A Scribbling Machine is a motorized contraption that moves in unusual ways and leaves a mark to trace its path. It’s made from simple materials and demonstrates the erratic motion created by an offset motor.
We like using harvested motors and switches from discarded toys and electronics and everyday objects like strawberry baskets and milk cartons in our creations. Try changing the length and weight of the eccentric motors, testing various drawing tools, experimenting with materials used for the base, and increasing and decreasing the speed of the motors. You will be amazed at the different motions and patterns you can create.
Why we like it
What are the qualities that we value in this activity?
New use for everyday objects
This is a playful and inventive way of using harvested motors and switches from discarded toys and electronics.Exploring variables
Each Scribbling Machine is unique, because everyone is investigating different methods for changing the variables: the length and weight of the eccentric motors, methods of drawing, materials used for the base, the speed of the motors, etc.High tech/Low tech
This exploration is a good example of a low-tech activity that works well on its own, but can be made more complex and interactive utilizing the PicoCricket and sensors.
I tried this activity with 4 kids and it was a big hit.
We did need to re-solder some wires which snapped to the motors and switches, so if I was doing this again with lots more kids I would use heat shrink sleeves to make them more secure. But the positive was we learnt to solder!
omg i did this and it was soooooo cool! i bought my offset motor from a store near our house! i showed it to my dad and he loved it! haha! i love this kind of things! cant believe how cool it was
I have used Kelvin as a supplier also. More often I go to the Dollar Store and find battery operated cars (trucks, tanks). Sometimes there are two on a card for $1.00! I have found them on sale after Christmas for 1/2 price.
Depending on the age of your students, have them dismantle the cars. or if this is a multi-day group, those who finish early on some projects can help with the motor removal
Hi Marsha,
Good question! The motors we use are simple “hobby motors”, that run on 1.5V – 3.0V (i.e. on 1 or 2 AA batteries). What will make your life a lot easier, though, is to get motors that come with leads already attached to them — this will save you hours of soldering, especially if you are using large numbers of them. They are kind of hard to find these days; the best source we have found is Kelvin, which sells them for pretty cheap, especially if you order more than 100. Here’s a link:
http://goo.gl/AZUO1
And please let us know how it goes, we’d love to see photos and know what you did, and what the kids did!
Where do you get the motors for these? What supplier is most affordable if I was going to try this with 150 kids?
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