It is often said that a machine is no better than the person operating it. This can also be applied to tattoo machines. A tattooist must have confidence with his machines and must learn to run them properly, not have them run him.
Tattoo machines may vary in appearance but they all run basically the same, and perform the same function, driving a needle up and down very fast, perforating the skin and driving ink in as the operator steers it along while leaving a trail behind. This is done when the machine is connected into a power source and turned on, a full electrical circuit runs through it. When this happens, the two coils become magnetized (an electric magnet) and attract the metal armature bar down to it. As the armature bar moves down, the needles move down. When this happens, the contact points separate from each other, causing a break in the electrical circuit. As soon as this happens, the machine stops, the coils become unmagnetized and the armature bar springs back up. This makes the needle go back up. When it springs back up, the contact points touch each other and make a circuit again, and this starts the process all over. The machine becomes magnetized and unmagnetized and the needles go up and down. This happens extremely fast, too fast for the eye to follow. All that can be heard is a buzzing, as the circuits separate and contact again.

Posted on July 22nd, 2008 by admin
Tags: butterfly tattoo desings, polynesian tattoos, tattoo gallery

Filed under: Machines and Power Sources