PROJECTS: VORTEX CANNONS
makezine.com/15/vortex
2. BARKING TUBE VORTEX CANNON
This computer-controlled cannon was inspired by Bill Beaty’s Amateur Science website
( amasci.com/amasci.html).
2a. Tape a 12" subwoofer into 1 end
of a 12" cardboard tube.
2b. Wire the speaker to an amplifier,
and wire the amp to your audio
source. I used a laptop running
Tone Generator, downloadable at
nch.com.au/tonegen.
2c. Cut a plywood or foam ring for
the exhaust end of the barrel, with an
inside diameter between 4" and 6".
Glue and tape it into place. This ring
creates the vortex, and controls its size
and velocity.
2d. Fill the barrel with fog and play sawtooth waves in the 1Hz to 10Hz range.
Admire your vortices. Experiment with
the frequency; when it gets too fast,
the rings blur together and lose their
structure.
3. BIG BAD BOOM VORTEX CANNON
My Boom Stick PVC air cannon, from MAKE, Volume 13, is great for generating air vortices. You just
need to add a bit more plumbing and a large cardboard tube. See makezine.com/15/vortex for details.
120 Make: Volume 15
