Mini Record Player
overview
engineer a mini record player using simple circuitry and magnetic connections. cute, colorful, clever… and just the right amount of challenging!
2 hours
maker checklist
-
a small box (ours is 4.5 x 6 inches)
- hobby motor
- AAA battery holder + batteries
- rocker switch
- scissors and craft knife
- pencil and ruler
- double-stick foam tape
- electrical tape or masking tape
- strong mini disc magnets
- cardboard coasters (4in)
- colorful papers and glue
- a wooden craft stick and 3″ dowel for the tone arm
instructions
1
plan your circuit. the black lead of the battery holder connects to one lead of the motor. the red lead of the battery holder connects to the red lead of the switch. the black lead of the switch connects to the other lead of the motor.
tip!
test your components before you start! make the connections loose, since you will re-assemble them in the next step. start with the switch on the battery holder set to *off* then connect your circuit. turn the battery holder switch to *on* and the rocker switch *on* – the hobby motor should whir and spin.
2
prep your box top. measure and mark the locations for the rocker switch (upper right) and the motor (near the center). cut these carefully with a craft knife. precision matters!
3
insert the rocker switch from the top of the box, pressing it into place so the leads are on the inside.
4
mount the battery holder to the inside of the box using double-stick foam tape. connect the red leads securely and wrap with tape.
5
insert the motor from the inside of the box, with the rotating end pushing out of the top of the box, and the leads facing the inside. connect the black leads from the switch and battery holder to each of these. tape into place.
glue securely (using hot glue) around the edge of the motor and add tape on the top, so it is fixed in position and the rod can spin freely.
6
assemble the plate by sandwiching craft foam between two discs of cardboard (about 2in diameter) and securing with tape or glue. punch a hole through (for the rod of the motor) then affix a strong magnet in the center of one side using hot glue.
7
set the plate at the top of the rod from the hobby motor, pressing the rod into the hole in the plate, with the magnet facing up. glue to secure.
optional!
punch a hole in the top left of the box top and insert a short, slim dowel. you can add a “tune arm” here! we constructed our tune arm by gluing a small spool to one end of a wooden ice cream spoon and sliding the spool onto the dowel. the arm turns but (heads up!) it won’t actually play music. it’s a fun addition.
8
assemble your records using two 4in cardboard coasters. glue a disc magnet to the center of one, then sandwich it between the two discs – attaching them together using squares of double-stick foam tape.
make your record colorful! use our templates below or design your own.
tip!
the magnet nestled in your record attaches to the magnet on the plate. magnets have polarity so they are picky about which sides face each other. test this out to decide which side is the *top* of your record, and which is the bottom.
9
set the record on the plate and turn your record player on! watch the colors spin and blend.
additive optical mixing is just what it sounds like! It means adding color with our eyes. It happens when you look at two small color swatches next to each other, and the colors begin to appear differently. In our minds, a 3rd color is created that’s similar to the color that you’d get if you actually mixed the two.
