Easy Hydraulic Machines - Engineering Projects for Kids

This project is easy to build, and it allows young engineers to get hands-on experience with the power and delight of a hydraulic-powered mechanism.

For easier facilitation, you can fill the syringes with air instead of water. An air pressure-powered systems are called pneumatics.

You can find the lesson plan, 1-page project sheet, and more project ideas at STEM-Inventions.com

Supplies

The Engineering Creation Kit has everything you need for this project and many more from STEM Inventions.

• Plastic syringes, tubing, & adapters that can replace cubes the holes
• Or bulk tubing and syringes
• Craft sticks
• Craft cubes (Bulk pack)
• Craft cubes with holes (Bulk pack)
• 1/8" dowels
• Wheels (Bulk pack)
• Cable ties
• Masking tape
• Hot glue gun with safety nozzle
• Hot glue sticks

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Step 1: Hydraulic Box

You can use either hydraulics or pneumatics for this project!

Step 2: Hydraulic Drawbridge

The hydraulic bridge project was originally conceived by a student named Daniel H.D. Thanks Daniel!

Step 3: Hydraulic Fortune Teller

The hydraulic fortune teller uses the same mechanics as the Judobot to achieve 3-dimensional movement, however this project is easier to build because it doesn't need to be thoroughly designed to battle. I like the idea of a fortune teller, but the face can be replaced with other things to create a variety of projects: a catapult arm, a serving basket, cannon.... be creative!

Difficulty: 5/5

Prep work: 4/5

Setup: 2/5

Cleanup: 2/5

Comments

[sahmcolorado]

Do you know where I could purchase just the syringe adapters? I have tons of syringes and tubing, so I'd prefer not to buy the set that you linked to. Thanks!

[STEMerson3]

I'm cutting up 1/2 inch dowel and having the kids drill a hole in them. They work a little better than the cubes with the hole drilled in them.

[LanceMakes]

Hello, sorry I don't know of any vendor that just sells the adapters. If I find one I'll be sure to link it here!

[sahmcolorado]

OK. Thanks!

[maritta.gostanian24]

How does this experiment uses the hydraulic system to operate?

[Haley Hughes]

How does the hydraulic machine work??

[juliastenbeck]

What are the green boxes used here called and what material are they? Where can I find them?

[LanceMakes]

The green wood cubes are just 1/2" craft cubes. You can find them here: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00XV13944?ie=UTF8

[josiedraeger]

Hi -- I am a STEAM teacher. I have the syringes and tubing, but I am having trouble finding your syringe adapters without buying a whole set. Any suggestions?

[LanceMakes]

Hi - You can hot glue a wooden cube with a hole in it to the syringe plunger instead of using a special adapter, like these ones: https://www.amazon.com/Wood-Cubes-Holes-Unfinished...

Happy making!

[VictoriaK53]

Thank you so much for creating these lessons and providing such wonderful resources. It saves me so much time in program preparation for my job as a STEAM librarian.

[RexProjex37]

Thanks! This is gonna help me in my hydraulics proiect!

[iiHyperbeam]

it works nice!

[nflpanthersfan]

Great concept! :)

[AdityaC60]

How many cc is that syringe? Please reply as soon as possible!!!

[LanceMakes]

The syringes I use are 12ml, and filled to 10ml.

[machari10]

great for my hydraulic robotic arm project

[dragon wind]

where do you get the cubes?

[dragon wind]

we are doing this for a project too! long live projects!!!

#love of school

[Dragon26011]

I made this for my Physics project relating to Pressure and it came in handy! It was simple to make and yet demonstrates the topic in the most easiest way to understand. I took a wooden stick from my attic and sawed it to wooden blocks. Also, the Vinyl tubing didn't fit to the tip of the syringe, so I made a small slit at the end of it and the tube fit in! Thanks a bunch WYE_Lance!