Automata Kinetic Sculpture
Students will create a working kinetic sculpture powered by a hand crank.

This unit has four parts: design (research), prototype (cardboard version), sculpting (metal version), and documenting.

Overview Unit Goal

Inspiration Videos

Technical Skills Videos

Order of Work

Research & Design
  • Watch the videos to get inspired
  • Design an automaton with a hand crank mechanism
Prototype
  • Create a cardboard model of your automaton to make sure it will work
  • Make a video of your sculpture moving while the crank is turned
Sculpture
  • Sculpt your automaton (max size: 8 inches, minimum size: 1 inch)
  • Test it out
  • Add details and flourishes to make it look even more interesting

Documenting
  • Make a video of your automaton moving - be sure the background isn't distracting.
  • Complete the reflection
  • Send an email to an important adult
  • Make a peer share video so your classmates can see what you've made

Automata Kinetic Sculpture Design Inspiration

Prototype

  • Use cardboard, paper, and wire to make a prototype of your sculpture
  • Keep your prototype under 8 inches
  • Try altering your crankshaft to see how it will change the motion
  • Make a video of your prototype moving while turning the hand crank - be sure to have a solid color background, so that we can really focus on your sculpture in the video

Determining Your Mechanisms

  • Determine the movements needed and plan out your mechanisms
  • Crankshafts made from wire can push or pull objects up or down.
  • Cams can push objects up or let them fall down and/or spin them around
  • Levers and linkages can add asymmetric movements
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This automaton uses a wire crankshaft
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This automaton uses an eccentric cam
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This automaton uses levers and linkages
CAM TYPES

A regular cam has a hole in the center

An eccentric cam has an offcenter hole

​A pear cam has an oval shape
If the follower is in line with the CAM there will be less spinning.

If the follower is offset from the cam, it will spin more.
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DRAW OUT YOUR DESIGN
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BEND YOUR CRANKSHAFT & INSTALL IN YOUR BOX
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MAKE TEMPORARY SCULPTURAL MODELS & TEST THE MOVEMENT

Documenting Your Work

  • One PROFESSIONAL PHOTO of your sculpture (solid color background, cropped to fit your sculpture, well lit)
  • One VIDEO clip of your sculpture moving (well lit, solid color background)
  • One LOOPING GIF of your sculpture moving (at least 40 frames)

Emailing your Work to An Important Adult

CLICK HERE FOR THE EMAIL INSTRUCTIONS

Grading Criteria