I have become somewhat obsessed with the concept of automata over the past month or so.  I have seen multiple iterations of cardboard automata.  The Tinkering Studio has a FANTASTIC pdf which explains the basics as well as facilitation tips for educators. I had this on my agenda to work into my makerspace this year, but it was when I saw this video that my imagination was set on fire:

Just posted a video: How to make a simple automata with wood, wire, and foamie. We call it “Cranky Contraption” here @TinkeringStudio #automata #CuriousContraptions https://t.co/Lgq5M1DIJ6

— Ryoko Matsumoto (@ryokomatsumoto) December 11, 2017

I started exploring how others had been using them and I was hooked.  This video shows one of the workshops that the Tinkering Studio offered to local educators and shows how it is much easier to focus on the mechanisms since the ‘enclosure’ is essentially pre-made in the form of the wood block.

“This version of automata lets you focus on the mechanism more quickly and really pay attention to small adjustments that make big differences” #CrankyContraptions #BAME #MakerEd pic.twitter.com/ZZogTkRm5H

— The Tinkering Studio (@TinkeringStudio) January 12, 2018

When I saw @MicheleGuieu ‘s collection of cranky contraptions her third-grade students made, I knew I needed to figure out how to work this into my makerspace’s plan for the spring.

Enjoy 30 seconds of fun Cranky Contraptions made by the 3rd graders at Village Elementary School! Making something is also an opportunity to think about #nature, the role humans play in climate change, ressources/sustainability, & pollution #STEAM #SFbay Thanks @TinkeringStudio! pic.twitter.com/nB2jYuB82k

— Michele Guieu (@MicheleGuieu) March 22, 2018

Exploration

I downloaded The Tinkering Studio’s instructions.

I started by cutting down a few 2×4’s and 1×2’s.

@TinkeringStudio Getting ready for some ‘Cranky Contraptions’ this week! #we36 #hwspride pic.twitter.com/k3b4vZfgVR

— Todd (@todd_burleson) March 13, 2018

Next, I started sourcing materials.  I have had a hard time finding ‘foamies’ in our local craft stores.

Did you see @Mgetzendanner‘s idea about coroplast as an alternative? she mentions it at the end of the video she made https://t.co/uLs6PnH2Rl // foamies come in 3 thicknesses / I think the one we use for cardboard automata & cranky contraptions is 6mm pic.twitter.com/Hm2lyblcjX

— The Tinkering Studio (@TinkeringStudio) February 17, 2018

But I did find something that I thought might work.

Found these and used them as the cog; the local store didn’t have foamies. They have the hole in the middle for the wire. @TinkeringStudio @ryokomatsumoto pic.twitter.com/0j2b16RQak

— Todd (@todd_burleson) February 18, 2018

I started by trying to make as many of the models as I could from the Tinkering Studio’s video.  As our school is in the process of raising Rainbow Trout through the Trout in the Classroom Project, I decided to make a trout chasing its dinner!

@ryokomatsumoto @TinkeringStudio had fun exploring cranky contraptions at home today. #weekendmaking pic.twitter.com/41UT5DiNAF

— Todd (@todd_burleson) February 18, 2018

Digging In For a Challenge

One of my dear friends retired this past spring.  Each year she and I would talk about the Sandhill Cranes as they migrate back to our area.  She has a pair that has come back to her yard every year and she has ‘named’ them Fred and Ethel.

I wanted to honor her by creating a Sandhill Crane cranky contraption.

Next, I  explored the different mechanisms that could be used to make a bird’s wings ‘flap.’

This would take some tweaking – but using scrap plastic for clear wing attachments is a nice touch https://t.co/F1gPGzxH7i

— The Tinkering Studio (@TinkeringStudio) March 15, 2018

I couldn’t find one that would keep the body of the bird in place while allowing the wings to flap.  I decided to explore how ornithopters accomplished this.  I downloaded several ornithopter plans and studied their ‘crank’ mechanisms.  It was pretty easy to get the movement of one wing.  It was a bit more complicated when adding the ‘other wing.’  The addition of the second strut causes an asymmetrical movement. Thankfully, the awesome ornithopter site shows how to create an offset crank that will allow the second strut to move in a way that causes a symmetrical movement.

I started tinkering with the mechanism on my model.  It was very difficult to ‘pre-bend’ the crank.  I found that I had to place the wire through the block and then bend it.  I used what I had on hand for my wooden pieces, chopsticks!  They worked out well as they had a flat edge at the base and a smooth, round portion at the other end.  The flat edge made it easy for drilling.  It took me several tries to find the right ‘length’ for each of the bends.

Experimenting with an ornithopter-like mechanism to create a flapping motion for my Sandhill Crane #crankycontraption You can see the various holes I made in the spars; this helped me determine each of the crank’s bends. It was tough because the wire had to be bent as I went. pic.twitter.com/qdxyM82a1a

— Todd (@todd_burleson) March 26, 2018

Now that I had a semi-working mechanism, I needed to build my Crane.  I found a beautiful paper model on Pinterest that I printed out on tabloid-size paper.

I used my paper model on my mechanism to see how I might need to ‘adapt’ the spars that would attach to the wings.  This became another pretty big challenge.  I wanted the body of the crane to remain in position while the wings moved gently up and down.

I ended up shortening the spars and adding a second joint that was angled down.  This corresponded to the movement I was hoping to create better than the straight up and down movement of the original spars.  This required a few adaptations to the original ‘wing.’

I traced the paper pattern onto foam and cut and folded it.  I needed something to give the crane rigidity so I reached again for my chopsticks!  I glued one in the middle of the fold and used two others to place the crane at the right height.  It took several iterations of cranks and wing spars.  I needed to create a ‘pocket’ that the spar would slide in to get the wings to move the way I had intended.

I also had to change the crank several times.  Wire breaks after being bent over and over again.  I had to re-bend the crank and ended up using an unbent large paper clip as my wire.  I had drilled several holes in the second wing crank.  This allowed me to adjust the bends in the crank in small ways until I found an equal up and down movement of both wings.

After lots and lots of experimentation, I had a fairly successful moving model.

Take Aways

The biggest take away from this project was that getting the wings to ‘flap’ was a lot harder than I imagined.  It ended up taking two afternoons of solid work. I enjoyed working through each of the problems as they came up.  There were a few times I thought I might just abandon it, but I’m glad I persisted.  It feels great to have successfully created what I imagined!

Moving Forward:

I would like to make an ornithopter using the same type of crank mechanism I created for this model.

I am also going to construct each of the models the Tinkering Studio showed in their video.  I think having these available for the students to manipulate might encourage them to go ‘beyond’ the simple up and down model.  I can’t wait to see what the students create!