If you would like to begin building your own cymatics device using electronics rather than a simple acoustic version, (such as the tonascope or plate and bow) the first thing you will need is a wave driver.
I was able to find this one, which I used in my project for Cirque Du Soliel, at Pasco Scientific.
It has an “arm” which you can place any type of plate on as long as it has a hole drilled in the exact center. I tried a glass plate, a thick steel plate and a thin round steel plate (which is what I ended up using for my cymatics project).
Here is the link to the page featuring this wave driver at Pasco
If you are thinking of using this wave driver to create a cymatics device write in on the comments here and I can provide more detailed information.
The wave driver is one component of the electronic cymatics setup I use to create visual patterns from pure frequencies and music pieces such as you can see in this video.
{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
Hey Jodina,
Over the last year I have been looking at alot of work and sites you’re involved with. I have been studying Audio Engineering, and descovering cymatics through you has sparked a great intrest in me. I think cymatics speaks much more than just beautiful geometric forms, Which is why now I feel so strongly about cymatics and I really want to create Cymatic Art!
I have been trying to build a set up using a waveform generator and trying to figure out a way to capture the images, But no luck yet!
This Driver seems perfect though, Do you know if there is any way I could get one? I live in New Zealand, and I cannot find anything like this here so far.
Any Help, Advice or suggestions would be much appreciated,
Many thanks,
Jacob, New Zealand
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I am a photographer / physicist, and am very intrigued about learning more of your setup. The pasco devicevseems perfect, with the right driver. Any guidance would be appreciated!
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Hello. I am very interested in the driver presented here. If you could inform me as to the means of getting one would be greatly appreciated.
Thanx
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Hi,
I am planning to build a set up using this wave driver. Any additional info would be most helpful.
Best,
J
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Jodina Meehan Reply:
August 31st, 2011 at 11:18 pm
Hi –
Here’s a couple notes on that- go to pascoscientific.com
You can get a set of plates there too – look up chladni plates on their site. Ask them for the best type of small amp that you can hook a computer up to. Then you have computer amp and driver with plate connected.
Let me know if you have further questions …
- Jodina
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