Lego Tape Dispenser

This is a tape dispenser made solely out of Lego Pieces excluding the tape itself. It even cuts using a piece of Lego. There is a video explaining the full assembly and how it works! Also a nifty little story on why I built it.

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Step 1: The Trick is to let the Lego Assemble itself

When I started my job as a TA in college I was given a shiny new stapler, thumb tacks the works! The one thing I didn't get was a tape dispenser. Later I realized no one got a tape dispenser. Surprisingly though there were rolls of tape by the dozens lying around. So I decided to just make one out of Lego Bricks. Yay! I have tape and dispenser Rejoice!! Then someone stole it. Arg!

Well then I started my internship and once again I found that there was yet another shiny new stapler and somehow thumbtacks but again no tape dispenser. I decided to crank out the old Lego pieces again and make another. Score! Tape! And a reminder to all around that the funny little intern who plays with Lego sits at this cube.

Ahhh the sweet intern months go by and I eventually left that internship for school and gifted the dispenser away. I decided to make my third one and record it this time and hopefully this will be the one that doesn't leave my hands.

guffe jensen says: May 13, 2013. 9:18 AM

Nice:)

iApple guy says: Feb 18, 2012. 5:42 PM

Super COOL!

mischka says: Dec 19, 2011. 6:58 AM

cool, something useful! I wish I had some LEGO bricks. I miss my dispenser while wrapping my chrismas gifts...

the_mooney says: Jan 20, 2009. 2:56 PM

i tried to make it but i didn't have the blue parts_{,you should have had step by step instructions instead of a video},the video went to fast

killerx in reply to the_mooneySep 17, 2011. 4:33 PM

Stop the video at the point when the parts ar put together.

jamwaffles says: Jul 10, 2011. 6:29 AM

Nice work. I made a tape dispenser a long time ago that used the rack from a rack and pinion system to allow the tape to be torn more easily. Image here: http://www.prestoimages.net/store/rd1378/1378_pd1988422_1.jpg

beanman911 says: Jun 29, 2011. 7:59 AM

cool i wundr how long it took 2 make that vidyo

ninjaaa says: Jun 17, 2011. 4:19 PM

Nice!

marley57 says: Jun 13, 2011. 5:36 AM

hey man that's purdy cool

atomiclegocreations says: Apr 22, 2011. 9:07 AM

when I made this I didn't have the small gears to hold the tape in place. i just used four of the pieces that go on the outside of the gears (I call them film reels) to hold it in place. It's loose.

geodez says: Jul 14, 2009. 1:18 PM

make lego tape. (chain links.)

mysticperson23 says: Jun 11, 2009. 6:45 PM

They have lego weights. You could put those on the bottom so it's weighted.

redmaker says: May 23, 2009. 8:29 PM

SWEEEEEEET!!!!!!!!!!!

shabagana says: Apr 16, 2009. 9:23 PM

very creative : )

erosser says: Mar 25, 2009. 12:32 AM

It's not sticking with the "all-legos" theme, but if/when really pressed for a cutting implement (I know I would be uber-irritated during a project if that most precious dispenser of Scotch resources wasn't optimally performing), one could affix a wee bit of blade from a cellophane shrink wrap box, maybe held between two lego pieces. Just a thought. Very well-constructed!

merijnvw says: Mar 9, 2009. 1:57 PM

i think my tape is too strong:( It doesn't get chopped off. Not even when i use a rack.

crimson sausage says: Feb 14, 2009. 11:06 PM

I made one, it worked okay, but I was limmited on the variety of legos at my disposal. It gets the job done.

quesoman says: Feb 14, 2009. 9:09 PM

nice instructable. i substituted and left out quite a few steps but i used you general design and it worked great

amakerguy says: Jan 27, 2009. 2:26 PM

Sweet now I do not have to travel across my house and keep bugging my parents to get me one. You know (I'm a Maker)

Radioactv Biohazard says: Jan 4, 2009. 4:44 PM

Hey that's pretty awesome. I'm gunna make one!

pls says: Nov 24, 2008. 9:35 AM

very cool.

Badrang The Bad!!! says: Aug 24, 2008. 8:12 AM

Cool! i like the lego cutting part.

chuCraft says: Dec 1, 2007. 8:25 PM

This looks very cool, but it would be nice to have either a list of the pieces you used or a Lego Digital Designer file so it would be easier to replicate.

Oompa-Loompa in reply to chuCraftJul 17, 2008. 1:42 PM

LDD doesn't include some of these pieces.

cooblades (author) in reply to Oompa-LoompaJul 17, 2008. 7:18 PM

You can get them from enthusiast sites like www.bricklink.com. They sell every part you could think of and then some. I'm willing to sell or trade mine if anyone is interested, but the parts are really common so I would recommend you just build your own from the video.

Oompa-Loompa in reply to coobladesJul 18, 2008. 8:01 AM

I know, but therealbenni was talking about LDD.

I_am_Canadian says: Apr 13, 2008. 4:56 PM

Creative :-)

inquisitive says: Mar 8, 2008. 8:19 AM

I just have to ask because I am curious...are you an Industrial Engineer? A good friend of mine is and she loves legos. Nice product, any plans to make a mouse?