Paper Iris Glasses

 Iris mechanism  glasses out of paper and string.

The above video was made in Autodesk Inventor publisher, and the model was made in Autodesk Inventor.


The attached PDFs are for 11x17 printing, outline of pieces are included to cut out with dimension to scale.
If you have access to a laser cutter there is a dxf ver attached as well. 

Time:
3-6 hours
Get your geek on.


Materials:
Ruler
xacto knife
paper glue (i used soba brand)
string - thats thin and strong ( i used book binding string)
Bristol paper- 100lb 
hole punch -or something that punches 1/8 in holes or less
Mailing tube - 2 15/16" inner diameter (got mine at fedex)
heavy chipboard/cardstock (mine was 1/32 thick ) 

Step 1: Cut Your Pieces

Everything you need to cut is in the pdf EXCEPT the mailing tube rings--cut two 3/8" high rings out of the tube. 
The 36 "leafs" are cut out of bristol paper, everything else (except mailing tube rings) are out of chipboard.
You don't really need a hole punch but having one goes much quicker, and the hole doesn't need to be exactly 1/8in hole, a smaller hole is fine.  

Step 2: Leaf Bending

Take the bristol "leafs" and score along the line at the end. Be sure your leaves are facing counter clockwise.
Then bend forward to 90 deg and back flat to apply some glue, then bend foward again. Turn up your headphones and do this for all 36 leafs. Be sure to periodlically bend them to keep them all at 90 degrees as they dry

Step 3: Attaching Leaves

Next take your leafs and double tie a knot to the piece that has 18 holes in it. Be sure to loop the inner side of the ring and not the outter and make sure the folds you made in the previous step are facing up.

Snip off the excess string, get a close cut but not too close as to undo the tie, then push the knot in the hole do this for all 36 holes
*hint when tieing pull on one side of the string to drag the knot into the hole then snip*

Step 4:

Take your mailing tube rims and  mark/measure 2.5"  diameter from one edge to the next.  Cut  out a 1/16" high channel between your marking.

Step 5: Mechanism Assembly

Glue your flower ring piece to the bottom of the rim of your tube ring , with the channel you just cut facing up(left pic)
Let it dry and flip it over. Insert your leaf bundle with the bent pieces sticking up between the flower ring(middle pic). Test drive how the mechanism works.  When inserting the leaf bundle be sure the tab is close to the right side wall of the channel you cut(right pic) 

Step 6: Glass Frames

Take your glass frames and score lines where the legs of the glasses will bend 

Step 7:

Now attach your mechanism to the glass frames.
Be sure you keep the tabs at the right corner of the channel you cut out of the mailing tube ring. 

And your done!

Comments

[levinematthew78]

This can be altered so tgat it can be used as an eye of agamotto for cosplay, right? Insert a shallow lipped back lite dome with an eye painted on the inside. Gold apature leaves, with 2 bent "gold eye lids" attached to the top, with gold beads around the trim. Yes?

[mary.beheler]

What do they do, besides look very interesting?

[somethingsaurus]

I know it is a 5 year old question but the aperture reduces the amount of light that comes in. So they can basically act like sun glasses or reduce glare. It also can focus the remaining incoming light so you can see more clearly.

[build it code it use it]

6 year comment fam.

[alkalah74]

Perfecto muchas gracias un excelente trabajo

[zyck]

One could steampunk it and be part of a costume.

[istrokes]

como se puede ver el archivo "final_drawing.dxf"?

[kleffa]

autocad o cualquier programa de CAD (dibujo técnico) en cualquier caso solo sirve si quieres modificar el proyecto

[istrokes]

gracias eres muy amable

[JuliusS13]

Where can i find the dxf-file with the cutting templates?

[TaftC]

How about a battery-powered aperture controller? It would be a great addition to a costume application. Or use a cable release with the plunger concealed in your sleeve. The goggles would be bulkier, but so what?

[Chain N Sprocket]

Cute!

[Fly4aWhiteGuy]

Wow.

[Najn_arte]

I think you can also use empty adhesive tape rolls. I guess you use what you have and transform it to suit your purpose, which is good too. It's awesome. I would like to see the principle applied to other objects. It reminds me of a camera diafragm.

[joselucianorc]

Amazing ! Thanks for sharing !

[MerzyArtist]

Brilliant! Thank you for sharing!

[Digital Flame]

Brilliant, I will try this, exactly what I have been looking for, bit late but these would be amazing for appeture shooting glasses which is what I will use them for!

http://www.pyramydair.com/blog/2007/09/shooting-glasses/

[spark master]

As soon as I saw these I thought the same thing...peep scope and eye blanker, Just make the dominant eye black the other white!

errrr got air?

[marciot]

These were a hit at the steampunk party I went to last night :)

[ruth.s.nyaboke]

I'm thinking of making a large size to act as a door with a 2 foot opening but I need it to occupy less room (from hole to structure). Your design does a good job of this. Could you help me work out the dimensions needed for such a size? I will use a laser cutter and may try making the blades out of thin metal or plastic.

Thanks a bunch!!