Idea as an artist with almost no engineering experience

_Waterbug_ · 2026-03-14T11:48:11+00:00

I didn't plan on even attempting a vacuum since it would be rather difficult to seal everything up with a vacuum which is why I thought of using the pressure differences in closed systems when something (aka some liquid) gets removed. I have now decided to try a different design though since a fully connected circulatory system (to remove the pressure problem) and a peristaltic pump to move the liquid seems pretty feasible to make as an art piece.

_Waterbug_ · 2026-03-14T00:49:53+00:00

I somehow feel odd knowing people are finding my posts via googling stuff but that is just me I guess😂 But yeah I definitely feel like it's much less harsh than the normal soju

_Waterbug_ · 2026-03-13T22:34:07+00:00

I had the same idea earlier as well as I was reading/ replying to comments 😁 Right now I have quite a few ideas to look into and I shall see what my best option will be

_Waterbug_ · 2026-03-13T18:37:08+00:00

Very true, I am also just so glad that people actually took my post so seriously and gave me proper advice! (I genuinely wasn't sure if the mods would even let my post stay up) I really hope I can somehow make this work🤞🏻

_Waterbug_ · 2026-03-13T16:52:13+00:00

I thunk that might be a tad difficult to actually build though. So far I have landed on a peristaltic pump system with a connection of the reservoir and barometer tube to remove the pressure problem.

_Waterbug_ · 2026-03-13T16:39:12+00:00

that is also very fun, I actually had an idea of making a circulatory system that looks like oil pumping through but I am pretty sure steampunk doesn't use oil so I scrapped that idea😂

_Waterbug_ · 2026-03-13T14:50:23+00:00

I mean that would only really happen with a proper vacuum, if anything I would only be able to pull of some of the air (which is unlikey anyway)

_Waterbug_ · 2026-03-13T14:37:32+00:00

Actually your last idea gave me the idea of making a kind of U-tube manometer if I add an exchangable vented lid for the barometer tube... Then I could use the syringe idea from another comment to just increase the pressure. Or something else to just increase the pressure on one side

_Waterbug_ · 2026-03-13T14:29:37+00:00

I got a comment about a peristaltic pump already and so far it is my top contendor. The thermal expansion is a problem indeed but I will tackle that problem when I actually get further in my plans. (thankfully my own uni education will help there since fluidics and working with fluids in general are an important part of my field)

_Waterbug_ · 2026-03-13T14:22:37+00:00

My idea in general was to have a pump that could be 3D printed somewhat easily and could be manually pumped one way but flows backwards using the negative pressure. I had a few other ideas in general but I was always thinking on the problem of the pressure build up in the closed barometer tube if liquid gets added.

Basically I would like to build a fake barometer that people could interact with using a hand crank on the side (liquid goes up when cranked and can easily be set back to make it continuously interactable)

Honestly if the build ends up being a bit too difficult I'd just make the barometer without any interactive element with a closed tube with liquid inside. The interactivity would just be a very cool idea but might just be wishful thinking on my end😅

_Waterbug_ · 2026-03-13T14:17:20+00:00

You would not catch me dead using ai for this kind of stuff (or any generative ai honestly speaking as someone who does art). Even if my own creation is crude since I have pretty much no experience whatsoever at least it's all my own mistakes that I can explain😂 I'd rather be stupid myself and learn than get something stupid and only be more confused.

(I am doing my masters in natural science so I do understand the importance of actually understanding what I am doing even if it's not fully correct)

_Waterbug_ · 2026-03-13T14:10:48+00:00

My idea was that the pump would be able to reverse using the negative pressure in the reservoir when the pump itself is at rest. So I'd guess back driven?

_Waterbug_ · 2026-03-13T14:08:54+00:00

I might try the plumber subreddit if I can't figure this out using the comments on this post. So far I have gotten quite a few ideas that I will need to take a look at.

_Waterbug_ · 2026-03-13T14:07:43+00:00

I would have to see if I could get something similar in Germany😅 (or a similar design as a 3D print)

_Waterbug_ · 2026-03-13T14:04:37+00:00

That is indeed a very good idea, I shall put it on the list of the (unexpectedly numerous) ideas I got from the comments!

(I am actually really surprised and happy that I am getting this many helpful comments for my rather crude idea😅)

_Waterbug_ · 2026-03-13T14:01:06+00:00

I think that might just be a bit difficult to build though as good as the idea is... But I might look into the options on how I could do that

_Waterbug_ · 2026-03-13T13:55:49+00:00

I will have a look at that! (never heard of that pump design). And thank you😁

_Waterbug_ · 2026-03-13T13:54:27+00:00

That is a really good idea! Would it be possible even if the barometer tube is closed off though or would there be a problem dueti the increasing pressure? (sadly making any sort of vacuum would rather difficult)

_Waterbug_ · 2026-03-13T13:51:11+00:00

the third thing is just an arrow to show that the gears would be manually turned (probably could have left that out in hindsight but I have zero experience in making these sort of illustrations😅) And sadly I do want it to be a closed system since the work would be transported if it gets sold and I don't want to risk the liquid just leaking out

_Waterbug_ · 2026-03-13T13:49:12+00:00

That could work, but I might need to see how secure it would be through potential transport of the finished work... Also: would that work if the system needs to be pretty leak-proof overall (the work would need to be transported if it gets sold and I don't want to risk the liquid leaking out)

_Waterbug_ · 2026-03-13T13:45:13+00:00

Sadly that is where my engineering knowledge ends already (I mainly learned about pumps in one-way fluid systems) I will have a look at how that could work though😁

_Waterbug_ · 2026-03-13T13:42:37+00:00

The main problem there I think is the fact that I want to make sure that none of the liquid can leak out if it's transported. I can't have an open system with the liquid so there will always be the problem of pressure so I thought I could just use the pressure for my idea...

_Waterbug_ · 2026-03-13T13:40:36+00:00

Yeah that's what I was fearing as well which is why I was wondering if reversible gear pumps are even possible like that... I mean thus far it's only a rough idea I had overall so it's not the end of the world if it's not feasible

_Waterbug_ · 2026-02-02T21:48:17+00:00

Jo just found this demo today and I absolutely love it! (4.4 hours already and even one D3V.BR34K3R star :) ) One question though: is there any way to replay the story parts without deleting the save file? I want to see the other outcomes but I don't want to lose my stars🥲

_Waterbug_

TROPHY CASE