Rotating Globe Automata

In this Instructable you will learn how to make an automata, or in this case a rotating globe automata that spins by turning a handle around in circles using gears.

For your supplies you are going to need some lego pieces that you can find described below, or seen above.

2x 1x1 brick

4x 2x2 brick corner

4x 1x2 brick

2x 2x4 brick

2x 1x4 brick with holes

4x 1x3 plate

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2x 1x6 tile

1x 1x8 plate(1x10 works better...)

1x 4x12 plate

1x 2x2 24 notch gear

1x stopper(any will work, I used yellow)

1x 6 stud rod

1x 12 stud rod(or so)

1x 1x2 rod connecter(I think)

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You will also need one 26 gear, the one in the third picture(I don't know what it is called)

and one more rod, mine is 10 stud rod

In addition, you will need;

• a small corrugated box, for your stand
• some blue clay, white clay, and green clay.
• A ping pong ball for the earth
• One 1x2 brick with holes to put on the cardboard top

For tools you will need a hot glue gun(be careful with this), a knife, and pencil. You also need a pin and hammer.

Click on the pictures above and follow the steps given in the pictures. /\

Once you complete the base, you should begin with the gearing system.

First you are going to want to put the two rods and connecter together, like so. Slide the gray gear into the left side, then the rod stopper, an inch or two from the gear.

To put the gear in, take off the base and part of the left side. Slide the gear in to the right and put the base and side back together.

If you would like to put a handle onto the right of the gearing system so that you can easily turn it.

Now for the cardboard top, and to make this we will cut out a flap from the small box. Outline the flap using the lego base with a pencil. Once outlined, take your pencil and mark the middle of the rectangle on both sides (You can also use the lego base for this as well, just count 1 1/2 studs in on the short side and 6 1/2 on the long side). Once done, cut out the rectangle making sure that your marks are not cut off.

Get out the hot glue gun and start warming it up. Like a battle ship board, find where the two marks meet and put a "X" there. Use your pencil and make a hole in the box just big enough so that your axle can slide through easily.

Once the hot glue gun is ready either dab two spots on the cardboard, or on the 1/2 brick so the glue does not go into the hole that you just made. Using the axle as a guide, slide the 1/2 brick onto the cardboard so that the axle can still slide through. Hold the brick onto the cardboard until it is solid.

Next glue the cardboard top onto the base.

Carefully attach your other gear onto the vertical axle so that you can turn both axles. You may have to adjust the first dark gray axle to fit the light gray axle.

Using a ping-pong ball, cover a thin layer of blue clay onto it until it is completely covered. Poke holes into the clay where you want the boarders of your continents to be, then take your hands and roll the globe around making the clay smooth. With your knife, carefully cut outlines using the holes so you know where to go. After the outlines are made, cut out the continents so that you have just ping-pong ball land and blue clay water.

Take out your green clay and using very small amounts(you do not need much) start filling in the world of land, except Antarctica, using your thumb and index finger to place it into position. Next mix some small amounts of white and green clay together so you get light green clay. Overlap some of this near the top and bottom parts of the world, then put white clay on the very top and bottom. Finally, put Antarctica on the very bottom using white clay.

Start off by poking your pin sharp-side into the ping pong. Holding the pin, gently pound the pin through the ball with the hammer.

After you have your hole use a pencil to expand it until you can fit your axle through.

Put the globe onto the axle, so that it fits in place.

Your Done!

Modifications:

• Try making different planets, like mars or the sun.
• Try making a space ship or astroids connect to your planet.
• Try making the gearing system longer, shorter, or smaller.