Outdoor kaleidoscopes - build photos
The tube was cut in a similar way to the frame for the big chicken a few years back.
Just draw up the curve, punch along the paper template, then cut out with the angle grinder.
Laser cut components - it still seems like such a luxury getting parts pre-made like this!
The notches around the tube allow the weld to properly get in there and fuse the surfaces.
Sometimes my job is boring, hahaha
Magnets to hold the tube, height gauge to scribe various lines, paper templates to work off the scribed lines and locate various parts.
Metalwork ready to be sent to the galvanisers
Hot dip galvanising involves lowering the steel parts into a big vat of molten zinc. This gives them a coating that prevents rusting.
After collecting the parts there's usually a bit of cleaning up to do, including removing fantastic spikes like this one!
The threads on the mounting points also had to be re-tapped. This was a jig to drill out the fixing point shown in the previous image.
One of the kaleidoscopes had a rotating drum, the other (technically a teleidoscope) had no drum but could pivot horizontally.
To prevent the public from whacking each other on the head, a rotary damper was installed.
Partially built mirror assembly. The mirrors were polished stainless steel rather than glass.
Surrounded with desiccant sachets to reduce condensation
These "SwiftNut" drill attachments are great if you have a lot of nuts to fit onto threaded bars
Silicon gaskets were made to seal various parts
The bearings were made of SAE 660 leaded bronze, with tufnol washers and shaft collars to prevent lateral movement. Thanks to Tim Hunkin for the advice on suitable materials to choose for this purpose!
Early test, with the lobster that lives on my desk.
