Dark Blade: Part 1

The Side Grilles

The artistic elements borne from the impeller shape would come to be used again in the side walls of the Water Station, which would double as grilles for the two radiators/fans. The air will flow from the inside outward, and will need to encounter as little resistance as possible to generate the least noise.

For anyone wondering about my inspiration for the shape, it is actually derived from a particular type of knife. In order to create the detail on the many "knives" that would line the sides of the Water Station, a lot of very intricate centre lathe CNC work would be necessary.

Thirteen of these knives would be used per side, supported by threaded bars with 24 hand-made washers separating them.


The fluted shape of the final pieces is actually a design that I studied the effects of, intending to create the least noise possible when a fan was running.


Each grille, once assembled, would be capped with spikes. The final assembly then screws into the base (but not the top), and the back part would slide into a notch milled out on the back columns.