GearBug Assembly Instructions - Explore Making - Thingiverse
Use 3D printed parts, basic electronic components, and step-by-step instructio to build your own GearBug. Adapt your GEARBUG for fun challenges including drag races, hill climbs, or just plain cool looks!
breadboard body
double sided tape pulley
motor big gear little gear
press fit x 10
wheel x4
frame
axel x 3
battery holder double sided tape
- a project designed and developed by Catherine Anderson and Noah Li-Leger - www.exploremaking.com - all imagery and content © copyright 2016 Explore Making
page 1/3
Step 1
Step 6
Step 2
Step 7
Step 3
Step 8
Step 4
Step 9
Step 5
Step 10
• push the little gear on the motor axel • the gear should cover the axel and spin freely
• push the motor all the way into the body until the gear sticks out the other side • the motor wires should be facing up
• press the big gear to an axel (all 3 axels are the same) • slide the axel and gear through the hole in the body
• press the pulley to the other side of the axel • screw the pully and the big gear to the axel
• feed the motor wires through the hole in the body
• place the body on the frame (the frame is symmetrical) • use 4 screws to connect them together
• feed the battery wires from the bottom to the top through the slot in the body • connect the battery to the frame using double sided tape
• move the wires aside to place the breadboard on the body • connect the breadboard to the body using double sided tape
• slide axels through the frame and connect the wheels • screw each wheel to the axel
• connect the wires to the breadboard (follow the wiring diagram on the next page) • after the wiring is complete add batteries
- a project designed and developed by Catherine Anderson and Noah Li-Leger - www.exploremaking.com - all imagery and content © copyright 2016 Explore Making
page 2/3
Wiring Diagram
• connect the wires to the breadboard like you see here • the colored boxes illustrate the connection inside the breadboard • each row of 5 holes is connected together internally • place wires in connected holes to complete the circuit
Add Batteries
• add 2 x AA batteries to the battery holder to power GearBug
Elastic Band Pulleys
SWITCH
MOTOR
• add elastics is different places for different speeds • each place will change the speed and power of the vehicle • if the elastic is too tight the axels will not spin freely
Low Gear 4x4 (slow)
BATTERIES
Middle Gear Short Circuits (WARNING)
• this happens when the battery wires are connected in the same row on the breadboard • this will damage the electronics and the batteries • never connect the battery wires
High Gear (fast)
Add a Face and Tail
• the slots on the frame are for adding a custom face and tail • use cardstock to cut out your own shapes • or try cutting out these shapes:
Reversing the Motor
• if you switch the polarity (positive and negative) the motor will spin in the opposite direction • change the battery wires as shown below
- a project designed and developed by Catherine Anderson and Noah Li-Leger - www.exploremaking.com - all imagery and content © copyright 2016 Explore Making
page 3/3
breadboard body
double sided tape pulley
motor big gear little gear
press fit x 10
wheel x4
frame
axel x 3
battery holder double sided tape
- a project designed and developed by Catherine Anderson and Noah Li-Leger - www.exploremaking.com - all imagery and content © copyright 2016 Explore Making
page 1/3
Step 1
Step 6
Step 2
Step 7
Step 3
Step 8
Step 4
Step 9
Step 5
Step 10
• push the little gear on the motor axel • the gear should cover the axel and spin freely
• push the motor all the way into the body until the gear sticks out the other side • the motor wires should be facing up
• press the big gear to an axel (all 3 axels are the same) • slide the axel and gear through the hole in the body
• press the pulley to the other side of the axel • screw the pully and the big gear to the axel
• feed the motor wires through the hole in the body
• place the body on the frame (the frame is symmetrical) • use 4 screws to connect them together
• feed the battery wires from the bottom to the top through the slot in the body • connect the battery to the frame using double sided tape
• move the wires aside to place the breadboard on the body • connect the breadboard to the body using double sided tape
• slide axels through the frame and connect the wheels • screw each wheel to the axel
• connect the wires to the breadboard (follow the wiring diagram on the next page) • after the wiring is complete add batteries
- a project designed and developed by Catherine Anderson and Noah Li-Leger - www.exploremaking.com - all imagery and content © copyright 2016 Explore Making
page 2/3
Wiring Diagram
• connect the wires to the breadboard like you see here • the colored boxes illustrate the connection inside the breadboard • each row of 5 holes is connected together internally • place wires in connected holes to complete the circuit
Add Batteries
• add 2 x AA batteries to the battery holder to power GearBug
Elastic Band Pulleys
SWITCH
MOTOR
• add elastics is different places for different speeds • each place will change the speed and power of the vehicle • if the elastic is too tight the axels will not spin freely
Low Gear 4x4 (slow)
BATTERIES
Middle Gear Short Circuits (WARNING)
• this happens when the battery wires are connected in the same row on the breadboard • this will damage the electronics and the batteries • never connect the battery wires
High Gear (fast)
Add a Face and Tail
• the slots on the frame are for adding a custom face and tail • use cardstock to cut out your own shapes • or try cutting out these shapes:
Reversing the Motor
• if you switch the polarity (positive and negative) the motor will spin in the opposite direction • change the battery wires as shown below
- a project designed and developed by Catherine Anderson and Noah Li-Leger - www.exploremaking.com - all imagery and content © copyright 2016 Explore Making
page 3/3
