Articles | Waterjet cutting, design, fabrication

A Scientific Work of Art – The Foucault Pendulum

After seeing a feature they had created for the EDS Headquarters in Plano TX, Ray Hunt of Hunt Oil commissioned a Foucault Pendulum from Pegasus Studios. What started out as a need for a feature for the lobby of the Hunt Oil Building in Dallas TX, ended as a work of art that combines the natural beauty of stone with the power of science.

A Foucault Pendulum is a simple device used to demonstrate the rotation of the Earth. A large pendant is hung from a height with a weight, called a Bob, attached to the end of it. The pendulum is released to swing in a back and forth motion. During the course of the day, the pendulum appears to rotate, however it is swinging in the same back and forth pattern and it is actually the Floor rotating as the Earth rotates that makes it appear as though the pendulum is working in a circular motion.

In the Hunt Oil Foucault Pendulum the motion is demonstrated by a series of pins set up at the exterior of the design. As the pendulum swings, the motion of the earth cause it to knock over the pins in a circular pattern. You can learn more about the science of Foucault Pendulums here.
Seven different types of stone were used in the project, including Starry Night, Nero Marquina, Rossa Radica, Tan Diano Reale, Bianco Carrara, Black Absolute and Tan marble. Twenty-five individual slabs were purchased in order to pick the correct areas of the stone. Great care was taken to ensure that the colors of stone matched consistently. Grain direction in the stone was utilized to enhance the over all design. In the end, 2,600 individual pieces were cut and laid to create this amazing work of art.

Some challenges came with having so many small pieces.

“Even with the waterjet machines, it doesn’t take a lot for it to be off. With thousands of pieces, if one is off, it has a tremendous ripple effect and nothing fits.”

- Philip Einsohn- President Waterjet Works.

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You can read more about the collaborative process to complete The Hunt Oil Foucault Pendulum in an article by Stone World Magazine which you can find here.

In Collaboration with

Artist:Pegasus Studios

Installation: Dee Brown Inc.

Celebrating our 8th Birthday

Stone World Magazine was kind to have featured Waterjet Works in their first focus on waterjet cutting. It wa a great way to celebrate our 8th Birthday!

Creating One of A Kind Designs

Openings for the Dallas Stars Hockey Team

Stars Locker Room Door Waterjet Works creates access to the Dallas Stars Locker room.

Door to the Stars

Stainless Steel and the Stars

Mike Modano Stands in front of the finished doors to have his picture taken

Worthington Bank, Ft. Worth, TX

Preservation is an art. In this day and age corporations who want to renew versus build new should be commended. The Worthington Bank people are worthy of accolades. The original building was built at the beginning of the last century. Restoration of the floors by Waterjet Works and Business Flooring Specialist was an honor and a challenge. The floor was crumbling and was wavy. Two elements that were in direct opposition to what was needed in order to succeed with the stone floors that had been removed decades ago.

Although the photos below tell a different story, consider these two details.

The distance between each column is different causing the diamonds and triangles to be slightly different from section to section, yet not noticeable unless you are on your hands and knees.
Normally you can allow for “adjustments” by installing stone tiles with a 1/4″ grout line. This was not acceptable to anyone involved from the architectural firm, Waterjet Works and the installation team at Business Flooring Specialist. The floor was installed with a 1/16″ grout line.

A true work of art benefiting the great city of Ft. Worth who prides themselves on their art museums and public art programs. You can read more about the collaborative effort it took to restore this beautiful landmark in the two articles below from Stone and Tile Design magazine and Insider magazine.