CASE STUDY: The Whittaker’s Big Egg Hunt
Jackson was proud to be involved the event which was in support of the Starship Foundation.
CUSTOMER: Cheshire Architects
PROJECT: The Whittaker’s Big Egg Hunt 2015
MATERIAL: Timber
A great opportunity for the Formwork and Advanced Engineering teams to demonstrate both their can-do attitude and innovative design competence.
The brief from the artist at Cheshire Architects was to create an egg made from a single solid block of swamp Kauri, manufactured in two halves with intricately patterned surfaces, an internally mounted light source and glossed interior surfaces.
Cheshire Architects provided the mesh surfaces which Jackson prepared, and advised on manufacturing and limitations of the 5-axis process. The natural swamp Kauri material was received in a raw state which presented several machining complexities due to split grains. Jackson completed a survey of the material to ensure difficulties were avoided and to safeguard against crack propagation and other defects encountered in natural materials.
In regard to crack propagation and other defects, Jackson had invested significantly in R&D over the years prior developing their trademarked material CaroC which avoids these problems, and substantially reduces any post finishing requirement. As Jackson now work primarily with materials which avoid these exact issues it was a real test of the machining teams’ abilities, and the egg was produced with minimal fuss, no material failure, and in an efficient manner.
The egg was then taken by our craftsman who worked to bring out the deep natural qualities of the swamp Kauri and tidied the natural defects which the CNC team had machined around. Jackson delivered as usual on both a tight turnaround and budget.
A total of 100 ‘Big Eggs’ were made and displayed around the country, and then auctioned off for the Starship Foundation, raising a total of $204,333 for the national children’s hospital. Jackson was thrilled to be a part of this egg-citing charity event.
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