Scribble Bot Art Toy
Source: Stemoto Original
Build a chaotic, vibrating robot that draws completely on its own! By attaching an offset weight to a small motor, kids learn how vibration can be harnessed to create a kinetic art machine.
Categorisation
Props & Materials Required
- •Plastic or paper cup
- •Small 3V DC hobby motor
- •AA Battery pack (with switch) and AA batteries
- •A small piece of cork, eraser, or hot glue stick (for the motor weight)
- •3-4 Washable markers
- •Duct tape or electrical tape
- •Large sheet of butcher paper
Step-by-Step Instructions
Create the Offset Weight
Take your small piece of cork or eraser and poke it onto the metal spinning shaft of the DC motor. Important: DO NOT put it perfectly in the center! Push it slightly off-center so it looks lopsided. This is what causes the vibration.
Build the Chassis
Turn your plastic cup upside down. Using duct tape, attach the DC motor firmly to the flat top of the cup. Make sure the spinning cork hangs over the edge so it doesn't hit the cup when it spins.
Add the Power
Tape your AA battery pack to the top or side of the cup. Connect the wires from the battery pack to the two metal tabs on the DC motor. (If your pack doesn't have a switch, just leave one wire disconnected until you are ready).
Attach the Legs
Take the caps off 3 or 4 markers. Tape the markers around the sides of the cup so they stick down like legs. Make sure all the marker tips touch the ground evenly so the bot stands up straight.
Let It Scribble!
Place a large sheet of paper on the floor. Put your bot on the paper, flip the battery switch to turn on the motor, and let go! Watch as the vibrations cause the bot to jitter and draw wild spiral patterns all over the page.
Why It Works & Notes
This project is a perfect introduction to robotics and kinetic energy. The secret is the 'offset weight'—by sticking a piece of cork off-center on the motor's spinning shaft, it causes the entire motor to vibrate wildly. When attached to a cup with marker legs, those vibrations translate into chaotic, jittering movement, allowing the bot to 'scribble' across the paper.
Very safe, no-solder project. The key to a good scribble bot is finding the right balance—if the bot falls over, adjust the angle of the marker legs or use a slightly smaller piece of cork on the motor to reduce the vibration intensity.