electricity’ Interactive

EDF Energy

Client: EDF Energy Made as part of a series of visitor centres we designed, built and installed for EDF Energy, this unit features a cutaway dynamo that spins with the turning of a crank. The faster you turn the crank, the more electricity is generated, showing which home appliances you could run on the energy you generate. The main structure of the unit is a solid frame of welded steel to support the crank mechanism and electronics behind the main front panel. We made 7 units in total.

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EADS E-Thrust Concept Aircraft

Concept Aircraft model

This striking, elegant concept aircraft model for EADS was created in several sections by additive manufacture, carefully spray painted with durable polyurethane paint systems and hand-polished to a full gloss white. Window ports and other details were applied as rubdown transfers and computer cut vinyl graphics, produced on our own in-house system. We have made many sleek conceptual models this way; elegant, high concept speedform models are invaluable in exhibition and presentation situations where a physical creation sparks interest more than a digital printout ever can. More details on the EADS E-Thrust can be found in an article by Wired. and a video of this concept aircraft is available on YouTube.

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Walter Jack Studio Spire of Names Memorial

This elegant model shows the detail of the Spire of Names, in which individual names are cut out of huge curved steel panels. The model measures approximately 60 cm in height and 6 cm across it's base. The client wanted the model to show transparency and, if possible, to be able to read the individual names of the people that died. This was achieved by producing the spire in cad and then 3D printing it on our Objet printer in a water clear material. The three individual pieces were sanded, polished and lacquered in preparation to be laser engraved. The etching was made even more complicated because to achieve the level of detail required we needed to re focus the laser several times during the process. The rusted metal look was created by rubbing a colour matched paint into the letters and polishing it back to a high gloss. This…

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Centrax Gas Turbine models

Centrax Gas Turbine

Having previously made the Asry-Centrax gas turbine Powerbarge model last year, Centrax returned in need of two more models to be displayed internationally. These 1:25 gas turbine models were built like proverbial tanks to withstand international travel and constant heavy transport; where possible, mechanical fixings have been used and the larger components are threaded through with steel bars, bolted firmly to the baseboard to guarantee that nothing will shear free in transit. Being a larger scale than the previous gas turbine model, which included the seafaring barge platform, we were able to really cram in the details where it counted, down to shutlines, rivetholes and individually applied printed warning labels. One model will head to the US, while the other will go to Russia.

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Concept design self-service checkout

Concept design

Birmingham University student Kornwit Damrongwisetpanit asked us to create a 1:5 scale model of his concept design check out system. The design incorporates several elements that make the system easy for users to navigate; the distinct red to yellow graphic 'Mexican Wave' element, which was drawn and printed in-house, guides the user through the process of scanning, bagging and paying for their purchases. The model incorporates a brushed aluminium effect material, which can easily be lasercut and scribed to fine tolerances.

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Demonstration prototype Asinka Animal Drainer

Demonstration-Prototype

Tim Wrathall of Beach Road Design commissioned us to make a demonstration prototype of his Asinka Animal drainer. The model was built to create a short proof-of-concept demonstration video, from various SLS and laser cut components with a vibrant and durable paint finish.

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Global Marine Systems Subsea Repeater Display Model

Global-Marine-Repeater

This huge display model for Global Marine Systems is a fully-articulate, full-sized representation of a subsea cable protection and articulation system. The metal-plated ring sections were swiftly carved out on our CNC machine  and fitted with the necessary inserts and mechanisms to allow the sections to bend and flex as they would in reality. The display model is designed to disassemble into several flight cases for easy transportation. Consequently, for a model of this size, weight was a key issue; in reality each ring would be solid metal and weigh anywhere up to ten kilo. We used a lightweight composite material for the rings on the display model that was strong enough to support the tubing and pipework connected to them (and withstand the rigors of assembly, disassembly and public interaction), and light enough to be easily transported.

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