I have decided to make an imitation of aquarium , 3D item.I completed a development work in this case.To begin with I thought to make a lamp shade decoration with spot light inside and shadows of images reflected on the shade surface.I completed some technical drawings,made a sample out of scrap materials:cardboard,tracing paper,light.I faced a few problems designing the model.
The first idea was to make a spinning mechanism for the applied images to animate them.I stuck to this idea and started developing it further.One spinning mechanism supposed to be based on power of gravity.The pointy stick placed vertically;the shade supposed to be a whole solid element of the model that spins on that stick.The other idea was to create a spinning base and the shade could be static in this case.Spinning base needed a bearing.I was not going to sacrifice my bicycle for that.I went to the bicycle shop ,but end up making the bearing by myself as there was no acceptable size bearing in the shop.I did a lot of tricks:found the plastic lead out of spray,cut the bottom of it,cut out inner second layer of the lead,turned upside down the separated bottom of the lead,attached it to the rest of the lead by hot melt glue,put some beads around the inner second layer of the lead,covered the edge by disc cut out of the cardboard,covered the top by shiny part of my child's toy.This bearing surprisingly is functional,but the whole idea with spinning base is too complicated! I decided to simplify the mechanism and started looking for acceptable materials to complete the task.Went around the shops found some items and continuously worked on model making process,exploring,experimenting and challenging myself.
Some photos of my development work represented below.
This is a bearing that allows one part spin against another:
I improved the bearing by putting dabble layer of beads,replaced the cardboard cover by a plastic cover and covered the bottom of the bearing for more aesthetic look.Now it spins much smoother.I think,if I could use a cutting machine,not the manicure scissors,as I did,the bearing will be more functional.I will take this conclusion to consideration for future.
This is improved bearing:
These are my technical drawings
My development work for 3D object
I have printed some images onto the acetate .They will go inside the aquarium as a decoration.I will use the holographic plastic envelope to gain an optical illusion effect.Some images will be animated .The cylinder with attached dolphins printed onto acetate will be spinning inside.The sequential frames of the dolphins will be animated,I believe.I have to cut 2 wooden disks to create a drum looking object,create the walls,layers of images and place the spinning mechanism inside with the handle outside on the top.
One more character has been developed for the aquarium and completed by Illustrator program:
I am still working on moving mechanism,improving the bearing,combining different materials,experimenting, testing ,using machines to cut out a required mechanical parts of the object that I am designing.Some ideas worked,some failed,but I am making a progress.
My 3D object.Aquarium.
I replaced the handle on the top and put the light inside,that changes the colour