How This Guy Builds Mesmerizing Kinetic Sculptures | Obsessed

Summary: The Art and Physics of Kinetic Sculpture

This video features David Roy, a kinetic sculptor who has spent over 40 years creating mesmerizing wooden machines that move for hours without motors or batteries. Blending his background in physics with artistic design, Roy solves complex engineering problems to create sculptures that are both visually stunning and mechanically ingenious.

The Mechanism

Unlike electronic devices, Roy’s sculptures are entirely mechanical. They rely on a constant force spring or a weight drive as an energy source. The movement is regulated by an escapement mechanism—similar to that found in a clock—which releases energy in small, controlled increments. This allows the sculpture to move for extended periods, with some recent pieces running for up to 48 hours on a single wind.

Physics and “Perpetual” Motion

Roy addresses the common misconception that his work represents perpetual motion. Citing the conservation of energy, he explains that the energy put into the system (by winding) is eventually converted into motion, sound, and heat (via friction). His goal is to minimize energy loss by reducing friction and sound, giving the illusion of perpetual movement.

The Creative Process

The creation of a sculpture involves a mix of modern technology and traditional craftsmanship. Roy sketches designs using Adobe Illustrator and animates them in After Effects. Crucially, he uses an old physics simulation program called “Working Model” to calculate the center of mass for parts, ensuring perfect balance. Parts are cut using a CNC machine and then finished and assembled by hand, a process that requires rigorous testing and fine-tuning.

Final Thoughts

David Roy’s journey highlights the intersection of art and engineering. Driven by a passion for problem-solving—whether it’s silencing a noisy mechanism or achieving “chaotic motion”—he proves that creativity is just as much about making things work as it is about making them look beautiful.

Vocabulary Table

Term	Pronunciation	Definition	Used in sentence
Kinetic Sculpture	/kɪˈnɛtɪk ˈskʌlptʃər/	Art that contains moving parts or depends on motion for its effect.	My name is David Roy, I’m a kinetic sculptor.
Escapement	/ɪˈskeɪpmənt/	A mechanism in a clock or watch that alternately checks and releases the train of gear wheels.	Each is controlled by what’s called an escapement mechanism.
Perpetual Motion	/pərˈpɛtʃuəl ˈmoʊʃən/	The motion of bodies that continues indefinitely without any external source of energy (impossible in practice).	Lastly, there is a large group of people who say is it perpetual motion.
Conservation of Energy	/ˌkɒnsərˈveɪʃən ʌv ˈɛnərdʒi/	A principle stating that energy cannot be created or destroyed, only transformed.	One of the key laws of physics is the conservation of energy.
Friction	/ˈfrɪkʃən/	The resistance that one surface or object encounters when moving over another.	A lot of it gets lost in heat due to friction where the things are rotating.
Constant Force Spring	/ˈkɒnstənt fɔːrs sprɪŋ/	A spring designed to provide a constant load or torque throughout its extension or rotation.	I use a constant force spring now, I initially started with a weight drive.
Mesmerizing	/ˈmɛzməraɪzɪŋ/	Capturing one’s complete attention as if by magic; hypnotic.	Roy’s kinetic sculptures are mesmerizing feats of artistry and engineering.
Chaotic Motion	/keɪˈɒtɪk ˈmoʊʃən/	Movement that changes at unpredictable intervals and appears random.	These days Roy is focused on creating chaotic motion in his pieces.
Center of Mass	/ˈsɛntər ʌv mæs/	The point in a body at which the whole mass may be considered as concentrated.	I use it to calculate the center of mass of complicated arrangements of parts.
CNC Machine	/siː ɛn siː məˈʃiːn/	Computer Numerical Control; a machine that uses computers to control machine tools like cutters.	He sends a file over to a local woodworker who cuts out parts on a CNC machine.
Incrementally	/ˌɪnkrəˈmɛntəli/	In small steps or amounts; gradually.	A device that releases energy incrementally.
Retract	/rɪˈtrækt/	To draw or pull something back or in.	That device creates motion but it also retracts the escapement.
Intuitive	/ɪnˈtuːɪtɪv/	Based on what one feels to be true even without conscious reasoning; instinctive.	Eventually I get an intuitive feel, but the only way to get that is by spending hours adding weight.
Nirvana	/nɪrˈvɑːnə/	A state of perfect happiness; an ideal or idiosyncratic place or state.	When I got that up to an hour I thought I was in nirvana.
Push the Envelope	/pʊʃ ðə ˈɛnvəloʊp/	To approach or extend the limits of what is possible.	To push the envelope of well what can I do next.

Vocabulary Flashcards

While-viewing Tasks

Complete these tasks while watching the video:

Guided Notes

Fill in the key information as you watch:

David Roy’s profession:
The energy source he uses:
The mechanism that controls the release of energy:
Maximum runtime of his current sculptures:
The old computer program he uses:

Comprehension Questions

Why does David Roy say his sculptures are NOT perpetual motion machines?
Who inspired David to turn his machines into “sculptures”?
What is “chaotic motion” according to the video?

Embedded Video:

Fill in the Blanks Exercise

1. David Roy is a sculptor who has been working for over 40 years.

2. His sculptures are powered by a or weight, not motors.

3. The mechanism that controls the release of energy is called an .

4. Roy explains that his machines are not motion because they require energy input.

5. The law of of energy states that energy cannot be created or destroyed.

6. Energy is lost in the system primarily through caused by friction.

7. Roy’s wife, Margie, encouraged him to call his wooden machines .

8. Early sculptures ran for 20 minutes, but now some run for up to 48 .

9. Long runtimes are achieved by creating very motion.

10. Recently, Roy has been focused on creating motion, which is unpredictable.

11. He uses a program called Working Model to calculate the of mass.

12. Parts are cut using a machine before being finished by hand.

13. To balance the sculptures, he embeds tiny weights in the wood.

14. A difficult part of the process after building is the sculpture.

15. Roy enjoys the solving aspect of his work the most.

Extension Activities

Choose from these activities to extend your learning:

The Escapement Mechanism

Research how an “escapement” works in a mechanical clock. Draw a diagram labeling the key parts (escape wheel, pallet fork, pendulum/balance wheel) and explain in your own words how it converts continuous rotational energy into oscillating motion.

Difficulty:
Medium

Art vs. Engineering

David Roy mentions his wife told him, “You can make a machine and call it a sculpture.” Discuss with a partner: Where is the line between a machine and a piece of art? Can a car engine be art? Can a painting be a machine? Create a Venn diagram comparing the two concepts.

Difficulty:
Easy

Design a Kinetic Concept

As a group, brainstorm a concept for a kinetic sculpture. You don’t need to build it, but you must define: 1) The energy source (wind, gravity, solar, hand-crank), 2) The type of motion (patterned, chaotic, fast, slow), and 3) The aesthetic theme. Sketch your concept.

Difficulty:
Hard

How This Guy Builds Mesmerizing Kinetic Sculptures | Obsessed | WIRED