Stones and Steel

Seven precisely balanced stones are held together by steel and rotate around a central axis. The rotation weight of the twelve foot diameter stone and steel wheel weigh in at 3000 pounds. I began designing this piece thinking of a visual layout of the stones. I precisely measured each stone and its center of gravity. Using CAD, I entered the dimensional and weight data into a spreadsheet so I could modify the design easily to achieve precise balance. A CNC torch machine was used to cut the steel plates that hold the stones in place. Motion is driven by a motor, gear reduction, and rheostat to achieve a range of speeds. Modified Caterpillar tractor parts are used as support columns to hold the axis of the work. The piece is fifteen feet high and is bolted to 8 tons of concrete.

The structure below is a 15-foot high, stone and steel sculpture that slowly spins at Merryweather Post Pavillion in Columbia, Maryland.