Kinetic sculptures represent an unusual aspect of our companies achievements.There are only a few studios in the world that produce this kind of hybrid sculpture.

In our instance we were commissioned to build an entertaining and amusing piece for young people. We concentrated on colorful and familiar subjects, windmills, parrots, snakes, trains etc. The overall size was to be 6x10 feet of acrylic surface mounted vertically and used on both sides. As the balls were picked up by the windmill they were taken to the top of the machine where they were sent via a trip mechanism either of two ways. Gravity and mechanics guide the steel balls through the 15 features of the machine. During the travel each feature is animated by the interaction of the ball. The two paths converge to where the balls race through a roller coaster of track toward the finish, that is also the beginning. Inherent in the design of the machine there has to be a completed cycle for every action in order that the next ball can perform the same function as its predecessor.

This requires that all physical variables be either minimized or adjusted in order for the machine to continue to function perpetually. Applied mechanical engineering is essential in order for the machine to work, also artistic vision and interpretation has to be present for the piece to have an appreciative audience. Mixing these traditionally opposed vocations probably explains the rarity of this type of sculpture and also its success.

The response from all concerned and in particular the delight of the general public of all ages was so positive and encouraging in the years that the machine was on display that we set about building a smaller ball machine that would serve as a basis for a production run of twenty machines. The idea was to make this type of machine more widely available and affordable. The prototype worked out quite well but unfortunately we encountered problems with the distributor and the project was shelved.