[petethepig]

hehe, if anyone's interested, I built a similar machine around 2018-2020 [1], although I never automated the nail pick-and-place part of the process. I also used epoxy instead of plaster.

[1] https://www.instagram.com/string.art.bird/

[nomel]

I would suspect you could make some reasonable side money with a large scale version of this, maybe with colored wire, especially with commercial art in mind.

Did you ever consider it?

[petethepig]

I did consider it, and I think you're exactly right RE the direction I would go into (colored wire, larger pieces, etc). But then I had a bunch of other things happen in life and so I had to put it all on pause.

The world of art (and especially commercial / corporate art) is very foreign to me, but I bet exploring it would be a fun challenge, so I am planning to do that in a few years.

[isaacfung]

Some people see innovative ways to combine art and technology.

Some people see money.

[nomel]

I work in automation. My livelihood is making things, unattended. I see my career.

Personally, I think artist should be compensated well. The whole "starving artist" thing isn't just a trope, and I don't think they should be punished like that, "in the name of art!". There are people in my family who were some of the most creative people I know, with art degrees, who have to spend time waiting tables, rather than on art, because because they have stomachs, and don't like the rain.

Money isn't bad, especially if it's from making beautiful things that others value.

[civilitty]

Some people see Hacker News internet points.

They are the ones we remember.

[gorjusborg]

Every now and then I remember I'm reading a VC-funded news aggregator.

[is_true]

Nice.

Did you build the CNC yourslef? Do you have any docs about it?

Thank you.