I have been asked by my granddaughter to build a display type case for the nature center she assists at.
They are looking for a case about 6′ wide and 4′ high, with 3 rows of 6 display boxes per row. Each of the boxes is to be 4-sided with a display of different kinds of bird species native to our area, inside of each of the 4-sided cubes.
The boxes are to pivot around an axis to permit viewers to rotate the boxes for viewing.
I am looking for ideas on the hardware to hold these display boxes and to be able to rotate them.
The nature center also has reservations of viewers “spinning” the individual boxes and damaging the display inside the box. Any thoughts on resolving this issue would also be appreciated.
Thank you in advance for any help on this.
Replies
The wishes of the Nature Center may be a little contradictory. Can you suggest that the display boxes be stationary but open on both sides. If they place the display case so people can walk around it to see the birds on both sides that would solve the ultra spin problem. You know some little kid is going to want to have some fun and spin the boxes until the feathers and maybe the birds take flight.
Thank You for your quick response.
I will include that at our next meeting.
Plenty money? Around here we have " bird ladies" driving Maybachs and will donate any amount of money for bird related stuff! People living in tents mind you- but be as it may you could go a little techie.
What if it had little servo motors turning the bird boxes ,then your in control. Push the warbler button and it turns. You could even have have the individual boxes light up --- you could even have bird sounds! Rocking Robin - "tweet tweet" I particularly like the sound of a wood trush.
Thank You. I will consider.
If the center of each group of 4 display boxes that is to rotate together is hollow, you could use a vertical axle with flange mount ball bearings attached to the top and bottom of each set of boxes. You could also create a stop to prevent the boxes from rotating more than 360º using a metal pin and a block or piece of metal angle. You might be able to attach something to the flange as one part of the stop mechanism, and another to the axle.
Thank you! Very helpful!
“[Deleted]”
I think simper is always better. Think about not installing any hardware or moving parts which eliminates all those issues. Instead put a mirror in the back and bottom of each box to allow full viewing. Translucent top panel with an LED light would be a nice touch.
Thank you! Very helpful!
I think the design solution needs to address the user experience. My interpretation of that would be to allow the user to “hold” the bird in their hand and view the species from all sides. The OP proposed a transparent rotating cube which to me makes the most sense.
Keep it simple with two vertical axles attached to the top and bottom of the cube and to an upper and lower support arm.
+1 on the servos. I'm guessing that the taxidermist that made the individual mounts never thought they'd move at all. Go gentle & slow would be top of the list to me.