A Conical Spiral Water-Tube, a Template, and a Casting Note
Water in a conical spiral tube, a clamp-and-frame template, and a recipe for casting iron
The sheet is dominated by a large conical spiral tube set within a circle, studied for how water behaves inside curved pipes: a pencil note states that the centres of the tubes lie at the centre of the wheel, and a further note that the centre of gravity of the water always lies in a certain place. In the lower right a template (sagoma) is drawn and lettered a-f-c-e-d-b, with its clamp, frame and shaped piece named. A note at the left gives a foundry recipe - a lathe-turned earthen core hollowed with wax, then plaster and bone, into which iron is cast and struck with stake, frame and die.
On this page
The centres of the tubes lie at the centre of the wheel
A pencil note at the top states that the centres of the tubes are at the centre of the wheel, describing the geometry of the great spiral pipe coiled within the circle below.
Conical spiral tube and the water's centre of gravity
The large circular figure encloses a spiral tube of conical form. Leonardo begins the rule that the centre of gravity of the water is always in a certain place before the note breaks off, treating the pipe as a device acting on water.
A template with clamp and frame (a f c e d b)
In the lower right corner a template is drawn and lettered a - f c e - d - b. The parts are named: a b is the clamp (press), c d the frame or armature of the e template, and f is the piece shaped to it.
A recipe for casting iron in a wax-and-plaster mould
A note at the left describes casting: dry earth turned on the lathe and hollowed with wax, then plaster and bone, into which iron is then cast, and in these the shaped piece is struck with stake, frame and die.