Machine Precisely, Methodically Arranges Water Droplets

pe_lang_art_installation

While some projects we feature are meant to perform a useful function or make life easier, others such as this art installation by [Pe Lang] are far less functional, but amazing nonetheless.

Taking a cue from CNC-style machines, his creation is an experiment in falling objects and the properties of water. The machine methodically moves along a small 370 x 330 mm plate that is constructed out of a special omniphobic material. A syringe full of water travels along with the machine’s arm, depositing a single 3.3 mm wide drop of water on the board every few seconds as it moves along. Due to the surface tension of the water, each droplet forms a near perfect sphere on the plate without disturbing any of its neighbors.

Once the machine is finished, it leaves the matrix of water droplets to evaporate, after which the machine starts its careful process once again. It really is amazing, regardless of the fact that it doesn’t exactly “do anything”.

Be sure to check out the video below to see the exhibit in action.

[via Make]

[vimeo http://vimeo.com/24491037 w=470]

31 thoughts on “Machine Precisely, Methodically Arranges Water Droplets

  1. I’d call the placement as occurring a bit more frequently than every few seconds, unless I’m missing something here. Very cool, nonetheless. Sort of a celebration of the wonder of modern science and technology; the kind of thing I’d definitely support in an art gallery.

    Whenever I see something like this, it really makes me think about what science has wrought within our society. Can you imagine an 18th century king’s response to a machine such as this?

  2. Put some limestone or other mineral in the water supply, space out the drops, and he could create a really interesting stalagmite work of art. Depending on how programmable his rig is, he could even write out messages that would take days to form, a la Leela’s message to Fry in Futurama’s “The Late Philip J. Fry”.

    I really like that even his demo video is done very artistically. Just goes to show how far art and technology have evolved together.

  3. “While some projects we feature are meant to perform a useful function or make life easier, others such as this art installation by [Pe Lang] are far less functional”

    Why would you think is “far less functional”. It just comes to mind, useful this is. Isn’t this the same way inkjet printers work? How soldering points could be methodically applied to circuits? To me, it seems like a very useful machine. I’ve seen less useful things that have not been treated as such. I’m thinking with ink and a nice halftoning algorithm you can create very neat stuff. Flattening the surface with another piece of paper may create an interesting “impressionist” effect on the result also.

  4. That syringe with associated pump/dosage unit is actually meant to administer precise amounts of solder for soldering SMD parts. You set the air pressure and a pulse period, then trigger with a foot pedal.

  5. It is always neat to watch something like this, however, I’m not sure what was hacked or created here. The dispensing unit is just doing what they are for whether is is adhesive, flux, or solder paste.

    @Tom, I do like the chain reaction idea.

  6. You guys are not aware that such processing and positioning is happening massively all over the planet every second of the day? Never watched how-stuff-is-made even? Pfff
    Clearly it’s about the pointlessness and the audio visual experience, and the effort that went into building it without a manufacturing purpose, it is NOT an demonstration of an invention of a device.

  7. Dispenser for a gene-chip processor, maybe? This sort of thing is done in analytical instruments all the time. Each point is a reaction that is read optically (absoption, luminescence or fluorescence). Usually the substrate is transparent and moved over a read head.

  8. WATS wrong with a guy having some fun with some probably expensive equipment? everybody here at Hackaday does it all the time! may be that we don’t do it manufacturing equipment but we still do fudge with expensive equipment! he is simply using it for something it may not have been intended for like what many ppl do with their consoles (home-brew, making robots, game backups, excreta). though this is (probably) not really a hack.

  9. While the one I have at work doesn’t have a cnc placement system, the basic syringe and pneumatic system is near identical to what we use to apply silicone adhesive to various items during assembly or to secure wiring after testing.

    Neat system, but as already pointed out, it’s an artistic use of existing hardware, unless the CNC was a hack using the application system.

    Interesting video, none the less.

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