The Art of Interactive Engagement

Bridgewater Studio was asked by the Museum of Science and Industry to develop an interactive exhibit as part of the museum’s Science Storms Gallery with the goal of educating visitors about magnetic properties.

The Challenge

This museum exhibit required design schematics for an airtight, particle-free environment totally devoid of dust and resin, which we designed and fabricated completely in-house.

First, we CNC-machined aluminum housings with ceramic bushings to hold a custom-manufactured nickel tube along with a concealed industrial-grade induction heater.

Next, we programmed a highly customizable infrared camera system with a software package that senses temperature and pendulum fluctuations. As such, this museum exhibit installation features multiple fail-safes for voltage, temperature, and pendulum positions.

As a finishing touch, we tapped the surface with a blowtorch to prevent any air bubbles from forming that could potentially ruin the experiment.