Young Maker’s Workshop

Automata-who?Automata is a playful way to explore simple machine elements such as cams, levers, and

linkages, while creating mechanical sculpture. Today, you will get to plan and create your own

Cardboard Automata with simple materials.

SimpleSimple Machines are non-motorized devices that change the direction or

magnitude of a force.

• Inclined Plane • Wedge• Lever

• Wheel and Axel• Screw• Pulley

Cams and Cam FollowersToday you will be working with Cams and

Cam Followers which is a form of the wheel and axel. Rather than making a bicycle wheel turn, we will be creating

more of a gear-driven movement.

Cam

Cam Follower

Materials• Cardboard frame• Cardboard scraps• Drinking straw• Nail• Scissors• Skewer sticks• Foam sheet• Washer• Masking tape• Hot Glue Gun• Cam Templates • Materials for decoration

Step 1. Add support to your frame

• Cut triangles out of the cardboard scraps and tape them into each corner of the frame for support.

Step 2. Choose a motion

1. Round and Round:

*Pay close attention to the placements of the cam and cam follower.

Step 2. Choose a motion continued

2. Up/Down and Round and Round:

*Pay close attention to the placements of the cam and cam follower.

Step 2. Choose a motion• To create a round

and round motion, follow this model

• To create an up/down, round and round motion follow this model

• To create a back and forth and up and down motion, follow this model

Step 3. Make the Cams• Using the template, draw your cam and cam

follower in the upper left hand corner of the foam sheet.

• Make sure to draw it as close to the edge as possible, as you will only have 1 foam sheet for your activity.

• It is important to cut the cams smoothly and make sure your cam follower is a little bigger than your cam.

Step 4. Make the Handle• Cut a rectangular piece of cardboard

• Hot glue the cardboard to the skewer

Step 5. Add the Axel to the Frame

• Put your cam on the axel inside the frame.

• Start the holes in the frame using the nail, and make sure the cam clears the top and bottom of the frame.

Step 5. Add the Cam Follower• Poke a hole; with the nail, in the top of the

frame where you want your cam follower to be located.

• Cut the straw so it’s about 4 cm long, and then insert it into the hole you just made.

• Hot glue the straw in place

Step 5. Continued• Put a skewer stick through the straw

and attach your cam follower to the bottom end of the stick.

• Glue the cam follower in place

Cam follower

Dab of glue

Step 6. Test it!• Adjust your cam

under the cam follower until you get the motion you like.

• If the cam follower does not fall on the cam, attach a washer to add a little weight.

• If the cam does not stay in place on the axel, add a small dab of hot glue to hold the cam in place.

Step 7. Decorate your Automata!

Have a Happy

Halloween!!