Passive flapping butterfly garden ornament?

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SUMMARY

The discussion focuses on designing a garden ornament that simulates a butterfly hovering around a flower using wind mechanics. Participants suggest using a windmill mechanism to create movement, as existing solar-powered versions are not recommended for this purpose. The conversation highlights the lack of successful flapping butterfly designs in kite-making, with most available options resembling bats. The idea of incorporating elements from wind chimes is also proposed as a potential solution.

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  • Understanding of mechanical design principles
  • Familiarity with wind-driven mechanisms
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  • Research windmill mechanisms for decorative applications
  • Explore designs of wind chimes for inspiration
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What's a feasible design for a garden ornament that would give the illusion of a butterfly hovering around a flower when there was a breeze?

There are solar powered versions of such ornaments such as I don't recommend them as cat toys, but this video gives a closer look at the mechanics of the ornament:

If there was an obvious design, I'd expect that kite makers would have tried it as a novelty. However, the only flapping kites I've found on the web are in the shape of bats and they don't flap much.
 
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Use a windmill to drive the mechanism.
 
Or design it like a wind chime.