Michael Stanton

I modelled the board in ProDESKTOP before exporting the file to a CNC milling machine.

The milled block was used to vacuum form the board parts (four in total).

These blocks were milled in jelutong and used to cast playing pieces in pewter.

The project included packaging to carry the boards and playing pieces.

I completed this project as part of my A-Level studies. The final product as a water feature that used the technology from a magnetic stirrer to create water vortexes, which were then lit using colour changing LEDs. A selection of pictures of the product being manufactured, as well as the final evaluation page (which includes some pictures of the striking visual effect in action), are included here.

This "wafer" was part of an early idea to use the light-catching ability of acrylic to enhance the visual effect.

I made this jig to drill the holes for the "wafer".

This was a prototype for the electronics mount component. The complex part was designed to hold batteries, LEDs and motors, and also included a structural element (designed to keep the heavy water tubes up).

This is the final version of the mount, which was vacuum formed. The supports were not needed.

The outer casing was also vacuum formed to fit perfectly over the mounts.

Testing the motors.

Assembling the final product.

Testing the vortex.

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