DIY Cardboard Electric Engine

Hey guys!!

Welcome Back!!

Today I am going to guide you on how to make an electric engine.

The electric engine is made of 4 gear motors that run at a speed of 300 RPM.

The main material that is going to be used in this project is cardboard.

And now let us get started!!

To make this project you will be needing the following materials:

1) Corrugated cardboard (cardboard from boxes)

2) Split up Corrugated Cardboard (with a jagged surface on one side and smooth on the other side.)

3) 4 Electric Motors

4) 9V power supply

5) Connector suitable for the power supply

6) Switch

7) Connecting Wires

8) Screw, 3 Nuts and Long plastic spacer

You would also require some additional equipment and materials like:

1) Soldering Machine

2) Glue Gun (or) Crafting glue

3) Scissors, Blade and Tool for making holes

Cut out the following:

1) 8 circles of radius 1.5 cm

2) 2 circles of radius 2 cm

3) 4 strips of Split up Corrugated cardboard of length 9.5 cm and breadth 1.25 cm

4) 1 strip of Split up Corrugated cardboard of length 12.5 cm and breadth of 1.25 cm

5) 4 rectangles of length 6 cm and breadth 6.5 cm

6) 2 rectangles of length 12 cm and breadth 6.5 cm

7) 1 rectangle of length 10 cm and breadth 6.5 cm

8) 1 rectangle of length 3.25 cm and breadth of 6.5 cm

9) 2 V-shaped cardboard pieces of base 10 cm, top of 6 cm, middle space of 3.5 cm, external side of 12 cm and internal side of 6 cm.

10) 1 strip of Split up Corrugated cardboard of length 42.5 cm and breadth of 2.5 cm

11) A few strips of Split up Corrugated cardboard for decoration. (optional)

You are done with the cutting part!!

In this step, we are going to make the components by integrating the others.

First, stick 2 circles of equal radius and use the appropriate Split up Corrugated cardboard strip to surround the circles with them. (make sure that the jagged surface is facing outwards)

Then using the soldering machine connect the wires to the power supply connector, switch and the 4 motors.

Connect all the four motors in parallel connection and then connect that entire system in series with the switch and the power supply connector.

Make holes on both the V-shaped cardboard pieces and connect the motors on one piece and make holes on the other piece to connect the switch and 9V power supply connector.

After this connect the cardboard circles you made to the motor shafts.

Also, punch a hole and insert the long screw on the V-shaped cardboard piece attached with the motors. Using one nut secure the screw to the cardboard piece.

Now slip in the spacer attached with the big cardboard circle and secure the spacer with the other two nuts. (Make sure that you leave enough space for the spacer to rotate)

You are done with the second step!!

In this step, we are going to combine all the components we made in the previous step.

First, connect both the V-shaped cardboard pieces together using the other cardboard pieces.

After doing this you will have a shape that looks like a 3D V and looks something like the one that I made.

The different sizes of cardboard will make it easy for you to recognise which piece should go where.

You can also attach the cardboard strips on top of the engine (if you made any) and you could also add your own style by painting, etc.

You are done with the third step!!

This is the final step!

Attach both the ends of the longest cardboard strip to make a belt.

Attach the belt to all the cardboard circles and attach the 9V power supply to the engine.

Switch on the switch and everything has got to run properly.

You have officially made your first electric engine consisting of cardboard!!

Congratulations!!!

1) Make sure that the circles are perfectly round and the belt is tightly fixed around them

2) If the circles keep popping out of the shaft then use glue to fix them in place.

3) Make sure the entire engine is sealed by using glue at the gaps

4) Strengthen the points that seem weak or start to wobble during operation.

That's all I have got,

All the best for making your engine!!