Zoetrope laser cut

thingiverse

These are templates for creating a laser cut zoetrope from cardboard and thin wood using a small ball-bearing for rotation. Snap the bearings into place within the base plate, where the smallest circle fits snugly inside the bearing itself. I've found it useful to screw this design onto the bottom plate with a generous helping of glue. To bring your project to life, simply print your images onto paper and attach them to the interior of the drum using a reliable adhesive. The positioning of these images and slots is crucial for optimal viewing experience. To start, consider placing slots directly above the image for a sharper angle of view. Alternatively, you can space out the slots with an equal number of images between them so that they line up perfectly with each other. To create an authentic visual effect, it's essential to remember a key principle of Reframing Photography: 'The slots along the side wall/drum work like shutters in motion. By controlling the exposure time through these slots, we ensure our eyes receive just the right amount of light as they scan through each frame. Ideally, the slits should be spaced evenly around the cylinder, and for every one image, there should be one slot to match.' Aim for a width of approximately 1/8th of an inch per slit to achieve the desired outcome. If the slits are too narrow, the image will remain hazy; if they're too wide, it will persist in the eye for longer than intended.