Floating Picture Frame
Intruducing the Magical Floating Picture Frame!!! In this instructible I wanted to make something practicle, fun, inexpensive, educational, and a cool conversation piece, in an all in one project. Well here it is..... It's nothing new to instructibles, but it is a neat project that can be put to practicle use. I am using neodymium magnets positioned in a fashion to create a floating rod that you can hang objects from. I hope you like it. I know I learned a bit from playing with the magnet positions and their effect in combination with gravity as I tried hanging objects. Let's go check it out.
Parts
4-3"x1/8" Dows. This is the A frame structure
2-6"x5/16" Dows. This is the Base
2- 3" Popsicle Sticks. This is the Base Cross connection
1~ 8"x1/8" Dow. This will be cut to fit later.
1- 7"x1/4" Dow. This will be cut to fit for the Floating Rod
2-21/2" Popsicle Sticks. This will be the Magnet platform.
2 small paper clips
8-1/4" cube Neodymium Magnets
4-1/2"x 1/8" round Neodymium Magnets
2-1/2"x1/8"x1/4"Center hole Neodymium Magnets. These will slide over the 1/4" floating rod.
Optional shrink tubing for floating rod.
2-6"x5/16" Dows. This is the Base
2- 3" Popsicle Sticks. This is the Base Cross connection
1~ 8"x1/8" Dow. This will be cut to fit later.
1- 7"x1/4" Dow. This will be cut to fit for the Floating Rod
2-21/2" Popsicle Sticks. This will be the Magnet platform.
2 small paper clips
8-1/4" cube Neodymium Magnets
4-1/2"x 1/8" round Neodymium Magnets
2-1/2"x1/8"x1/4"Center hole Neodymium Magnets. These will slide over the 1/4" floating rod.
Optional shrink tubing for floating rod.
Frame Structure
1: Glue the base structure with the 5/16" dow and the 2- 3" Popsicle sticks. Pic 1
2: Set the A frame with the 4- 3" x 1/8" dows. Pic 2
Do not set the center part of the A frame yet.
2: Set the A frame with the 4- 3" x 1/8" dows. Pic 2
Do not set the center part of the A frame yet.
Magnet Platform
Attach the Magnets according to the picture setup keeping about 1/8" to 1/4" distance between them. Pic 1
***** THIS IS A TRICKY PROCESS THAT REQUIRES A FIRM GRIP ON THE MAGNETS********
This is what it should look like when finished. All the polarity forces are in the same direction. Pic 2
Attach to the A frame and make sure you have a slight tilt. Both sides should be equal. Pic 3
Cut to fit a 1/8" dow to support the back of the platform. Pic 4
I made the other support long so I can cut to fit later for the floating rod stabilizer. Pic 4
***** THIS IS A TRICKY PROCESS THAT REQUIRES A FIRM GRIP ON THE MAGNETS********
This is what it should look like when finished. All the polarity forces are in the same direction. Pic 2
Attach to the A frame and make sure you have a slight tilt. Both sides should be equal. Pic 3
Cut to fit a 1/8" dow to support the back of the platform. Pic 4
I made the other support long so I can cut to fit later for the floating rod stabilizer. Pic 4
Floating Rod Part 1
Place one of the 1/4" center hole magnets on one side of the 1/4" dow and glue. Do not set the other side.
Make sure that the polarity of the dow oposes the polarity of the platform. Pic 1
Attach a really small hex head screw on one end for the stability rod. (re purposed internal hard drive screw) Pic 2
Make sure that the polarity of the dow oposes the polarity of the platform. Pic 1
Attach a really small hex head screw on one end for the stability rod. (re purposed internal hard drive screw) Pic 2
Floating Rod Part 2 (The Stabilizer)
This is real tricky and time consuming. May require several hands.
Take the one end of the floating rod that has the magnet already attached and discover the point where the magnet on the floating rod will be stable.
Set the Floating Rod Stabilizer once the perfect position is discovered. (THIS IS A TOUGH PROCESS) (LOTS OF FRUSTRATION)
The side used for this stabilizer is the side that has the long magnet platform support. (Cut to fit) Pic. 1
Slide the remaining 1/4" center hole magnet in the same fashion on the other end of the Floating rod and adjust position till a level status is achieved. (THIS IS A TOUGH PROCESS ALSO) (LOTS OF FRUSTRATION) Pic. 2
TAA DAA!!! YOU ARE DONE. YOU CAN NOW APOLOGIZE TO THOSE YOU FUSSED AT WHILE TRYING TO DISCOVER THE PERFECT POSITION OF THE MAGNETS.
You can now take the remaining paperclip and bend it to make a picture holder. Pic 3 and Pic 4
Take the one end of the floating rod that has the magnet already attached and discover the point where the magnet on the floating rod will be stable.
Set the Floating Rod Stabilizer once the perfect position is discovered. (THIS IS A TOUGH PROCESS) (LOTS OF FRUSTRATION)
The side used for this stabilizer is the side that has the long magnet platform support. (Cut to fit) Pic. 1
Slide the remaining 1/4" center hole magnet in the same fashion on the other end of the Floating rod and adjust position till a level status is achieved. (THIS IS A TOUGH PROCESS ALSO) (LOTS OF FRUSTRATION) Pic. 2
TAA DAA!!! YOU ARE DONE. YOU CAN NOW APOLOGIZE TO THOSE YOU FUSSED AT WHILE TRYING TO DISCOVER THE PERFECT POSITION OF THE MAGNETS.
You can now take the remaining paperclip and bend it to make a picture holder. Pic 3 and Pic 4