Incredible lifelike circus elephant automaton made entirely of paper

The folks over at cool4cats have outdone themselves with their new paper automaton kit titled ELEPHANT TRAINING. This one is a large exhibition-size automaton which shows the secret process of training a circus elephant.

From the Cool4Cats web site:

The kit builds into a large (63 centimeters high, 51 centimeters wide) exhibition model. There are many amusing details and a wonderful sequence of movements as you turn the handle. This model is unsuitable for younger children as a fair degree of patience (and a sharp craft knife) are needed to build it. The instructions, however, are very comprehensive with over 160 'step-by-step' diagrams and assembly is a great project, resulting in a spectacular model!

This one has it all: a great theme, characters, lifelike motion, stunning graphics, and a healthy dose of humor.

Here is where you can order the Elephant Training paper automaton kit.

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Hand-cranked paper bellows bird call project by Rob Ives

Here's another great mechanical paper design by Rob Ives called the "Twitterer Type 3". This one really sounds like a tweeting bird!

From the project page:

In the previous blog post I showed a design for a crank driven bellows to be used at the heart of a bird box project. I have taken that basic design and made it more sturdy. I liked the way the bellows in the previous model were completely visible so I've fitted the crank to the inside of a box but kept the bellows on a pair of slide rails outside the box. You can see the result in animated action on Instagram by clicking the picture to the left.

If you are a Member of Rob's site, you can download the parts to make this project. An annual membership to Rob's site, which provides access to LOT of amazing paper projects, is $14.95 per year. Here is where you can see the step-by-step instructions for the Twitterer Type 3.

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Paper automaton kit reveals why there are no magical fairies in the world

This new automaton from cool4cats titled A Tasty Snack explains why there are no fairies left. It would appear that the carnivorous plants have taken care of them all.

An interesting feature of the model is some gearing which is similar to the hour/minute hand arrangement of a clock. In this configuration, both hands rotate on the same spindle so they display on the same dial. In clock, the gears have a 12:1 ratio -- converting the hourly rotation of the minute hand into a 12th of a rotation for the hour hand. In this automaton, they have used a 4:1 ratio. It also looks as if they've used a paper belt drive. Very clever!

Here is where you can get the A Tasty Snack paper automaton kit.

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One book with five amazing dinosaur automata you can make!

Check this book on how to make moving paper dinosaurs!

From the book description:

Create moving models of five different dinosaur species — from ichthyosaurus, the fish lizard, to Tyrannosaurus rex, the tyrant king, along with the armor-plated stegosaurus, the flying pterodactylus, and the bone-haded pachycephalosaurus. Kids ages 10 and up can follow simple directions that explain how to build the crank-powered replicas. The book is also loaded with facts about all sorts of dinosaurs and includes a background play scene and a convenient pocket for storing loose pieces

Though it's sold in book format, it really a kit, or five kits to be exact. Dinosaurs and automata -- two things that kids love!

Here is where you can get Amazing Automata -- Dinosaurs!
 

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Paper indexing mechanism by Rob Ives -- download and make one!

Rob Ives continues to create amazing paper machines and automata. Recently he's created this indexing mechanism.

From the creator's web site:

An indexing mechanism or intermittent drive is a mechanism that turns a wheel or shaft a small amount then stops for a set amount of time the turns again repeating this process over and over as the drive handle is turned.

Indexers are used for all sorts of things including digital displays when a sequential number can be displayed or in machines used to cut gear teeth.

This paper indexer has a twenty four tooth drive wheel. It takes twenty four full turns of the handle for the geared wheel to make one full turn. Download and make this model to find out first hand just how an indexer works. Use it as an exercise in pure mechanism or as the starting point for your own designs.

You can download and make this paper indexing mechanism. It will cost you £2.50 (about $3.90). Well worth it, I would say.

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A gear-driven wooden machine creates intricate swirl drawings

Do any of you out there remember the Spirograph drawing toy? The "Cycloid Drawing Machine" shown in the video is like its cooler big brother. Various wooden gear and linkage combinations are used to produce a huge array of different drawings.

The drawings are also kind of a neat way to study the output motion resulting from different gear and linkage combinations. I love that it is hand-cranked. The machine is all wood and looks to be very well made.

