In July 2012, Kinetic Rain was installed at Singapore Changi Airport by MKT AG as the world's largest mobile sculpture. It consists of hundreds of motor-driven floating drops, suspended on thin steel wires and creating different images within a 15-minute choreography. The installation was conceived by artists and programmers of Berlin-based Art+Com AG. toolcraft was asked to develop and manufacture the drops, including material and process selection.
Customers:
MTK AG
Berliner Art+Com AG
www.artcom.de
Changi Airport Singapur
www.changiairport.com
The Starting Point:
Kinetics in Highgloss
The drops had to be light enough so they will not overload the linear motors - but not too light to prevent them from whirling and banging onto each other in the head space of the hall. Furthermore, a highgloss copper-coloured surface had been specified. This and an ideal weight of approx. 170 g (6 oz.) resulted in the decision to manufacture the drops in aluminium.
The Challenge:
Shape and Cost Control
Due to their shape and specified weight, the drops could not simply be machined out of an aluminium block, but had to be manufactured as twin-shell hollow bodies, including a tight-fitting fine-pitch thread for assembling the shells and an impeccable copper-coloured highgloss coating – all within very ambitious budget limits per piece.
The approach:
Competent and Efficient
- Selection of the most suitable materials and processes
- Design and manufacture of first prototypes/li>
- Optimisation of copper coating
- Manufacture of drop by drop in consistent quality
- One single contact from the first concept through to implementation
The Results:
Representative Total Solution
With the drops for Singapore Changi Airport's world spectacular Kinetic Rain, toolcraft once again demonstrated its core competences in turning and milling. In a comprehensive total solution – from the ideal material and optimised design to precision manufacture, including copper coating.
