How to Make a Motor

Hello everyone!! Today I am going to show you how to make a motor. Well the first thing you might think is that, it is useless because you cant run your R.C car with this motor. But that is not point of this build, in fact the main point of the build is to familiarize with the basics of simple electronics. So I already posted an instructable earlier of how to make a motor. I decided to post this new one, because my last one didn't have a video, and also the design was a bit more different. But anyway, I hope you guys will find this instructable useful to help you better understand how motors work, basic principles behind the force of all motors and how it can be used in other sector of electronics.

The instructable is divided into many steps to make sure it is super simple to follow each bit size step. Also in the last few steps, the basics of how this motor works and some simple trouble shooting tips are provided. Alright, lets get to the build!!

Step 1: Watch the Video!

The process of the build is better visualized through the video, as it is always easier to show something being made in a video than in a picture. So I recommend watching the video to learn how to make it. Also this is the first time I put my voice in my videos, which is why my voice sounds really awkward, but anyway I hope you find the video useful.

Step 2: Gather Your Materials!

So the things that you will need to make this motor are:

1) A craft stick, or something similar. (You could also use a AA battery holder, then you can skip a few steps.)

2) Neodymium magnets or any other magnets. (Magnets could be found in speakers, any sort of magnetic fridge toys etc.)

3) Enameled Copper Wire. I used 22 gauge.

4) 1.5 Volt AA battery

5) Two paperclips.

6) Aluminium foil (Can be found on chocolate wrappers)

The tools that needed are:

1) Scissors

2) Pliers

3) Sandpaper

4) Hot glue gun or a super glue.

Step 3: Make the Base Structure!

First take the craft stick and mark the length of the AA battery in the middle of craft stick. Then cut out the stick on the marks, using pliers or scissors.

Step 4: Make the Base Structure! (2)

Take the two ends of the craft-stick and cut a small piece that is a bit bigger than the diameter of the AA battery.

Step 5: Making the Base Structure! (3)

Take the paperclips, and straighten them out.

Not make a small loop in one of the ends of the paperclips.

Now bend it to make a shape similar to a flat hook (I know how poorly I worded this).

Look at the picture to see how to do it.

Step 6: Making the Rotor Coil!

Take an object with an diameter of about 1 inch. Take some wire, and leaving about 2 inches on the end, start coiling the wire on the round object. Coil it 30 time, and leave 2 inches on the other end. Take out the coil really slowly.

Step 7: Making the Rotor (2)

Now take the ends of the coil, and tie a knot on each end to make sure the coil doesn't unwrap. Then cut the ends of the coil to 1 inch.

Step 8: Making the Rotor. (3)

Now comes the hardest, but most important part of the build.

So first of all take a sandpaper, and rub one of the ends of the coil, to remove full insulation from that side.

But on the other side remove only HALFOF THE INSULATION. Look at the drawing provided that will show how to do it.

Look at the video provided in step two to get a better idea, because sometimes only words do not suffice to convey an idea.

Step 9: Assembling the Base Structure

Take the pieces of craft stick and glue them together to make a shape like a battery holder.

Step 10: Assembling the Base Structure (2)

Take the paper clips and glue them to the sides of the pieces of craft stick as shown in the picture.

Step 11: Assembling the Base Structure (3)

Take a bit of aluminium foil, and wrap it around the ends of the craft sticks and paper clips. This will act as the contacts for the battery.

Step 12: Lets Get It Together!!

Put the battery in the base structure, so the ends of the battery touches the aluminium foil. Then take the magnets and place them on the battery. Now take the rotor and put the ends of the rotor coil inside the loops in the paper clips. It should start spinning!!! If it doesn't start spinning right away, then give it a little push and it should start spinning!!

Step 13: How Does It Work?

When electricity flows through a coil of wire, the coil becomes an electromagnet. An electromagnet acts just like a regular magnet. It has a north pole and a south pole, and can attract and repel other magnets.Our coil becomes an electromagnet when the bare copper half of the coil's wires touch the bare wire of the supports, and electricity flows into the coil. The electromagnet has a north pole which is attracted to the south pole of the regular magnet. It also has a south pole that is repelled by the south pole of the regular magnet. So the coil rotates half a spin as it repels or attracts. But as on one of the sides of the coil we left half of the insulation, the electricity stops flowing when the insulated half comes in contact with the paper clip. So the coil doesn't attract or repel the magnet. Instead the momentum from the previous spin makes the rotor spin until the bare ends of the coil touches the paperclip. So now when the bare ends of the coil touches the paperclip, and the rotor attracts the magnet, and the process starts over and it keeps spinning.

Step 14: Troubleshooting

If your motor does not work then check whether you have mistakenly removed full insulation of both sides. Remember only one side needs to be fully made free from insulation. The other side should have half insulation. Check whether you have made the connections well or not. Oh to start it sometimes you have to give the coil a push. If you are facing more problems, let me know, and I will try to help you as much as I can.

Step 15: How to Make It Faster? What Use Does This Thing Have?

To make the motor faster you could use more and stronger magnets. Also you could try with variations of coil size.

Also remember, neatness of the coil can also make it faster, as the coil would be stronger in strength and also would look better.

What is this motor useful for?

Every time I make something, I typically receive a few comments like ," Huh, this is useless, you could just get motors from a toy."

My reply would be that it is made for educational purposes. I first made a motor like this years before, but before that I never knew a motor was this simple. I never knew how easily a motor worked. A curious mind would appreciate even the simplest of builds, if the build has any educational values.

Anyway thanks for reading this instructable. I hope you found this useful. Once again look at the video to make it easier for you to make this motor. Subscribe and follow me for future simplistic instructable.