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Did you know there's a direct correlation between the decline of Spirograph and the rise in gang activity? Think about it!
I'm going to mail one to the oval office. I think spirographs could save us from nuclear war.
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When moving circle is inside, its called Hypotrochoid https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hypotrochoid

When moving circle is outside, its called Epitrochoid https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epitrochoid

The difference between two is sign for radius for moving circle.

Overall this is just ploting parametric equations in 2D in Python using complex number trick.

Still seems like a kind of magic to non-magic folk like me i.e. a muggle.
It's not a spirograph curve unless the cog teeth have slipped and your pen has scrawled across the page taking up a bit of paper with it and you have to start again.
Agreed. As much as I like coding and generative art too, there's nothing like the effort of keeping the smaller gear inside the larger one and going fast. Much harder on the outside! I just picked up a $8 Spirograph in tin case for my three year old.
There's been progress since the 80s when I typed in Basic code for this from a magazine -- it was quite a bit harder to follow.