[SML] Hovercraft revolve?

[Riter, Andrew]

we have an aircaster system (by areogo) to move seating towers in a black box venue.

It's a nice theory, but I suggest not to waste your time.

I don't know if the hard surfaces will work.  The Areogo system has perforated bags under each corner of the tower.  These drag on the floor, having lifted the tower steel off the floor.

Our LARGE air compressor is the basement.  We don't hear it.  But the noise of the air flowing is substantial.  (I believe we're working with a High Volume, Low Pressure  If I remember correctly, the gauge is around 100 - 120 PSI).

If you want low profile, wasn't there a discussion hear once about a using 1000s of marbles under the deck to roll the revolve on??

Andrew M. Riter 
Assistant Technical Director, Head Lighting Technician
Chan Centre for the Performing Arts

604-822-2372
andrew.riter at ubc.ca


> -----Original Message-----
> From: Stagecraft [mailto:stagecraft-bounces at theatrical.net] On Behalf Of
> Joe D via Stagecraft
> Sent: Thursday, February 09, 2017 7:12 AM
> To: Stagecraft Mailing List
> Cc: Joe D
> Subject: [SML] Hovercraft revolve?
> 
> I have been involved with a production, where we built an revolving
> platform, 8ft diameter. It was about a 6" step up in height.
> 
> This now has me wondering if we could have done it as a hover-craft.  I.e. 1st
> put down plywood the diameter of your platform, and route some channels
> for air passage. Then, lay down an air hose to the center.  Lay the top layer on
> top of that base, and connect them at the center with a pivot connection.
> 
> When air is supplied, it will act like an air-hockey puck.  The benefit is that you
> can make a much lower profile system.
> 
> It may even be possible to put the air system inside the platform itself.
> Perhaps by sandwiching 3-layers of 1/4 Ply.  The middle layer has the passage
> for air created by using a router. Then, holes drilled through to allow the air
> to flow to the bottom.
> 
> However, I am concerned that uneven loading may cause one part to get
> bogged down.  Though, I suppose as long as the air pressure is supplied to
> multiple points, it should work.
> 
> I think the key is to keep the pressure higher than any local loading at each
> particular outlet.  So, if I have a 12" grid of holes, I should make sure that my
> Pounds per Sq Ft of load is less than the PSI of the air.  I would of course,
> need to make sure my source can keep up with enough air.
> 
> One reference I found says a vacuum cleaner can provide around 2.7 PSI [=
> 370 PSF]. So, that would seem to be plenty.  The noise is, of course an issue,
> so the blower would have to be located elsewhere, and the air piped in.
> 
> Has anyone ever taken this approach to floating a platform with the entire
> base of the platform acting as a single air-caster?  Any other thoughts about
> it?
> 
> -Joe
> 
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