Drawbots

Tech Wizardry, Clever Engineering

overview

this is a CJ fave! re-imagined in polka-dots. we set up a little fleet and let them loose on scribbling!

30 minutes

maker checklist

  • hobby motor
  • AAA battery holder with leads and switch
  • AAA batteries
  • pushpin magnet
  • paper ice cream cup
  • 3 markers for legs
  • sturdy tapes and glue

instructions

1

insert the batteries into the battery holder (make sure the switch is in the OFF position).

2

connect the leads from the battery holder to the tabs on the motor. thread the exposed wire from the lead through the holes in the tab; fold the wire over, and give it a twist to hold it in place.

3

turn the battery switch on to make sure the motor spins. if not, troubleshoot!

troubleshoot!

make sure all the connections are secure and that the wires don’t cross. try swapping batteries or motors to determine the source of the issue.

4

tape the markers around the cup so the bottom of the cup is facing up, and the drawing-tips of the markers are facing down. make sure the markers are evenly spaced so your tripod has stability.

5

attach the motor to the back of the battery pack (opposite the switch) so that the rod extends fully over the battery pack. the switch should be accessible and facing up.

 

6

glue this set to the top of the tripod so that, again, the rod of the motor extends fully over the edge of the cup. the rod should also be equally *between* the marker legs. 

note!

the positioning is very important. when you add the magnet to the rod (in the next step) and turn the motor on, the magnet needs to spin freely, without hitting any of components.

7

add the magnet to the rod. the magnet acts as an eccentric weight. you can also use hot glue to add any other small (like a washer) to one side of the rod.

8

remove the marker cap legs, set it on white paper, turn it on, and see it scribble!

how it works!

the key to the drawbot’s motion is the eccentric weight that you add to the motor. we used a pushpin magnet, but you can use any small object (like a hex nut) with a little weight. a magnet stays on by itself, but you need to attach the weight to the rod with tape or hot glue.

in technical terms, eccentric means not placed centrally or being off-axis.without the weight, the motor spins the rod without disruption. but with the weight added – off-center! – the motor is thrown off-balance and the drawbot shakes all about, creating cool patterns with its marker legs.

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