This is the final result of a project that started 5 years ago. It’s also what prompted me to get back into woodworking, re-learn 3D CAD, and buy a CNC machine.
During the COVID isolation I came across a YouTube video of a motion sculpture called Monarch ii. (link: Monarch ii). David C. Roy is the artist and, if you haven’t seen his work, I highly recommend checking it out (woodthatworks.com) – he da man.
I found the movement mesmerizing and was fascinated by how it worked. I decided to use it as a project to learn Fusion 360 (I’d had some experience with 3D CAD decades ago). My version borrows liberally from his design (i.e. I copied it!) however, I modified the mechanism to reduce the depth and make it more compact to the wall.
All the CAD and CAM was done in Fusion and, since I wasn’t about to cut out all those parts by hand, I bought Longmill Mk II. All the parts were cut out on that machine. I’ve posted some renders from Fusion along with sample CAM screenshot below.
I did a prototype in MDF first until I worked out the bugs in the mechanism. The final version is made almost entirely from 1/2” (12mm) Baltic Birch, other than the walnut shaft caps.
Images from Fusion 360:
