Odyssey's Blog

Lots of developments on the installation side this week:

I developed a method for connecting the square metal rails to the bottom ring at 12 more contact points along its outer diameter, up from just 4 before. I basically used some fancy math to add some cross-connecting pipes that reach different lengths inward of the frame’s outer diameter, the points of which have hooks to catch the lower ring and hold it down. It basically looks like some kind of freaky fractal math textbook cover, which is both badass and functional- it’ll help the frame keep its shape even if the joints loosen up during setup or cleanup. I’ve already assembled all the materials (didn’t cost a penny- it was all laying around the Innovation Center), and assembled one corner’s configuration. Next time I go to work, I’ll finish the other 3.

The ceiling mount finally came in, and it’s pretty sweet. It came with everything I needed… except screws to attach it to the actual projector. Luckily I scrounged some up and tested it out, and everything seems to be OK. Now I need to figure out how to attach a PVC pipe extension onto it, and measure how long it’ll need to be. Once that’s done and the test mount is in place with its wiring arranged properly (assuming all goes well), we can order the other 3 mounts.

Friend of Upstate Freshness and Lead Fellow at the Innovation Center Eliza Hammer came to our rescue this weekend, lending her expertise to help us get the top stitch sewn along the fabric, so we can thread the top ring through. As much as I would’ve liked to try doing it ourselves, this stitch is too important to risk messing up- one wrinkle or twist along the stitch could cause permanent wrinkles in the fabric when it’s stretched. So far she’s done the longest length of fabric, and can finish up the rest next week.

Which brings me to the last big development- I found another long-lost length of the same fabric material we’ve been using- and it’s almost as long as our longest length, and the right height, too. This is a huge relief, since I wasn’t sure we’d have enough to reach all the way around if we wouldn’t be able to stretch it horizontally the way we had been. Adding this new fabric will give us much more control, and allow us to design the proper entrance/exit seam without too many unnecessary seams. I brought the fabric home and it’s currently spinning in the washer- it’ll be bright white and smelling like Febreezy spring flowers in a few hours.

On a side note, can’t wait for those freaking surround sound speakers to get here….