Jana

Did I already show these colored oil-disks (“lava lamp projector disks” I think?) that I got for ligra? :>

it’s a glass disk with two chambers with several, non-mixing, colored fluids inside, that will create super lovely bubble-textures! I think this was invented by the same company that invented the lava-lamp. They also sell such disks.

Now I need to design a fit that can also rotate the disk in this half-ligra. It’s too large for all four metal beams :D

Aug 3, 2024 at 1:13pmWeb
Show threadJanaAug 3, 2024
Not sure how clear this is from the first post. All liquids have different viscosities and won’t mix, meaning, that they all will flow, trying to be separated by gravity, creating these lovely blob shapes. It’s a gentle process and very trippy and random. Now, by slowly rotating the disk, this process can be stimulated
Show threadJanaAug 3, 2024
I think this also highlights why I wanted to work on my own projection system instead of buying some Gobo or Dia projector. I want to be more creative than just putting some stencil or Dia inbetween :3
Show threadJanaAug 3, 2024
(Uh, and don’t get me wrong, I don’t want to claim this effect or anything. To whoever thought of this, the colored oil disks: what you’ve created there is amazing and works so well!!)
Show threadJanaAug 3, 2024
Uh, I also got two more color combinations, an all red and all blue tones one. I’m hyped for the blue one, it’s so ocean-y ~ 🥺
Show threadJanaAug 3, 2024

It seems these disks are built as follows:

- Outer glass with a perimeter of silicone
- Chamber with two different colored liquids and air
- Inner glass, again with a perimeter of silicone
- Another chamber with two differently colored liquids and air
- Finally another glass slide

This sandwich of glass, liquids and air, sealed by silicone is protected by a plastic shell, which also provides an option to mount and rotate it with an external motor

(cc @ErinRose)

Show threadJanaAug 3, 2024
I feel like you could easily prototype a DIY version with microscope slides. They are cheap and widely available, for effect you can simply turn them like an hourglass!
Show threadSvenAug 3, 2024
@janamarie petri dishes might also work quite well and would be relatively easy to seal? Or are they too deep?
Show threadJanaAug 3, 2024
@HeNeArXn oooh, interesting!! might be too deep though
Show threadMichael DwyerAug 3, 2024

@janamarie I'm pretty sure the original version was a pyrex dish on an overhead projector.
I can't remember any details, unfortunately, but the MCA in Denver had a presentation on a group that used to do shows. I seem to recall a photo of four people standing in a line in front of three overheads and one other kind of projector. They were all aimed at one screen, and mooshing around the colored liquids around for an audience.

Edit: Found it! https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Tx2pJg_GJNA Single Wing Turquoise Bird!

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Show threadAdrian StuderAug 3, 2024
@mdwyer @janamarie reminds me of the overhead projector demo compo at a Swiss demo party. Some effects also involved liquids: https://youtu.be/0Chdn7Xj854?t=12m30s
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Show threadrrmuttAug 3, 2024
@janamarie The 60s psychedelic light show folks used nested convex glasses from clocks with immiscible liquids between them. they would push them together in time with the music to make pulsing shapes
Show threadJanaAug 3, 2024
@rrmutt whooow, that sounds amazing!!
Show threadSvenAug 3, 2024

@janamarie @ErinRose there are some people doing liquid art on overhead projectors - while some of their techniques rely on a horizontal orientation, I think there still might be good inspirations there. A YT channel I bookmarked is https://www.youtube.com/@LiquidLightLab/videos

A fun thing they use is having two slightly curved dishes, and moving the top one to squeeze the liquids around.

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Show threadJanaAug 4, 2024
I managed to almost finish a prototype yesterday night, I turned the disk by hand and the effect is stunning (a bit hectic though) :3
Show threadJanaAug 13, 2024
A more permanent holder is coming along :3 I’m already super satisfied with the mechanics and the general turnout, however, the motor turns way too fast. Let’s see what other motor I can find
Show threadDoppelmembran-WürgenippelAug 14, 2024
@janamarie maybe a microwave motor with 4u/min
Show threadJanaAug 14, 2024
@gafu microwave motor? :o
Show threadDoppelmembran-WürgenippelAug 14, 2024

@janamarie https://aliexpress.com/item/1005003021958321.html

The little gearmotors to rotate the dishes while heating action

Show threadJanaAug 14, 2024
@gafu ooh, I see
Show threadDoppelmembran-WürgenippelAug 14, 2024

@janamarie
With little gear on the motor shaft and big gear as part of the color effect assembly you get very slow rotation, less than one per minute.

The AC parts are quieter as DC type, but there are also build with dc motors in the same housing with various speeds.
The AC ones do make a humming noise/50hz vibration and maybe need to get mounted in rubber parts to decouple the noise.

Typical 7mm D-shaft, but no problem when the gear is 3d prinzed anyways

Show threadJanaAug 14, 2024
@gafu Thanks! I solved my problem using a servomotor and putting it into continuous mode :3
Show threadDoppelmembran-WürgenippelAug 14, 2024

@janamarie this sounds also nice and may be even quieter.
Nice idea.
I should try to remember this one.

Rubber decoupling parts can made easy by 3d print a mold and fill it with silicone putty

Show threadfuzzyfaceAug 16, 2024
@janamarie You can get motors from eBay (and other places I'm sure) with built in reduction gears.
Show threadottpossum 🦦  ​ *squeak*Aug 4, 2024
@janamarie that looks so cool
Show threadEloshaAug 3, 2024
@janamarie Physical generative imagery 😅🥰
Show threadTina StormcallerAug 3, 2024
@janamarie Ah yeah, Liquid Light shows are an awesome precursor to the VJing I do. If people reading this can’t get these, the other way to do it was with OHP style projectors, with a large watch glass on it filled with oil, water and colour, and as it’s open you can stir it up manually while it’s live. The components to do this should still be relatively easy to find
Show threadJanaAug 3, 2024
@TinaStormcaller omg, I love this!!
Show threadTina StormcallerAug 3, 2024
@janamarie No worries, here is a good channel for more info on this https://youtube.com/@liquidlightlab also I seem to remember there was an awesome coffee table book released fairly recently with high res pictures of the glass disc types such as what you have, if I remember what that was will post here
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Show threadjwzAug 3, 2024
@janamarie In case you're unaware, these disks are from a Mathmos Space Projector from the early 70s, the same company who invented the Lavalite. The projectors themselves were incredibly flaky and fragile! But I got mine working long enough to record 6 hours of it: https://jwz.org/b/yjc5
"The Mathmos has created this bubble to protect itself from your innocence."

I recently got a variety of Mathmos Space Projector disks, so please put on the Barbarella soundtrack and enjoy this six hour playlist.

Show threadJanaAug 3, 2024
@jwz yep, knew that already, but thank you! :3 Glad that you got your projector to work again!
Show threadJonasAug 4, 2024
@janamarie
Awesome! Do you have the name of this company? I have some use cases with discs like this
Show threadJanaAug 4, 2024
@magnetic_tape Mathmos
Show threadbeka valentineSep 16, 2024
@janamarie @lucy have you ever seen the 1960s light show technique? its kinda similar but horizontal with open dishes
Show threadbeka valentineSep 16, 2024

@janamarie @lucy they would add different colors of oil and water into a shallow glass dish and spin it and squash it with another dish, stack multiple dishes vertically so light could go through then all, lots of weird stuff

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o-cHr7Ka-fE&list=PLQSl7uyb_RbTtMvMggZ8nxhCwlXtawVu4

Psychedelic Trippy Liquid Light Show

YouTube