musings/fusings

More tests.  

fusing findings

I am still trying to nail down the backs of these pieces with the enamel.  I think these 1mm tubes are very strong with just the enamel and not solder.  I will have to do some stress tests to make sure.  Also I am having some serious pitting/specks in my brand new white enamel.  I can't believe that I am going to have to wash this entire jar!  

a few things

I am working on a new brooch and trying something new at the same time. I am not sure if it will work. I am obsessed with facets/polygon count/reduction of surface. It is starting to become a problem. I thought instead of laser etching this pattern on to the enamel I would make them with flexible points on the back. Here are some tests where I am fusing the copper tubes to the back of the piece with the enamel. Eventually these tubes will accept braided wire so each facet will move individually.  This is a solder-less connection. I am not sure how strong it will be but so far it seems to be holding up just fine. Each part is about 1/2" on it's longest side.

trying out a pivot point

Work? Display

I am trying to figure out how to display this work. The gallery wants the wood but I am not sure if it should be flat, on the wall, kicked out and hanging.  

BIN DIXON WARD

We had a visitor in the lab over spring break. Bin Dixon Ward is a jeweler from Australia that 3D prints all of her work. Her work pushes the tolerance of the 3D printer by making thin interlocking substructures that would be nearly impossible to make by hand.  She uses SLS 3D printing technology to build the work and then hand dyes all of the pieces.  Her work has a playful, whimsical feel being that has a wonderful movement when worn.  It is hard not to play with the work.  The is a lot of complex geometry inspired by map data that adds a level of sophistication and comfort to her work. 

 She happened to be passing through New York on her way to Shanghai and I begged her into doing a little mini presentation in the lab.  

Thank you Bin.  Safe travels.

more experiments

I am working on a few things while I am stabbing my eyes out at work.  I have never been so busy in my life.  I have fallen behind with craft-tees and lots of other things because of the snow and the makerbot array.  I am getting to a point where I need to consider hiring an assistant or at least find some kind of uber app that will organize everything for me.  I would like to make about four more of these necklaces. There is still a lot more experiments to be done with this beading method.  

#sleepwhenyouaredead