Useless Machine As seen on: Saskview.com instructables.com/id/The-Most-Useless-Machine/ makeprojects.com/Project/The-Most-Useless-Machine/91/1 www.solarbotics.com 1-866-276-2687 SKU: 60005 http://www.solarbotics.
Circuit Layout To Motor To Batt To limit switch Red Blk Closeup of main switch wiring Red Blk Use only the 2 outside pins Device Overview: The ultimate in self-defeating. Turn it on; it turns itself off. The ultimate in lazy, where the only energy expended is spent in making it as power-efficient as possible (ie: OFF!). No matter what you try to wake it, it does the equivalent of trying to craw back into bed (perhaps it should be called the “Teenager Equivalent”?). Brett Coulthard of Saskview.
Servo Mount: Drop the parts through the hole and seat the servo on the mount. Don’t get it backwards! Screw the servo in using the servo accessory packet, using the rubber grommets and brass eyelets. Wet the rubber to make them slide easier.
Build the Box: The box is built using “T-Slot” construction, which is a pretty common technique used with laser-cut profiles (see http://bit.ly/T-slot_laser for more history of this method). Connect the parts together as shown on the parts maps. All parts are located near their mates, and between that and the photos, you should have no problem getting them all connected. Place a nut in the top part of the “t”.
Install the Bits: Pop the servo mount and the limit switch into the box, and screw them into place. You’ll find taping the nuts down on the servo mount will make your life less stressful! Test the operation of your Useless Machine again! Put in the batteries, and toggle the switch, noting which way makes it operate properly (where the machine turns itself off, and returns back).
Battery Pack, Test & Tune: Start with using the double-sided sticky tape to glom down the battery pack next to the servo. Get it out the way so it doesn’t accidently hit the finger. Next, try activating your Useless Machine. Does the finder come out and try to hit the switch? If you have to move the switch away from the center of the machine to turn it on, the switch is mounted backwards. Loosen the switch nut, spin it 180 degrees, and retighten.
Top Lid End Solarbotics.com Saskview.
Box end (servo-side) Box end (empty end) Box side Box bottom plate Box side Main Box Parts
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