Original detailed archaeological reconstruction (BOTH MODEL AND ANIMATION) of Ancient Chinese blacksmith technology, utilising the hydraulic engineering typology from the early Song Dynasty (circa 960-1279ad). This design and animation was created in Blender, is also currently available in fbx/obj/dae/3ds and is ready to be converted and/or rendered into ANY SUPPORTED 3D PROGRAMME for the desired effect of the customer, ready to be used straight away in games/film/media. All texture maps have been utilised for a realistic depiction (ambient occlusion, specular, normal,displacement,diffuse etc). This model and animation is perfect for educational use, in visually showing those of the technological capability of this mechanism and in so doing the Song dynasty, but also as a generic archaic engineering piece and machine/mechanism. Model and entire scene environment included.

-PLEASE VIEW ANIMATION OF MECHANISM HERE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xM8QSIFd1Xo&t=75s -

This multi-level and multi-purpose Ancient Hydraulic machine, specifically for working blacksmiths, converts Kinetic and Gravitational potential energy of running water into rotational power, later operating into cams, pistons, cogs, shafts, chain drives, Archimedes-screws, bellows & cranks from a single origin. My concept depicts the roots of the Industrial Revolution were centuries earlier than anticipated, adhering to the typology and technology of both Medieval Chinese works but also those similarly of the Medieval Near East (see works of Al Jazari). The Archimedes screw potentially shows elements of cultural transfer of Ancient Greek ideas towards the East (however could be independent evolutionism and not diffusion). Automatic bellows are included in my design attached to cranks allowing for high temperatures needed within the blast furnace for the smelting of iron (in effect a steam engine in reverse). In addition water is extracted for the cooling of metal alloys (or irrigation systems/livestock sustenance) from the rotating Archimedes-screw controlled and flows to differing heights. Rotating mill-stones crush the wheat and hammers sculpt with great force the still pliable metal instruments to shape (in addition to grain), both operated along a cam shaft and are all entirely operated from one point of hydraulic origin from the main water-mill.

Entire design and animation created by Christopher Antoniou.