Simple and Cute Octopus Automata

Cardboard Automata are a playful way to explore simple machine elements such as cams, levers, and linkages, while creating a mechanical sculpture.

To make an Octopus Automata, you will need:

1. Cardboard

2. Dowels

3. Skewer

4. Pencil

5. Thermocol ball

6. Pipecleaners

7. Googly eyes

8. Glue

9. Scissor

10. Circle cutter

All the above mentioned materials are present in a classroom, so its an easy STEAM activity

1.Take a square cardboard of approx 20 cm x 20 cm or larger.

2. Cut four squares of 10 cm x 10 cm as shown.

3. Make a square box or a frame for automata by joining all four square using a glue.

4. Apply a white sheet of 10 cm x 10 cm on one side of frame.

1. Using a circle cutter, cut a circle of diameter 5 cm.

2. Cut 3 such circles and glue together to make a cam.

3. Make 2 such cams (so you will need 6 circles)

1. Poke one hole on top of the frame covered with white sheet. You can use a skewer and tip of pencil to poke hole.

2.Insert a piece of straw on top of hole.

3.Now poke hole on two sides of frame. Hole should be poked a slight below the center point.

1. Use a dowel as a lever(axle) and insert on one side of frame and attach a dowel. You can glue the cam if needed.

2. Insert a half dowel from top of the frame and attach a cam follower. You can glue the cam follower if needed.

3. Test the motion by rotating the lever (axle).

You can make any sculpture of your wish that you want to rotate. I have made an octopus as my daughter likes it and i have made for her. To make an octopus

1. First take a thermocol ball

2. Color it.

3. Cut pipe-cleaners and give it a shape of legs.

4. Paste googly eyes or draw as per your wish and make a hole at the bottom.

1. Glue the octopus on top of the dowel.

2. Make a handle by inserting a piece of skewer in one circular cut cardboard.

3. Glue the handle on one side of axle.

An automata is a playful and inventive way to explore simple machine elements like cam, lever, linkages etc

The spinning element that you turn with a handle is called a cam.

The cam is attached with a lever.

The element that sits on the top of cam is called a cam follower.

When the handle is moved the force applied is transferred from cam to cam follower and at last to the object that we wish to move.