Alien Alliums
Backstory
Inspired by the work of sculptor William Johnston on display at the Cotswold Sculpture Park, Somerford Keynes, near Cirencester Alien Alliums started out as an exercise in Python Scripting, design for 3D printing and in fact the development of a large area low height 3D printer.
Similar to William Johnston's use of industrial concrete re-bars for the stems, Alien Allium stems are made from stainless steel threaded rod.
Similar to William Johnston's use of industrial concrete re-bars for the stems, Alien Allium stems are made from stainless steel threaded rod.
Garden Sculpture
Each Alium is unique because the Python script used to generate the layers introduces an element of randomness in the distribution of the petals of each layer.
The number of layers, the overall diameter and the number of petals per layer can be entered as parameters of the script, so a range of sizes and appearances can be generated. The layers are then either 3D printed or laser cut from 2mm plywood and assembled onto the stainless steel stems.
The layers can be printed in a large range of colours, using bio-degradable PLA material so as ultimately not to create any plastic polution. It It is even possible and very effective to use Glow-in-the-Dark materials!
Available for purcase soon from Etsy Shop or directly from RSA Technology.
The number of layers, the overall diameter and the number of petals per layer can be entered as parameters of the script, so a range of sizes and appearances can be generated. The layers are then either 3D printed or laser cut from 2mm plywood and assembled onto the stainless steel stems.
The layers can be printed in a large range of colours, using bio-degradable PLA material so as ultimately not to create any plastic polution. It It is even possible and very effective to use Glow-in-the-Dark materials!
Available for purcase soon from Etsy Shop or directly from RSA Technology.
Solar Powered Garden Lights
A further version incorporates a central cavity containing a solar powered LED lighting array.
The array illuminates each quadrant of the allium independently with red, green, blue and white LEDs so as to synthesise a wide range of brightness and colour effects. The colours can be controlled remotely by Bluetooth LE from an Android App on a tablet or mobile phone (sorry no iOS App at the moment!) to follow a sequence of pre-programmed changes. The sequence can be up to 1000 steps long and each transition can last from a few milliseconds up to several seconds. Alternatively the sequence can be synchronised to music via the App.
The array illuminates each quadrant of the allium independently with red, green, blue and white LEDs so as to synthesise a wide range of brightness and colour effects. The colours can be controlled remotely by Bluetooth LE from an Android App on a tablet or mobile phone (sorry no iOS App at the moment!) to follow a sequence of pre-programmed changes. The sequence can be up to 1000 steps long and each transition can last from a few milliseconds up to several seconds. Alternatively the sequence can be synchronised to music via the App.
Hire a Field of Alliums for Events
Imagine a whole field of alliums changing colour in unison, or in small groups, or synchronised to music. Or lining a driveway at a summer evening event.
Available for hire soon from RSA Technology in lots of 100 with a dedicated controller, delivery and set up!
Available for hire soon from RSA Technology in lots of 100 with a dedicated controller, delivery and set up!
