The art and practice of sculpting can be a tedious and time-consuming process especially when an exact likeness of the subject is desired. To obtain an accurate likeness the sculptor must utilize some form of reference material in order to refresh his/her memory of the subject’s form. Photographs are the most widely used reference material, however they offer a limited dimensional perspective and often cause distractions as an artists looks away from the sculpture to study the photograph.

These disadvantages can be overcome, however, by joining a rotary table mechanism and a slide projector to create the maximum benefit from an artist’s reference materials. The rotary table actuated slide projector described below provides a continuously correct three-dimensional perspective of a slide-projected image to the sculpture in progress.

Prior to sculpting, photographic slides are taken in 22-½ degree increments producing 16 slides around the subject. Copies of these 16 slides are made and placed in a slide projector carousel in repeated sequences. The slide projector is then connected to the rotary table via a special remote control cable that signals the forward or reverse movement of the slide projector. As the sculpture and rotary table are rotated to provide the desired view of the subject, the slide projector automatically rotates to display the corresponding slide image. Programmed logic is required to determine the shortest distance to the required perspective. A Phillips 51LPC MCU chip provides the logic that controls the advancement.

The rotary table actuated slide projector not only provides a continuously correct perspective of the subject but also allows the sculptor to spend less of his/her time and attention referring to non-dynamic reference material, and more time focusing upon the differences between the sculpture and subject.

Another key advantage that the rotary table actuated slide projector offers the artist is the ability to display the reference material and the sculpture under a specific lighting condition. Care can be taken while photographing the subject to mimic the lighting conditions that the sculpture will be created under. By rotating the sculpture instead of the artist about the sculpture the lighting conditions and subsequent shadow and shape, are maintained.

The strength of this design lies in filling an artistic need with technological elements. Although the above uses do not exhaust the possible applications for this design, they are sufficient to illustrate the artistic efficiency created by joining technological components with engineering innovation.