Introduction：

"Sand Castle" is a public installation project that employs a straightforward design language and concept to encourage visitors to control the top XY sliders and UV resin pumps, inviting everyone to build a shared "Sand Castle collaboratively." We sought inspiration from the collective memories and experiences of the public, blending elements from familiar concepts like claw machines, 3D printers, nail polish, and Jenga. In this way, it is intended to evoke a sense of "déjà vu" when they interact with this machine. Moreover, as an art piece that promotes public participation, each participant contributes to the artwork, which requires several months and the effort of hundreds of people to complete. This is not just a Sand Castle built by hundreds of hands; it's also a collective intertwining of hundreds of independent thoughts and inspirations.

 

How to play this Project:

Using Joystick on the left side to control the position of XY-table. It can move forward, backward, left, and right. Press the Reload button on the right side to activate the UV resin pump. UV resin drips will slowly drop from the top to the bottom. *If UV resin does not drip, press it a few times until it drips. This situation happens when no one uses it for a long time.

 

Technical Break Down:

Sand Castle uses one Arduino Uno and one Arduino Mega as main controllers, sending PWM signals to the XY-table according to the Joystick position sensor. In addition, two peristaltic pumps draw the UV resin from the under-storage box into the XY-table platform below using a switch-controlled motion via press buttons. At the same time, two 60-watt UV lamps enable the rapid curing of UV resin. This is an excellent quick-curing material, allowing everyone to construct our Sand Castle rapidly. To ensure safety, we encase the device with UV-resistant acrylic panels to protect the health and safety of the audience.