https://padlet.com/wonderfulideaco/cranky2 Please post photos and videos of your cranky contraptions projects en-us 2022-01-19 14:57:09 UTC 2026-01-29 09:25:41 UTC hello@padlet.com https://padlet.net/icons/png/2699.png wonderfulideaco https://padlet.com/wonderfulideaco/cranky2/wish/1746081148 Here's an experiment with a cardboard base and collaged decorations.
-Ryan ]]> 2021-09-16 14:06:11 UTC https://padlet.com/wonderfulideaco/cranky2/wish/1746081148 wonderfulideaco https://padlet.com/wonderfulideaco/cranky2/wish/1746093912 experiments with a linkage (walking) automata using one piece of flexible paper!

-Ryan ]]> 2021-09-16 14:10:11 UTC https://padlet.com/wonderfulideaco/cranky2/wish/1746093912 https://padlet.com/wonderfulideaco/cranky2/wish/1748181505 I saw a surfer in the movement of my cranky contraption.

- LouLou]]> 2021-09-17 08:31:31 UTC https://padlet.com/wonderfulideaco/cranky2/wish/1748181505 https://padlet.com/wonderfulideaco/cranky2/wish/2001084983 Attaching a paper “limiter” to both ends of the crank, lets say the articulation as well as the top, uses both movements….


]]> 2022-01-19 17:51:55 UTC https://padlet.com/wonderfulideaco/cranky2/wish/2001084983 https://padlet.com/wonderfulideaco/cranky2/wish/2001088071 Felt. The wire attaching the cat is off center so it gives a wild movement. ]]> 2022-01-19 17:53:15 UTC https://padlet.com/wonderfulideaco/cranky2/wish/2001088071 https://padlet.com/wonderfulideaco/cranky2/wish/2001089667 From Jay Mankita - finding the balance between too much movement and not enough. ]]> 2022-01-19 17:53:56 UTC https://padlet.com/wonderfulideaco/cranky2/wish/2001089667 https://padlet.com/wonderfulideaco/cranky2/wish/2001093775 Don't know what this will be yet! I used a thumbtack to attach the popsicle stick directly to the wooden block and used a brass fastener to connect the two popsicle sticks. Jay showed us how useful a "crop-a-dile" can be for punching holes in popsicle sticks in our breakout room. -Celeste]]> 2022-01-19 17:55:39 UTC https://padlet.com/wonderfulideaco/cranky2/wish/2001093775 https://padlet.com/wonderfulideaco/cranky2/wish/2001094943 I'm nearly there]]> 2022-01-19 17:56:08 UTC https://padlet.com/wonderfulideaco/cranky2/wish/2001094943 https://padlet.com/wonderfulideaco/cranky2/wish/2001097487 2022-01-19 17:57:13 UTC https://padlet.com/wonderfulideaco/cranky2/wish/2001097487 https://padlet.com/wonderfulideaco/cranky2/wish/2001097816 This mechanism is extremely wobbly but occasionally it looks as if he is brushing his wonderful hair - at other times his arm will turn upside down and appear severely sprained.

- Jake]]> 2022-01-19 17:57:23 UTC https://padlet.com/wonderfulideaco/cranky2/wish/2001097816 https://padlet.com/wonderfulideaco/cranky2/wish/2001099842 Went well - it worked (more or less)
Challenging - establishing the idea
More time - perfect the movement

Stuart]]> 2022-01-19 17:58:17 UTC https://padlet.com/wonderfulideaco/cranky2/wish/2001099842 https://padlet.com/wonderfulideaco/cranky2/wish/2001101684 The holes of the guide should be narrow.
The sponning leg was not intended but Funny ]]> 2022-01-19 17:59:05 UTC https://padlet.com/wonderfulideaco/cranky2/wish/2001101684 https://padlet.com/wonderfulideaco/cranky2/wish/2001101776 I loved seeing how watching movement sparked ideas to the story. I need to work more on figuring out tools, and specifically figuring out limiters and connectors to stabilize the work once I figure out what I want to automata to do.]]> 2022-01-19 17:59:08 UTC https://padlet.com/wonderfulideaco/cranky2/wish/2001101776 https://padlet.com/wonderfulideaco/cranky2/wish/2001102151 I got it moving fairly quickly and seemed easy but then it quickly got messy and complicated. Had to redo and taking apart was more challenging than I expected it...
Very difficult to control movement
A wired bending tool is essential!


