Spluball: projects : kinetics : what is this?

What's this? : Examples : Process

Everything I do starts with a sketch- either on paper or on the computer. There are a few basic shapes that I come to use regularly. I try to guestimate the proportions of wire that I'll use versus the number of platters or other heavier objects in the mobile. But since do all the cuts and bends by hand with a simple set of pliers, nothing is very exact.
Some dimensions and weights of the common materials I use:

"ancient" disk platter (MFM, circa 1986)
130mm dia. with 40mm dia. hole, 61g

"ancient" aluminum platter separator
51mm dia., 5mm width, 7mm thick, 18g

"modern" disk platter (SCSI, circa 1998)
95mm dia. with 25mm dia. hole, 14g

"modern" aluminum platter separator
31mm dia., 2g

14 gauge galvinized steel wire
5cm length, 1g

24 gauge copper wire (telephone wires)

Feel free to contact me about my work.