The Cycloid Drawing Machine is currently a Kickstarter project seeking funding. There are two funding reward levels, both of which get the backer one of these nifty machines. Here is the Kickstarter page for Cycloid Drawing Machine.

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Origami cranes perform synchronized dance routine with the help of magnets

I love this ingenious combination of traditional paper origami, magnets, puppetry, and programmed electronics. The flock of dancing cranes is the creation of Japanese designer Ugoita T. The result is a whimsical whole that is more than the sum of the parts. I think there are a lot of other interesting things he could do with this concept.

Feeling inspired? Here is where you can get all kinds of Origami paper, kits, and instruction books. While your are at it, maybe you'll want some small strong magnets!

Via the Colossal blog

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Tour of a paper automaton shop in Bremin, Germany

Here's a fun little tour of a paper automaton shop in Bremin, Germany. Many of the kits were made by the father of the young man giving the demonstrations.

If you are interested in making your own, check out some of these paper automaton kits and books. In the same order, you can get your tools such as a hobby knife, self-healing cutting mat, a good pair of scissors, and some white glue.

[ Thanks Karin! ]

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Mechanically animated holiday greeting card from Birdbox Studios

I am not entirely sure how this works, but it looks like a motorized flipbook installed inside of a greeting card. Pretty amazing!

Find out more about Birdbox Studios on their web site.

[ Thanks Christoph! ]

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Paper models form the old Toy Shop computer program available online!

Back in the 1980s there was a program for the Commodore 64 computer called 'The Toy Shop'. The program allowed you to print out designs to make twenty paper models, many of which were kinetic. The models included trucks, airplanes, a carousel, a sundial, flying toys, a catapult, a working scale, several machines, a zoetrope and this amazing mechanical bank!

A wonderful web page documents all of the projects from The Toy Shop program, allowing you to download both the patterns and the instructions for free. Here is where you can view, download and make the 20 assorted projects from The Toy Shop software.

For more excellent paper models check out Paper Models That Move: 14 Ingenious Automata, and More. This book includes 14 whimsical projects for making automata out of cardstock. It is well-illustrated and explain the use of levers, gears, cranks, and other devices. The cut-and-assemble components allow papercrafters of modest skill and experience to build these models.

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Moving Paper Robin kit by Bliss Kolb

We featured artist Bliss Kolb many times here on The Automaton Blog. He's made some stunning bird-themed automata. He's now offering some lovely paper automaton kits such as the robin shown here. Once cut out and assembled, you lift up on the lever. This causes the robin to bend down and grab a worm. Halfway up, the robin loses the worm and it slides back underground.

The kit includes three pattern sheets with instructions. You will need to supply 4 Thumb Tacks , a hot glue gun or Elmer's Glue, a sewing needles or straight pin, Scotch tape, a nickel.

Here is where you can get the Moving Paper Robin Kit.

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Amazing lion tamer circus act automaton kit made from paper!

Check out the amazing new paper automaton kit from cool4cats! In the fine tradition of Alexander Calder and Ron Fuller, the automaton features a Lion Tamer circus act. It also incorporates a clever trick found in some of the venerable French automata.

From the kit description:

Here's the wonderful lion tamer!  The kit contains all the materials  you need to build this amazing automaton.  You'll need glue, a craft knife and a few simple household items to help with assembly, but a word of caution: the lion tamer is a complex kit, so a fair degree of care and patience is needed, it's not suitable for young children.

Here is where you can order The Lion Tamer paper automaton kit.

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Bird wing motion study created with nothing more than tongue depressors and paper

Check out this awesome kinetic model of bird wings. The model was created by design student Joyce Lin and is made of nothing more than tongue depressors, paper, and tape. Amazing!

Via Laughing Squid.

[ Thanks Cameron! ]

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Children's drawings and basic materials used to create lively automaton

This charming automaton was made out of drawings by children. The paper drawings were mounted on to a thicker bristol board or foam-core and given wire pivots. All were then mounted to a common crank shaft. A quick and effective process with a nice final product.

Here is where you can see many more in-process photos of the paper anniversary automaton.

