Bloom

Inspired by the art of John Edmark, this instructable will teach you how to create, model, print, and film a 3D zoetrope, otherwise known as a "bloom."

In order to make a bloom, you will need the following:

1. A turntable or record player

2. A record

3. A hot glue gun

3. Access to Tinkercad (whether that be through your computer, IPhone, IPad, or what have you!)

4. A DSLR camera capable of 1/4000 shutter speed (recommended: Canon Mark III)

5. Access to a 3D printer

6. The joy of creativity

This instructable will be divided into three primary stages. The first is designing a 3D model of your bloom. For the purposes of this instructable, we will be using Tinkercad, a free, easy to use 3D modeling service. Once on the site, click "new project," as shown in the image above.

In order for the bloom to appear "animated," it's pattern must abide by the golden ratio. This is because the bloom’s animation effect is achieved by progressive rotations of the golden ratio, phi, the same ratio that nature employs to generate the spiral patterns we see in pinecones and sunflowers. The rotational speed and strobe rate of the bloom are synchronized so that one flash occurs every time the bloom turns 137.5º (the angular version of phi), creating the effect of movement.

Once in the Tinkercad project, you will import the fibonacci sequence pattern SVG file, so that the bloom's patters will align with the rotations. In order to to do this, download the spiralsBlack.svg file here, click import on Tinkercad, and then import the file into Tinkercad.

Once the file is import, you will need to adjust the diameter and height of the pattern. By clicking on the midpoints of the sides, change the diameter so that it is 5in x 5in, then adjust the height so that it is 3 in tall.

In order to turn this pattern into a dome or "bloom" shape, you must create a mold to fit over the current pattern.

Under basic shapes, click and drag over two half spheres. Adjust so that one is 5.5 in x 5.5 in in diameter and 3.5 in high, and the other is 9 in x 9 in in diameter and 5 in in height. Flip the larger half sphere 180 degrees.

Take the smaller half sphere and make it a "hole" by selecting the hole option under the shape tab, and then place it inside the larger half sphere.

Group the two shapes together by selecting both half spheres and select "group."

Now select your dome object and make it a hole by selecting "hole."

Now that you have your mold, place it on top of your patterned sequence so that the entire pattern is covered (ie, is blue) except for the bottom portion.

Now that the mold is placed, select both objects and group them be selecting "group."

Ta-da! You have now "molded" your pattern into a dome shape.

In order to make the bloom solid, add another half dome and resize it to 4.5 in x 4.5 in and 2.75 in high. Center it within the dome, and group the two together.

Add a base to the shape by adding another cylinder and resizing it so that it is 5.5 in x 5.5 in and .5 in high. Center it under the shape, and group the objects together.

Much like steps 5-8, another "mold" must be created in order to achieve the shell like impression on top of the bloom.

Firstly, download the shell.object file, and then import the shape into your project.

After importing the shell, cut it in half by adding a rectangle larger then the shape, and then change the rectangle into a hole.

Group the two together, and you have successfully cut the shell in half!

Now we must use the shell to place an impression into another shape.

Insert another half sphere, and resize it to 7 in x 7 in and 6 in high. Select the shell shape and turn it into a hole.

Now insert the shell part way into the bottom of the half sphere to make an impression. Group the two shapes together.

Turn the new mold into a hole and place it, part way, onto the bloom. Group the two together, and you have officially made a 3D model of the bloom!

Select the export button, and then export the bloom as a .obj.

Now that you have you your model, its time onto the second primary stage of this instructable: the print.

Locate your nearest 3D printer, and with these settings, print your object.

Here is a list of the settings for this print.

Material: CPE

Profile: Fast

Layer Height: .2mm

Infill: 14 %

Print Temp: 245 (on most machines)

Build Plate Temp: 85

Add support everywhere if you need it

Check to make sure you have enough material on the spool for the build.

The print should take about 18 hours. Make sure you leave enough time in case of a failed print!

Onto the third stage: preparing and filming your bloom! Using a hot glue gun, glue the bloom to the center of a record/vinyl.

Place the bloom and record on a turntable and play it at 48 RPM.

Set your DSLR shutter speed to 1/4000 of a second. This creates a "strobbing" effect that creates the animation.

Because you are filming with such a high shutter speed, you will need to film your bloom under a lot, and I mean a lot of light. For my bloom, I filmed outside directly in the sunlight.

Now that you have your footage, edit it together and ta-da! You have made an animated bloom!

Enjoy your film, and watch some of John Edmark's work for more inspiration!