DIY Lego Orrery (Star Wars Style)

For all Star Wars fans or those who are interested in a Physics project, here is a DIY Lego Orrery, a mechanical model of the solar system. The orrery will bring to attention some physics concepts such as centripetal force and gravitational rotation. The Star Wars theme will be incorporated in the planet and object relationship in space. A spaceship will orbit around the Death Star to demonstrate the relationships of gravitational pull and how one object attracts the other during orbit.

To make the Death Star, light grey or dark grey legos would be most appropriate to construct it. This picture here shows which legos you need. The list includes:

• 18 2x6
• 24 1x4
• 12 1x2
• 6 2x2
• 6 2x8
• 6 4x4
• 6 4x6
• 6 connecting pieces (color does not matter for this lego because it is going inside of the ball)

Images will demonstrate how to build it correctly. Follow numbered procedures if there is a need for clarification. Each numbered procedure will follow the sequenced photos.

1. Attach 1 2x6 on each side of the 4x8
2. Attach a 2x8 in the middle of the 4x8
3. Place 1x4 on each end of the edges (total 4)
4. Place 1x2 on the middle of each side and place a 2x2 in the middle of a 6x6 and place it on top of the piece

Repeat this four more times to complete five separate identical parts. The sixth piece has an opening to fit the circle the Death Star has.

5. Replace on 2x6 with 2x3 and build similar to the other pieces to complete the part.

Images will demonstrate how to build it correctly. Follow numbered procedures if there is a need for clarification. Each numbered procedure will follow the sequenced photos.

1. Gather the materials for the circle on the Death Star. This includes

• 1 stick
• 1 wheel
• 1 knob-looking piece
• 1 square
• 1 bending piece

2. Insert stick to knob piece.

3. Insert wheel into knob.

4. Take one part made in previous step an flip it over.

5. Place connectors on every side to form a square.

6. Attach other parts to the sides to form the sphere.

7. Leave the special part last and place the circle with the bending part in the circle first before placing the 6th piece on top.

8. Now it should be a complete sphere.

Half-way there! To build the orrery base, first thing is to gather the materials for it.

Images will demonstrate how to build it correctly. Follow list if there is a need for clarification.

This includes:

• 2 claw-looking blue
• 2 claw-looking grey
• 4 2x4 dark grey
• 4 2x3 dark grey
• 2 2x3 light grey
• 4 2x6 dark grey
• 2 2x8 light grey
• 3 2x8 light grey
• 1 8x8 dark grey
• 1 8x8 light grey
• 3 2x12 light grey
• 3 2x10 light grey
• 4 wheels light grey
• 1 wheel half light grey
• 2 6x10 light grey
• 2 6x12 dark grey
• 4 quarters dark grey
• 1 4 dot perimeter light grey
• 1 4 dot perimeter dark grey
• 1 4x8 light grey
• 1 6x8 light grey
• 4 2x8 light grey
• 1 2x10 dark grey
• 2 3x10 triangles light grey
• 1 4x8 light grey
• 1 4x8 dark grey
• 1 4x14 light grey
• 1 6x8 dark green
• 1 4x6 perimeter light grey
• 2 6x12 perimeter light grey

Images will demonstrate how to build it correctly. Follow numbered procedures if there is a need for clarification. Each numbered procedure will follow the sequenced photos.

1. Take 6x8 piece and place 4x8 on the bottom.
2. Place light grey 4x8 on the botom and attach 4x6 perimeter on the bottom as well as a 2x10. Each side should have the same color.
3. Place 6x12 perimeter on the sides, 6x10 on the bottom top, and 4x12 on the bottom.
4. Place 8x6 in the middle back, 2x10 on the top, and 4x6 on the bottom.
5. Place 2x6 on the sides with matching color, 2x8 on the bottom and 6x12 on the bottom of that piece.
6. Place 2x8 on the vertical side sticking upward.
7. Add a 2x3 6 dots down and 5 dots away on the left side and a 2x3 6 dots down and 6 dots away on the right side. Also place the square 8x8 pieces on the left side and rectangular pieces on the right side. (Use picture to estimate placement.)
8. Place a 4x12 on the edge of the top layer on the right side. Place the 4 dot perimeter on the edge of the left side.
9. Form a circle with the blue and grey claw pieces.
10. Place a 2x4 in the middle of the circle.
11. Place 5 circles in the middle making a four pedal flower.
12. Put a 2x6 on the edge of the frame circle. (Total four)
13. Place 2x4s perpendicular to the 2x6 and place a 2x8 on the bottom of a 2x6 and place on the left side. Then attach a 1x4 perimeter in the middle.

Images will demonstrate how to build it correctly. Follow list if there is a need for clarification.

This includes:

• 1 octagon 4 dots dark grey
• 4 2x3 dark grey
• 2 2x3 light grey
• 1 2x2 light grey
• 4 1x4 dark grey
• 1 2x2 light grey
• 1 4x4 with holes sticking out dark grey
• 1 1x4 connector dark green
• 1 circle 2x2 light grey
• 1 circle 1x4 dark grey
• 1 gear green
• 1 hole connecting piece green
• 2 1x2 light grey
• 1 stick
• 2 1x4 triangles
• 3 1 whole dark grey
• 1 3x4 bending piece

Images will demonstrate how to build it correctly. Follow numbered procedures if there is a need for clarification. Each numbered procedure will follow the sequenced photos.

1. Grab octagon with hole and place stick in hole.
2. Grab hole connecting piece and place at the end of the stick to prevent it from moving on the bottom.
3. Place 2x3 long side in the middle of each side.
4. Place 2x2 on top of the left 2x3 and place 2x3 on the left side of top and bottom piece.
5. Place circle in the stick and triangles, long side facing the circle on the top and bottom pieces.
6. Place 1x8 long side stretching towards the top and bottom left side and 2x2 square next to it on the right.
7. Place 1x8 light grey on top of 1x8 dark grey.
8. Place 2x2 square right side up on the bottom middle of the circle, a 1x4 on the right side, 1x2 light grey on the right side surrounding the square, a plane square on the bottom left, and 1 hole top middle.
9. Place a 1x6 on the middle left side and a 1x4 right next to it. The bending 3x4 should be placed on the opposite side in the same place as the left side.
10. Place a 1x4 on the middle of the bending piece.
11. Place 1x4 with holes sticking out on the ends on top of the 1x4
12. Place connecting piece in the gap of the 1x4

Images will demonstrate how to build it correctly. Follow numbered procedures if there is a need for clarification. Each numbered procedure will follow the sequenced photos.

1. Gather materials.
2. Place screw in bottom space.
3. Place gears in the rest of the space in the box.
4. Place circle on the side of the box.
5. Place stick in the hole on the side.

Images will demonstrate how to build it correctly. Follow numbered procedures if there is a need for clarification. Each numbered procedure will follow the sequenced photos. As steps begin to increase in number, the more complicated ones will be described.

12. The materials on the side show what is being used to complete the base. This will be repeated throughout the rest of the steps.

22. Place device in the middle of the circular base made before.

Images will demonstrate how to build it correctly. Follow numbered procedures if there is a need for clarification. Each numbered procedure will follow the sequenced photos. As steps begin to increase in number, the more complicated ones will be described.

7. In the previous step, a stick was attached on the side of the base. Place the motor attached to the piece sticking out and the stick. Now the base is complete. The motor uses 3 AA batteries to start.

Place the Death Star in the middle of the base and have the spaceship attached to a bending black stick. This can be attached to the Death Star or to the base. Your choice.

Now everything is done and the final product should be a revolving orrery Star Wars edition that demonstrated physics principles such as centripetal force and gravitational pull on objects.