[ Thanks Tom! ]

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Complex sand-powered magician automaton made largely of paper performs like clockwork versions

Jeremie Ryder, Conservator of the Guinness Collection at the Morris Museum recently passed this fascinating link on to me with some information. The video shows a fairly complex automaton performing the classic cups and balls magic routine. What makes this remarkable is that it is powered by sand and made largely of paper. Ryder goes on to explain it's other interesting aspects:

...an unusual and somewhat complex sand toy, which incorporates a program barrel -- the first I think I've seen like this. There is no name associated with it, but I'd guess at possibly French origin, circa 1860-90. There's hardly any solid research or articles about the history, makers, or countries of origin. One of the main high-end sellers of these was at the Palais Royal in Paris, Pierre Landras, a toy merchant, operating around the 1830's to 50's period.

He goes on to note that this Conjurer is reminiscent of a clockwork-driven automaton because there is more friction involved in moving the multiple levers needed to read the barrel, actuate the objects, as well as the figure's arms and head. A similar example is depicted in an old book on magic effects (shown below).

The book is a classic on stage illusions performed by Robert-Houdin, Bautier de Kolta, Maskelyne, and others. Containing over 400 illustrations, it features detailed descriptions of techniques of fire eaters, sword swallowers, jugglers, acrobats. Most interesting to readers of this blog would be the sections on ancient magic and automata.

Here is where you can get Magic: Stage Illusions, Special Effects and Trick Photography.

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Moving Paper Crow kit by Bliss Kolb

If you haven't seen the wonderful bird automata created by Bliss Kolb, you've been missing out. The artist has now released a kinetic paper kit, which also features a bird.

Once you purchase the Moving Paper Crow, you will then cut out the pieces and put it together using thumbtacks, white glue, and a pin. That's it! When it has been assembled, push down on the lever to see the crow stand up, raise its head, and opens its beak. The package includes all the necessary patterns and instructions. (You supply the tacks, glue, and pin.)

Here is where you can get the Moving Paper Crow kit by Bliss Kolb

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Incredible mechanical bird wing with individual feathers folds and flaps

Check out this amazing bird wing design by that talented Bliss Kolb. Kolb has a real knack for creating beautiful and lifelike bird automata as you can see here and here and here. His aptitude is demonstrated once again in this masterful recreation of a bird wing which can both fold and unfold as wall as flap.

The wing is a work in progress, the final result to be a crank-operated automaton duck.

From the artist's web site:

The feathers are made from Kozo rice paper. I had to add an additional primary feather to the first section to fill out the spacing.

It was a challenge to get the feathers to open & close smoothly without binding or hitting each other. Each one had to be cut to avoid obstacles yet remain large enough to operate smoothly and look right.

Turns out the wider the feathers are, the easier they work.

See more automata by Bliss Kolb at blisskolbautomata.com

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New paper model kit titled 'Chocolate mousse' available at cool4cats.biz

Have you ever checked out the paper automaton kits sold at cool4cats.biz? If not, they have some really amazing stuff. Shown here is their latest kit title Chocolate mousse.

As will all of their kits, to compete it you will need a hobby knife and some white glue. Step-by-step instructions are included

You can get this an other paper automaton kits at cool4cats.com.

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'Make Your Own Working Paper Clock' book documented in stop-motion animation

As if it wouldn't require enough patience to complete the Make Your Own Working Paper Clock book/kit, here is the entire process documented in old-school stop-motion animation! I can't get over how long this must have taken! This film gives you a wonderful feel for what completing the project is like. You get to see every piece form, then self-assemble into the finished clock. This is quite an accomplishment on several levels.

Here is where you can buy your own copy of the book Make Your Own Working Paper Clock

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Rob Ives to create paper gear zine!

Paper Engineer Rob Ives is in the midst of creating another one of his zines. This one will take the same format as previous zines -- six pages, each featuring gear-based facts including perhaps worm gears, bevel gears as well as gear trains and the standard gears featured here. Each page will have a link to the downloadable, printable, make-able version of the featured gear project ready for you to make. Check his blog regularly for updates

Here is the post about the gears set shown above which will be the first part of the zine. This project includes two interlocking gears, one with eleven teeth, one with nineteen teeth.

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