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Author Topic: Some spinning tops in honor of James Clerk Maxwell  (Read 5338 times)

Phil

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Some spinning tops in honor of James Clerk Maxwell
« on: January 30, 2019, 06:25:37 PM »








There is no metal in any of these tops, as I am simply a woodworker and have no skill with metalwork like Iacopo.
I have been making precision spinning tops for two years, as well as collect them. I have made over 270 tops to date.
« Last Edit: January 30, 2019, 06:28:45 PM by Phil »
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ta0

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Re: Some spinning tops in honor of James Clerk Maxwell
« Reply #1 on: January 30, 2019, 07:41:57 PM »

Very nice! Maxwell would approve!

Does the first one have an acrylic stem?
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the Earl of Whirl

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Re: Some spinning tops in honor of James Clerk Maxwell
« Reply #2 on: January 30, 2019, 07:47:46 PM »

Ok!  Wow!!  Very nice Phil.  Thanks for sharing those.

Over 270?  Quite impressive.
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Phil

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Re: Some spinning tops in honor of James Clerk Maxwell
« Reply #3 on: January 31, 2019, 02:59:17 PM »

The all-resin top has a clear acrylic stem.
One of my signature elements in every top I make is the thread grip. It offers a great grip to apply spinning torque, and is available in dozens of colors to match, contrast, or complement the coloring of the top, be it wood, or resin.
The other two Maxwells are wood varieties.
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paxl13

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Re: Some spinning tops in honor of James Clerk Maxwell
« Reply #4 on: January 31, 2019, 06:53:57 PM »

They are beautiful. These top surely are really nice desk companion :)

Cheers,
pax
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Spinning is life!!!!

Phil

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Re: Some spinning tops in honor of James Clerk Maxwell
« Reply #5 on: February 01, 2019, 10:13:09 AM »

I don't know if you're allowed to link to YT videos, but here's a sample of the spin Q:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5_XFZX2HErc
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Phil

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Re: Some spinning tops in honor of James Clerk Maxwell
« Reply #6 on: February 04, 2019, 12:28:56 PM »

Another Maxwell top.
This has the center of mass (COM) below the spin point, as proven by the very simple "hanging test".



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Jeremy McCreary

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Re: Some spinning tops in honor of James Clerk Maxwell
« Reply #7 on: February 05, 2019, 05:51:52 AM »

Another Maxwell top.
This has the center of mass (COM) below the spin point, as proven by the very simple "hanging test".

Beautiful tops! Precession direction provides another very sensitive and readily observable test of the CM's position relative to the top's contact ( point of support)...

1. Spin up top on a pedestal
2. Release with some tilt -- say, 10-15°
3. Observe precession or lack thereof

If precession is prograde (same direction as spin), CM is above contact. If retrograde (opposite to spin), CM is below. If no precession at all, CM is exactly at contact.

If prograde, I consider the spintoy a true top. If retrograde, a "spindulum". Still looking for a catchy name if no precession.

Test is readily confirmed with any top with an adjustable CM-contact distance on a low-friction support -- e.g., Maxwell's dynamical top and many of my LEGO tops.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=u7_azTiWxyw
« Last Edit: February 05, 2019, 07:22:44 AM by Jeremy McCreary »
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the Earl of Whirl

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Re: Some spinning tops in honor of James Clerk Maxwell
« Reply #8 on: February 05, 2019, 10:31:43 AM »

Cool!  Hmm......spindulums.  Makes sense.
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Phil

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Re: Some spinning tops in honor of James Clerk Maxwell
« Reply #9 on: February 12, 2019, 11:27:30 PM »

I very much like your test, (being consistent with Maxwell's original observations of 1856) and the name "spindulum"!
I made another Maxwell. This one is a spindulum also.

« Last Edit: February 13, 2019, 12:12:22 AM by ta0 »
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ta0

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Re: Some spinning tops in honor of James Clerk Maxwell
« Reply #10 on: February 13, 2019, 12:14:05 AM »

Beautiful!  8)

What's the green material?
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Jeremy McCreary

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Re: Some spinning tops in honor of James Clerk Maxwell
« Reply #11 on: February 13, 2019, 01:34:35 AM »

Gorgeous! Same question as the Earl. Color kinda reminds me of malachite, but internal patterns look wrong, and it may be too soft for precision machining.
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Phil

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Re: Some spinning tops in honor of James Clerk Maxwell
« Reply #12 on: February 13, 2019, 09:00:20 AM »

This latest top is made of cast polyresin, Delrin, and Lignum Vitae. It stands 6" tall and weighs a massive 33g! It spins for about 8 minutes.
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Phil

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Re: Some spinning tops in honor of James Clerk Maxwell
« Reply #13 on: February 13, 2019, 09:08:53 AM »





Another Maxwell top I made recently. This is all resin, but the flywheel contains tungsten powder to add mass.
Not a lot of mass as the top still only weighs 22g -- haha!
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Phil

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Re: Some spinning tops in honor of James Clerk Maxwell
« Reply #14 on: February 18, 2019, 04:13:12 PM »

The flywheel on this Maxwell is lead.



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