Building the Floating Skull

[Nicolinux 288]

Hi,

I saw this cool installation and thought about building it. Any ideas about its viability? I am not sure if it works at all. How did they ballance the skull so it doesn't fall off?

http://3dprintingindustry.com/2014/10/12/floating-skulls-gravity-time-3d-printing

[SandervG 1,521]

I would be curious to know too! Very cool project.

[peggyb 171]

They don't mention the how the anti-gravitation works, but I guess it is something similar like this:  http://www.aliexpress.com/store/product/SmallDeco-Semi-elliptical-Sliver-Maglev-Magnetic-Levitation-floating-Auto-Rotating-holder-Stand-Display-Showcase/909465_323008367

An electro magnetic field holds to pieces floating, but it needs a counterpart inside the skull. And this part will need to be nicely centered to keep the skull straight..

Edited May 3, 2015 by Guest

[Nicolinux 288]

Ok, cool. Thanks for the pointer Peggy. I guess the balancing part is hard to get right but we have rapid prototyping machines so it shouldn't be a problem

I tought about building this project and add it as decoration to my appartment. Coupled with an Arduino board and a movement sensor, it should lift whenever somebody enters the room.

I wouldn't chose a skull though, but rather something nicer.

[peggyb 171]

I think that starting the elevated rotation will be the hardest trick, helping it to get lifted and balanced by hand...

[skint 61]

It`s just magnetics right? If you want it to move, you are going to have to start studying Quantum Levitation using magnets and semiconductors

Love this stuff!!