Adjustable Speed Circuit Scribe

This is a simple project that you can make with scissors, paper, and a basic Circuit Scribe kit.

You can use this concept in projects like greeting cards, interactive art, and other projects.

This concept is not limited to motors, but we used a motor to show how it works for our project.

When you finish this project, you should have an adjustable speed motor that relies on a pull tab to change speed.

See if you can expand upon this idea and create improvements or new concepts!

This was part of a Build Night at Knox Makers. You can read the follow up summary of our events here.

Not much needed here:

• Conductive ink pen
• Scissors
• Circuit Scribe motor
• Circuit Scribe battery module
• paper

We need two pieces of paper.

First, we need a main face where the battery and motor will be seated.

Next, we need a pull tab that acts as an adjustable speed switch.

On them main face, we need to cut two small slots as shown in the above image. The slots should be sized just enough for the switch tab to move up and down freely. The spacing between the two slots should be just enough that the conductive ink on the switch tab can connect with the conductive ink on the main face.

As you can see in the first image, we drew circles and paths so that we could connect a battery on the left side and a motor on the right side. However, we left out a section of conductive ink between the two slots. That's because our switch tab will make that connection for us.

For the switch tab, we drew a heavy line that goes straight across and then a heavy line that starts on one side but travels a wandering length way up the tab before coming back and ending across from where we started. This extends the path and will slow down the motor.

Test out the main face and paper tab to make sure the tab moves freely and the conductive ink on the tab connects with the conductive ink on the main face for both positions.

Now, carefully feed your tab switch through the slot that you cut.

You should do this in a way where conductive ink on the back side of the tab connects with the conductive ink on the front side of the piece where the module components will seat.

Go ahead and place your battery and motor in position and over the next two steps test out your project!

Now you are ready to start testing your switch!

First, make sure the slow mode works.

Pull or push the tab until it is in a position that completes the circuit using the long path you drew earlier.

Does it make the motor spin slowly? If so, label the front side as "SLOW" and move to the last step!

If slow mode works, that's a great sign.

Now for the easiest part..

Test out fast mode!

Pull or push the paper switch tab to the position where the circuit is completed over the shortest distance. If it makes the motor spin faster, you've got your fast mode!

We labeled "FAST" on the front side so it is easy to see which position the switch is in.