Introduction: Three Head Bristle Bot in a Couple of Hours

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We were aiming for a buggy like bristle bot. You be the judge.

Ok, it would have taken a lot less longer if I had done all the work but I figured it was a good time for my daughter to learn some new skills.

She learned the value of testing each step and each connection before going on... she wrote up her own version of this instructable. We shared the photos.




Caveat: I wouldn't trust anyone under 16 doing this activity unsupervised. Heat. Knives. Melting things. Not generally a good mix for the unsupervised immature or inexperienced.

Caveat: Work in a well ventilated area.

Step 1: Tools and Materials

  • Old CD
  • three tooth brushes
  • single filament wire (50 cm or so)
  • 2 AA batteries
  • rubber bands to hold down battery case
  • battery case
  • hot glue
  • pipe cleaner (or similar strong flexible wire)
  • soldering iron
  • solder
  • flux
  • small DC motor
  • alligator clip
  • LEDS (two)
  • plastic bottle caps (or similar 'junk' for the vibratory motor platform)
Optional
  • alligator clips on leads
  • wire sheathing
  • lighter for heating sheathing

Step 2: Make the Vibrating Motor

We used the great idea of making our own vibratory motor from this link.

Step 3: Attach Brushes to CD Platform

The glue gun wasn't working so we just used the soldering iron to melt the glue to the CD and the brushes. Easy.

We chose the dull side of the CD for attaching the brushes. I am hoping to run the bristle bot in the dark and hopefully get a little LED reflection off the CD.

Step 4: Wire Up the DC Motor and the LEDS

We soldered extra long wire to the two LEDS, and the DC motor to their respective positive and negative lines. We tested that everything was working of course.


Step 5: Mount the Motor Platform

We used the solder iron and a stick of hot glue with two largish plastic caps. The caps were slightly offset to add style and as to clear the spinning alligator clip from the CD platform.

Step 6: Attach Attenae LEDs Using Pipe Cleaner

For the antennae we dug up some old pipe cleaner. We melted the bottom of a cap and pressed pipe cleaner into the newly melted gaps in the cap.

Step 7: Glue the Vibatory Motor to the Top of the Platform

Melted hot glue on to the cap platform and attached the motor.

Step 8: Cut Up a Dead CD Player for the Battery Holder


If you are melting plastic make sure you are in a well ventilated area!

Step 9: Rubber Band the Battery Case Against the Cap Platform

We used two rubber bands to hold the battery case down on the CD platform.

Step 10: Weave LED Wires on to Pipe Cleaner Antennae

We wrapped the LED wires up the pipe cleaner.

Step 11: Connect Wire Leads to Battery Leads and Have Fun


Your three head bristle bot should be ready to scrub now! Connect the leads from the LED and motor to the battery case and watch it go. Ours just goes in circles for now but I'm thinking that adding weight or another V. motor might fix that.

It was a lot of fun to build!

Click on this link to view the video: