Necessary supplies: dremel tool, assorted bits for it (sanding drum, cut off disc and drill bits being the most handy), goggles, jewellers saw, 4-40 thread tap, jewellers pin vice (amazingly handy thing!) and some oak.
And, of course, an entertained shop dog. He won't go in if I'm out - I think he's convinced I run around with a frisbee and tennis balls the second he looks away.
The armature design is inspired by various types posted on the forums, and by Andrew Brown's work. The oak is a pain to cut, but makes up for it with sanding beautifully! Rods will go into the bottom of these pieces with balls on the end (wooden) to make ball & socket ankles/feet.
This is a shoulder piece - b&s joint on the shoulder, and hinge joint with elbow. (Will be a hinge and swivel combo on the lower half of the arm). After basic shaping is done, a burred ball bit for the dremel is used to curve out the inside of the joint.
Once the inside of the joint is shaped, it's placed over the ball and pounded down until the ball pops in place. Then a hole is drilled through to add a tension screw. Initially I tried threading the hole in the oak, but the threads gave before the oak tightened, so a nut is still necessary. The nut will be slightly indented into the wood then glued in place. Once I know what hardware is needed the screws will be replaced with appropriately long hex screws.
One of the completed segments - ball and socket hip joint, hinge knee. Metal rods will be picked up tomorrow for more assembly!
End of day, and a dog tired from the day in the sun.
16 comments:
Good to see Winnie helping.
Cool armatures and thanks for the progress pictures!
Heh I know I've mentioned him too much when you remember his nickname that easily! ;)
Love seeing pics of your dog! What a cutie. AND I love seeing pics of the wooden armature in progess. Ever since I stumbled upon Andrew Brown's site I've wanted to try an all-wood armature. And I'm with you on the oak. It's also super strong as you know.
It's lookin' good!
First thanks for the hint about the jewellers pin vice - in combination with a vice... what a tool !
And the wooden ball&socket armature looks very very good - very pinochio-like stuff :)
I'd love to work with wood one day - the feeling of wood itself in the hand, the smell of it, all that nice texture... and it all looks very good ! All the best - I'm quite curious, how the finished armature would look like
That's not an armature, it's a work of art! Much to nice to cover up with a puppet.
I must get one of the Dremels you and Shel are using as the rechargable Dremel I bought could never make what you did. The wood would just laugh at its lack of power.
Wow, very cool!!!!
Wood is a great material for an armature, strong and lightweight... as long as it doesn't split on you it should work nicely. And I agree... I'd love to see a puppet made entirely this way! It has a very Czech look to it.
cool armature.
jriggity
Wooden armature seems very interesting. I wonder how it performs during the animation. I know you from stopmotionanimation forums. Posting for the first time on your blog but will be following up your wonderful stop motion works.
Welcome to the blog Yaz, glad to have you here!
Michael - you have got to try the Jewellers Pin Vice - it's already by far my favourite thing! So handy for miniature pieces.
I'll post more pics soon - and am *hopefully* getting a used lathe tomorrow which will make a huge difference, can't wait!
(and the pup gets the big toy whenever I'm out woodworking so I'm sure he's psyched as well ;)
Shel, definitely get a corded dremel! This one was only $80 or so and all the accessories were only $10. Even at that though it definitely struggles with the oak, and the fiberglass cut-off discs tend to break up pretty quickly (goggles are good, full face mask is better!)
A wooden armature! That's interesting! I was looking at the pictures and was just wondering, is it possible to make joints that move in more than one sense (like a regular metal ball 'n' socket armature)?
do tell us how it performs. it looks like it's going to be really great. are you going to but plasticine over it or something else?
I'm remaking the armature (realized I got the scale a bit wrong) but will try to post a few pics of this one working in the next few days.
Awesome armature!! I've had a hankerin' to make a completely wooden pup for years but I haven't yet....I spent a lot of time with a wood-burner a few years ago and have wanted to make a tribal sort of guy ever since, but there just aren't enough hours in a day :)
Looking good! Just don't let the dog see what you've got. He might think it's a chew toy :P
wow, using wood and metal must take some damn real effort. GREAT STUFF!
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