So we have solar cells and magnets – that’s everything we need for MOVA Creations to rotate, right? If you’ve ever held a MOVA Globe in your hand, you’ll notice immediately that there are two parts, one clear sphere on the outside and the other with the graphic encased and pivoting in fluid. Each MOVA Creation contains fluid – in between the outer shell and inner globe for MOVA Globes and levitating the globe for MOVA Cubes.
While solar cells and magnets supply the energy and force needed to turn the globe, the fluid is the “glue” that holds the illusion together. To make sense of the MOVA magic, we will need to discuss the role of fluids.
Why Fluid?
We wanted products that looked like solid, miniature worlds turning effortlessly on their own, so we turned to the many properties and features of fluids to help with everything from the movement to the finished product design.
The technology behind MOVA Globes include many intricate, moving parts on the inside of our products. We didn’t want the inner workings to ruin the magic and illusion of our MOVA Globes. While our printing process allows light into the globe without showing the interior components, the fluid helps bridge the well-polished exterior and the graphics of the inner globe while letting everything seemingly move in ways that shouldn’t be possible.
Finding the Right Fluid – Hint: It’s Not Water
The fluid isn’t water! It is a proprietary (super-secret) fluid carefully selected to enhance the motion and visual appeal of MOVA Globes. All the fluids we selected had to be optically clear and toxic-free, free from any coloration or elements that would disrupt the “magic” being presented.
The fluid you see (or don’t) in MOVA Globes has lubricating chemical properties. Filling the thin space between the globe and outer shell with fluid helps remove friction. Without this fluid, MOVA Globes would not turn with the steady, smooth effect they’re known for. Think about why we get oil changes for our car – we need to keep our engine free from friction for optimal operation. The fluid in MOVA Globes serves a similar purpose, creating a low-friction space for them to turn continuously.
The fluid also contains a specific index of refraction that allows for the inner graphics to appear “projected” onto the outer shell. This principle is similar to how objects in water appear much closer and shallower than they actually are. By refracting light, the fluid achieves the effect of making our globes appear to move as one unit. Without it, you would see a sphere visibly turning inside a shell – definitely not as cool as seeing one rotating world.
How Fluid Differs in the MOVA Cube
Whereas the MOVA Globe fluid is about lubrication, the MOVA Cube fluid is about density since it’s a globe encased in a cube. We filled the cube with a fluid that matched the density of the globe. Because the densities are equal, the globe is able to float in the center and appear as if it’s levitating. If the fluid was denser, the globe would just float upwards, but if the liquid wasn’t dense enough, the globe would sink to the bottom.
The fluids in MOVA Creations are both functional and magical – these components help our products turn smoothly while providing a compelling optical illusion. By playing with the chemical, optical, and physical qualities of fluids, we were able to make MOVA Creations seemingly achieve the impossible.
Do you have more questions about our fluid technology? Seen fluids used in interesting ways in other products? Let us know on Facebook.
