In this tutorial we are going
to build an automatic bubble machine mainly out of junk
parts. This is not one of those weak machines you will
find from toy stores - it really sprays bubbles
everywhere. Beware: floor will be very slippery after
extensive use.
One possible recipe for the bubble solution
1/3 water
1/3 dish washing liquid
1/3 glycerine
Here is the video of the Bubble Machine in use from the Analog Party in University of
Art and Design Helsinki. Thanks and sorry for everyone who involuntarily appear
in the video.
Tools you need:
1. Hot glue gun
2. Screwdriver
3. Pliers
4. Wire strippers
5. Solder
6. Drill
7. Soldering iron
Parts you need:
1. Container for the bubble fluid
2. Durable metal rod
3. 6 x soap bubble toys
4. Rubber bottle cap or similar. Mine was some mystic car part.
5. Frame for the whole thing. I used salvaged part from
computer power supply.
6. Switch
7. Something to raise and attach the motor. Mine was a part of an old clock. 8. Some screws and nuts
9. Electric wire 10. Fan 11.
Battery holder for two AA's 12. Servo modified to
continous rotation. If you don't have one yet read my
earlier tutorial.
Step 1.
Drill holes to the frame. I made 3 holes for the motor raiser (7)
and one for the switch (6). You want to make the switch
hole much bigger than the others.
Step 2.
Attach the motor to the raiser (7) with the hot glue.
Step 3.
Screw the motor raiser to the frame.
Step 4.
Attach battery holder to the bottom of the frame with hot glue.
Step 5.
Solder the wires according to the schematics below. So servo red
to the other lead of the switch and from the other lead to the battery
holder +. Servo black to the battery holder -.
Step 6.
Screw the switch to the hole you made earlier.
Step 7.
Remove the plastic sticks from the toys.
Drill or push really small holes to rubber bottle cap (4).
Stick the toy parts into the holes.
Step 8.
Use pliers to bend a spiral shape to both ends of the metal rod
(2). The other end should be a bit bigger than the bottle top and
other about the size of the servo horn.
Step 9.
Put the bigger end of the rod to the rubber bottle cap.
Step 10.
Screw the other end of the rod to the servo horn.
Step 11.
Put the container in place with some bubble fluid in it. Put the
batteries in place. Place the fan behind the whole thing. Hit
the power switch and go nuts.
Please give feedback about this tutorial to kimmo.karvinen (at)
gmail..com
