Make Your Own Squiggle Bot [Instructables How-To]

Back in April, we blogged about a DIY drawing machine made from pencils that created marks and patterns in a box when placed on top of a clamped-down vibrating drill. While we applauded this project for its use of regular materials in an unconventional way, the results were hardly anything worthy of posting on your refrigerator.

We recently came across the Squiggle Bot from Randy Sarafan, a community manager at Instructables and author of the book 62 Projects to Make with a Dead Computer, who we think has posted a better (and much more vibrant) version of this same idea. Since there seems to be no shortage of drawing machines surfacing in the blogosphere, we’d like to share Randy’s tweaked version for your crafting pleasure. If you have any experience with soldering, and have all the parts on hand, this project can be actualized in five minutes flat (according to the author)!

First, gather your materials, including a Thermaltake 120mm Fan, a 9 volt battery and snap connecters, a selection of markers and rubber bands.

Using a pair of pliers, snap off three adjacent fan blades from the fan.

Next, solder the red wire from the battery connector to the red wire from the fan, and the black wire from the battery connector to the black wire of the fan. Insulate both of the exposed solder joints with electric tape so they won’t cross.

Pull the rubber bands through each of the four corner holes of the fan, and attach the markers—making sure all marker tips are pointing the same way and the fan is suspended parallel to your work surface.

Rubber band the battery onto the fan in such a way that it won’t interfere with the spinning fan, remove the marker caps and set aside. Plug in the battery, set the bot down on a piece of paper and watch it draw.

Visit the Instructables How-To for further instruction, more detailed photographs, and tips on where to buy materials.