Mechanical gift idea #6 - Paper Models That Move

As I have said many times, paper automata are a great way -- perhaps even the best way -- to get started with automaton-making. The 14 automata projects in this book are all made from cardstock!

The book contains 24 pages of theory and 14 construction kits in all. Eight of the construction kits teach fundamental mechanical principles in a hands-on, kinetic way. The other six kits are working paper automata. The illustrated instructions and cut-and-assemble components make these ingenious paper sculptures easy to put together.

The book covers the following topics and projects:
1. Crank Slider
2. Oscillating Lever
3. Friction Transfer
4. Meshing Gearwheels
5. Ratchet
6. Cams & Friction wheel
7. Cam & Pushrod
8. Cam & Lever
9. Happy Birthday automaton
10. At the Duck's Pond automaton
11. Pyramid Lifter automaton
12. The Weight of Bureaucracy automaton
13. Pianist automaton
14. Gymnast automaton

The reader will learn the fundamentals of mechanisms and get some great working pieces too! That's not bad for the price of a book, a few common household tools, and a bit of time.

Here is where you can order Paper Models That Move: 14 Ingenious Automata, and More.

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