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Recent Projects

by Jerry Svoboda, 2010.

I've had a couple of projects worth posting during the first part of this year. Each was a sort of reprise of something I had done before, yet I enjoyed the re-design and re-creation of both. Read, watch and enjoy.

Stop Mo Winders

The above video, "Stop Mo Winders" (2:58), is intended to simply illustrate the basic functions of winders used in stop motion animation rigging.

I ended up making a batch winders during the spring of 2009 for about a dozen animators and production companies. My idea was to make some sturdy winders that ran on a fairly long length of rack. I found some .375" square rack at the time that came in 6 foot lengths. Once I got my hands on it, I surmised that it would be sufficiently stable for suspending puppets and the like in runs up to 3 feet long. I sized up the Delrin and steel on a chinese-made mill/drill and machined the crucial slots and holes with a Bridgeport knee-mill. Upon completion, they ran smoothly and held solidly, but were a bit larger than the ideal, I think.

Earlier this year (2010), Duck Studios, in Los Angeles, ordered up a small run of motion devices needed in the production of a stop-motion animated TV commercial. In addition to the bigger winder on the 36" rack, I also made them some winders based on a 18" long .375" diameter round rack with a fine pitch. These new winders are 50% smaller and have a finer movement. They also have fewer parts with tighter tolerances. All the manufacturing of these was performed on a Bridgeport knee-mill.

Steam Controller - Studio Model v3.3

The above video, "Steam Controller - Studio Model - slideshow" (0:48), is a short compilation of snapshots taken around the shop during and after the manufacture of the rig.

MK Films of Chicago recently doubled their production of tabletop TV commercials. They've been a loyal client of the Steam Controller over the years as well, so I was pleased to manufacture an additional Steam Controller - Studio Model, for them in January.

This project was on a tight schedule, so I enlisted the help of R. A. Reed Productions in the welding of the frame. I did the grinding and polishing of the frame prior to the plating, yet the bulk of my work was in the manufacture, fit and assembly of the many parts of this rig. The layout of the control systems for the converging gases was satisfying work, while actually making the myriad connections was tricky. One tiny leak would empty the bottled gas quickly, so I took my time trouble-shooting the plumbing. I made enough brass injectors for this unit and for another portable Steam Controller.

This studio model differs significantly from the previous versions in terms of enhanced safety. It has a tamper-proof temperature control and a 40psi governing regulator on the bottled gas input side. It has been working on set for a couple of months now with no problems along-side Studio Model v3.2 which has been continuously on set for about 8 years.