Moiré Wheel

I’ve always been enamored by the moiré effect, so I wanted to create a quick and simple piece that let me experiment with different geometries. The build consists of a 12V low-RPM motor connected to a potentiometer to control the speed, along with a strip of LED lights around the outside to add some fun visual effects.

I wanted the entire piece to be made from laser-cut wood, so I experimented with living hinges to form the circular body. It worked out much better than expected, creating a surprisingly smooth and rounded shape.

I tested a variety of patterns to better understand what works and what doesn’t. Personally, I found that the ones with a single curve produced the most compelling results, generating a steady, blooming effect.

One key takeaway from this build involved the LED lighting. The light didn’t spread as far as I had hoped, and because the LEDs were in line with the spinning disks, they didn’t illuminate the front surfaces well. In a future version, I’d make the body a bit taller and position the LEDs higher up. This would not only light up the surface of the discs more effectively but also increase the reach of the illumination. I’ve noticed that the closer LEDs are positioned perpendicularly to a surface, the weaker the illumination tends to be.