Cork Robin
Make your own #STEAMjunk Robin project
Check out the Cork Robin project. A simple project to make which I reckon could lead to a whole raft of new ideas based around a similar theme.
As the crank is turned the two cams turn lifting the base plate and twisting it side to side bringing the robin to life.
Each cam has three lobes and they are set so that the high points of one cam lines up with the low point of the other. The robin sits on a plate that is free to turn easily in a vertical hole in the cork. The project instructions are available to download and make on the website. Paid subscribers to this site and paid members of robives.com can download the parts for free, thanks for your support! Non-members can join in the fun for £2.50 or equivalent on the site.
The mechanism of the robin project can be the starting point for your own moving character project. The robin uses two three-lobed cams out of phase with each other, By changing to two lobed cams the movement of the character will be slowed down. Two back and forth twists to each turn of the crank rather than three.
Using two single lobe cams will slow down the movement even more. As the crank is turned the drive plate twists back and forth once for each turn of the handle.
Other layouts of cams will make different types of movement. For example, two single lobed cams lined up together will move the drive plate (not shown below) up and down without it being rotated. Using the three lobed cam, as in the original model makes a fast twitchy side to side movement suitable for a small bird like a robin!
By hinging the bird at the top of its legs and linking the back of the bird to the top of the cork with a length of wire the bird will twist from side to side and bob up and down. At least that’s what I think will happen! I’m going to give this mechanism a try next…
Let me know if you have a go at the extra ideas here, or the original Cork Robin! I’d love to hear (and see) how you have got on!
If you are a paid member of the newsletter you can download the plans for the Cork Robin below, thanks for your support!