Introduction: Art "Robot"

In this tutorial, you will create your own Art Bot, a robot with markers for legs. It creates awesome abstract art with it's "feet" as it wobbles across your paper! The creature's motion comes from a spinning motor with an offset weight attached; this causes the bot to vibrate. The size and location of said weight can be used as variables. If you tinker with these variables, you will effect how the robot moves, thus changing how it draws.
It is up to you to decide how the robot draws best! Good luck!





Step 1: Materials

In order to make your own Art Robot, you must have the following supplies:
  • Cup (one you don't mind gluing/taping things to)
  • Glue gun / sticks
  • Markers (thin size, washable)
  • Popsicle sticks (at least 6)
  • Foam tape / foam
  • DC toy motor*
  • Battery pack*
  • Batteries*
  • Poster board
  • Cork or styrofoam ball
  • Electrical tape
  • Optional: Additional craft materials to decorate your robot

* I used parts from my science room at school. I do not know the models I used, or for sure what the voltage was of the battery pack. The battery pack I used had 3xAA batteries. Therefore, it is believed that the voltage was 4.5v.

Step 2: Prepping the Weight

First off: in order to attach the motor to your project, you either need styrofoam tape, or hot glue and foam.
I recommend that you use some sort of thick styrofoam, like the type that pencil grips are made of. I actually ripped up a pencil grip for my foam. If you are using foam tape, you still may want to hot glue. The vibrating of the machine may very well cause the motor to fly off using only tape.



Step 3: Cork It!

There was a small white gear at the end of my motor. This was not a problem, because it was actually easy to rip off. 
I ripped the tiny gear off, and tuck the cork on.
I then removed the cork, placed a dab of gorilla glue on the hole, and then shoved it back on.
I let the glue dry overnight to be sure not to fling it anywhere with the spinning motor.

Step 4: Attaching the Weight!

Next, you are going to need to glue a popsicle stick on top of your cork. I recommend simply gluing one end with hot glue, and attaching it. This will be the main variable with your art bot.

Step 5: Add the Weight!

Next, I glued the weight to the body (cup). Be sure that if you are using a plastic or styrofoam cup that you let the hot glue cool a little bit before you attach your motor, or the cup will melt. 

Step 6: Attach the Battery Pack!

I simply used electrical tape to attach the motor. 

Step 7: Glue on Sticks..

Next, you need to glue on your popsicle sticks. Make sure that you are gluing them evenly, or you will need to re-glue them to be even because it will draw lopsided. I ended up needing to cut a few of my sticks because my bot was lopsided.

Step 8: Pick Your Colors.

Next, you need to pick the colors of markers you are using. Then, you take the caps off.
Place the cap on the end of the marker. Then, tape the markers at the caps to the body of your robot. The markers should be pointed to where the drawing part is on the paper.

Step 9: Done!

Attach the wires to the battery pack, and your bot instantly comes to life! Place your live bot on your poster board to create beautiful, abstract masterpieces! To make your bot stop, simply take a wire out of the motor.


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