Water vortex display from SJ City Hall exhibition -- repair and upgrade

TL;DR

This video showcases a water vortex art installation at San Jose City Hall, controlled by a web server. The creator discusses the challenges faced with rust and shares solutions to make the exhibit more durable.

Transcript

hey guys this is a little bit of a followup uh to a video I made long ago this is a project that I built for San Jose City Hall it's a sort of an Art Exhibit this tube is filled with water and uh there's an impeller at the bottom uh really just a muffin fan that I kind of stole the blades from and uh the drill motor down here spins the fan around a... Read More

Key Insights

• 🥰 The water vortex art exhibit is an interactive installation that adds visual appeal to San Jose City Hall.
• 🎮 The exhibit is controlled by a web server, allowing visitors to control the water vortex wirelessly.
• 🥺 Rust became a major problem over time, leading to the need for modifications to increase the exhibit's lifespan.
• ❓ Upgrades included switching to stainless steel and plastic components to reduce the impact of rust and using all stainless hardware.
• ❓ The arrangement of four bearings ensures the shaft's rotation, preventing lateral or axial movement.
• 🦭 The seal used to prevent water leakage was initially made of rubber but later replaced with a silicone-covered oil seal to protect against corrosion.
• 🥳 The creator sourced all the necessary parts for the exhibit from mcmaster.com, including stainless steel hardware, bearings, and the impeller.

Questions & Answers

Q: What is the purpose of the water vortex art exhibit at San Jose City Hall?

The exhibit serves as an interactive art installation, allowing visitors to witness and control a mesmerizing water vortex, adding an aesthetic appeal to the environment.

Q: How did the creator address the issue of algae growth in the exhibit?

To fix algae growth, the creator simply emptied the water and refilled it with fresh water, ensuring that the exhibit remained visually appealing.

Q: What led to the problem of rust in the exhibit?

The use of steel components in the original design led to rust, as the exhibit was expected to be temporary and not built for long-term use.

Q: What changes were made to make the exhibit more durable?

The creator upgraded the exhibit by replacing the steel shaft with a stainless steel one, using a plastic impeller, and using stainless steel hardware. Additionally, all the bearings were arranged to ensure only rotational movement.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• The video showcases a water vortex art exhibit built for San Jose City Hall.

• The exhibit features a tube filled with water and an impeller controlled by a drill motor to create a water vortex.

• The creator faced issues with rust and algae growth in the exhibit but made modifications to make it more durable.