Rotary / Linear Designs

Pendulum harmonographs may be swept through a large arc by the use of a rotary paper table, which rotates slowly relative to the pendulum movements. Harmonographs created with a rotary table are less common, but the designs are more interesting. Alternatively, the paper table may move slowly in linear translation to produce a linear design.

Rotary

Linear

The computer-based designs may be swept ‘through phase’ to produce a dynamic harmonograph, as shown in this video.