]]> 2022-01-19 17:59:18 UTC https://padlet.com/wonderfulideaco/cranky2/wish/2001102151 https://padlet.com/wonderfulideaco/cranky2/wish/2001102175 No idea what this will grow up to be. I replaced the wire with an old guitar string and added a wooden bead at the top to weight it. I'm enjoying that the speed of the  crank changes the nature of the movement. 
- Caitlin]]> 2022-01-19 17:59:18 UTC https://padlet.com/wonderfulideaco/cranky2/wish/2001102175 https://padlet.com/wonderfulideaco/cranky2/wish/2001104595 First time doing a crank. Challenging because I couldn't see much of what was happening - happy because i made it - what i would like to know it how to make it better. I will try more in my spare time. Thank you. ]]> 2022-01-19 18:00:24 UTC https://padlet.com/wonderfulideaco/cranky2/wish/2001104595 https://padlet.com/wonderfulideaco/cranky2/wish/2001114816 2022-01-19 18:04:51 UTC https://padlet.com/wonderfulideaco/cranky2/wish/2001114816 https://padlet.com/wonderfulideaco/cranky2/wish/2001134713 I find making the mechanism much easier than designing the subject. It generally takes me quite a bit of ruminating to come up with an idea. Perhaps something more interesting will come to mind this week - Sherry]]> 2022-01-19 18:13:35 UTC https://padlet.com/wonderfulideaco/cranky2/wish/2001134713 https://padlet.com/wonderfulideaco/cranky2/wish/2001142899 This is a really fun way to experiment with different ideas and motions, but it is also easy for something to move slightly and the beautiful motion is gone!
In my contraption, there are two cranks on the same shaft opposing each other. A guide connects the second crank rod (the bike) to the first crank rod (George). creating a rotation of the bike relative to George in addition the opposing up and down motion. ]]> 2022-01-19 18:17:16 UTC https://padlet.com/wonderfulideaco/cranky2/wish/2001142899 https://padlet.com/wonderfulideaco/cranky2/wish/2001219165 This is definitely some Type 2 fun, but I like my final product here. The trick was getting the wire to work the way I wanted it to and to not hit the other wire in the process (otherwise it would have been a successful high five). I need more time for the creative aspects since I tend to build the movement before the art. Excited for next week!]]> 2022-01-19 18:49:17 UTC https://padlet.com/wonderfulideaco/cranky2/wish/2001219165 https://padlet.com/wonderfulideaco/cranky2/wish/2001460022 It was fascinating to see the movements and how even small changes caused significant changes.
I found it difficult to come up with ideas until I had the mechanisms developed.  
Once i decided it was fun doing adjustments and changes to make it work.
Ram]]> 2022-01-19 20:54:19 UTC https://padlet.com/wonderfulideaco/cranky2/wish/2001460022 https://padlet.com/wonderfulideaco/cranky2/wish/2005857275 Sherry]]> 2022-01-21 22:07:34 UTC https://padlet.com/wonderfulideaco/cranky2/wish/2005857275 https://padlet.com/wonderfulideaco/cranky2/wish/2006386726 2022-01-22 14:03:46 UTC https://padlet.com/wonderfulideaco/cranky2/wish/2006386726 https://padlet.com/wonderfulideaco/cranky2/wish/2006848455 Everything on this can be easily removed without damaging either the design elements or the mechanism.]]> 2022-01-23 04:38:51 UTC https://padlet.com/wonderfulideaco/cranky2/wish/2006848455 https://padlet.com/wonderfulideaco/cranky2/wish/2009911228 So rough. The greatest challenge was figuring out how to stabilize the boat and then get the correct dimensions for the vertical rods. Well actually the correct dimensions for everything. I’m surprised it sort of works. ]]> 2022-01-24 22:24:14 UTC https://padlet.com/wonderfulideaco/cranky2/wish/2009911228 https://padlet.com/wonderfulideaco/cranky2/wish/2012271120 I experimented with wooden sticks to have a more stable movement.  Through trial and error I was able to obtain a better up and down movement.
I certainly have even greater admiration for people who design and make automata.  It is a fabulous skill.
Ram]]> 2022-01-25 21:33:51 UTC https://padlet.com/wonderfulideaco/cranky2/wish/2012271120 https://padlet.com/wonderfulideaco/cranky2/wish/2012333842 I played around with movement and this came to mind as a concept.]]> 2022-01-25 22:31:55 UTC https://padlet.com/wonderfulideaco/cranky2/wish/2012333842 https://padlet.com/wonderfulideaco/cranky2/wish/2013558690 My second attempt at the butterfly. My main goal was to make it "better" - more functional, more robust... Design change to keep the body stationary and just move the wings (rather than try to move both the wings and body in opposition to each other as in V1).  Made the crank out of stiffer wire so I had more control over it.  Quite pleased with the result.
Stuart]]> 2022-01-26 13:55:47 UTC https://padlet.com/wonderfulideaco/cranky2/wish/2013558690 https://padlet.com/wonderfulideaco/cranky2/wish/2013674323 I have been using florist wire for for these projects and its very easy to use. The only downside is that its not straight, comes wavy. Have bought wire online but you do need to know what gauge you need. Bit hit and miss. Latest material is a fine welding brass rod, ideal for a slicker finish.
Happy Cranking! Hari]]> 2022-01-26 14:41:50 UTC https://padlet.com/wonderfulideaco/cranky2/wish/2013674323 https://padlet.com/wonderfulideaco/cranky2/wish/2013818466 2022-01-26 15:38:14 UTC https://padlet.com/wonderfulideaco/cranky2/wish/2013818466 https://padlet.com/wonderfulideaco/cranky2/wish/2014854437 2022-01-27 01:51:58 UTC https://padlet.com/wonderfulideaco/cranky2/wish/2014854437 https://padlet.com/wonderfulideaco/cranky2/wish/2018808990 I like to work in miniature so I'm trying something quite small. The cams were cut from a 1/4" dowel. If I can make this work it will be a miracle but I'm enjoying the process. - sherry]]> 2022-01-29 01:05:18 UTC https://padlet.com/wonderfulideaco/cranky2/wish/2018808990 https://padlet.com/wonderfulideaco/cranky2/wish/2024304579 Ok so I was a little slow getting my set up sorted out. Didn't help that I just moved house! So am playing catch up a bit here! I am wanting to design a unicyclist automaton so this is the initial part of the design. I want to have controlled lever movements to make the arms flail around a bit too]]> 2022-02-01 21:23:13 UTC https://padlet.com/wonderfulideaco/cranky2/wish/2024304579 https://padlet.com/wonderfulideaco/cranky2/wish/2029349078 Progress! So this is a prototype! I think the craft wire is too thin for this project so I might make a better working prototype out of thicker wire to check that I can get the arm flailing movements working better before I look to making this out of new materials. I'm a keen unicyclist as are my three children so this is very apt!]]> 2022-02-04 12:39:05 UTC https://padlet.com/wonderfulideaco/cranky2/wish/2029349078