It’s been a while since our last update but the project is still chugging along. Design for the prototype is finalized and fabrication has begun!

Here is Julian waterjet cutting the gear support.  The next step is sanding, staining and varnishing.

We are getting ready to cut the gears out of the aluminum sheet shown above. We have purchased five 24”x24” sheets of 1/8” aluminium for all the gears.  Once cut we will weld the three pieces of each gear together before putting them on the support.

The frame that supports the prototype is designed.  We will purchase materials and assemble the frame this week.  The materials we will need are 38”x38” and 24”x24” sheets of 1/ 16” mild steel and about 24 feet of 1”x1” square steel pipe.

We are also ready to fabricate the platforms which will be made from wood. We designed waterfalls using a fully mechanical system based off the Pythagorean cup which will allow the platforms to propagate the waterfall without needing electrical power, instead using the energy of the falling water itself.  We have also designed the mold for casting the bottom pool and benches out of cement, which will be smoothed and water proofed.

We are aiming to be finished the basic assembly by the end of next week, with polishing, painting and sealing to follow. That’s all for now, we’ll be back with the prototype fountain next month!