Customizable Mendocino Motor

thingiverse

Use the .f3d file! The STLs will only be useful if everything you use has the exact same dimensions as my stuff did! This is a customizable Mendocino Motor. Use Fusion 360 (free for hobbyists) to open the .f3d file and go to Modify -> Change Parameters to input your solar cell size, magnet size, glass diameter etc. https://youtu.be/2fZ-V9c__xA You will need (besides a 3d printer obiously): - 4 solar cells (I used 40 year old 10cm round cells and cut them with a Dremel to a squarish sape) - 7 or 8 Strong round magnets with a hole in them (mine are 25mm * 5mm) - A glass disk (mine is about 67mm) - Copper wire to make 2 coils (I used 100 turns each) around the coil holder - An old ball point pen or rounded nail or something durable as a bearing against the glass Once you printed everything, wind the coils, put in the solar cells and connect them. The cells opposite each other connect to the same coil, only with reversed polarity. After that verify that you wired it correctly by putting a compass next to it and turn the coil holder in 90° increments. The compass needle should always move in the same direction when shining a light on the top solar cell, no matter which one is facing up. After that screw in all the magnets, put in the glass and nail/needle/ball point pen, levitate and admire it turning in light. You will probably have to balance it out so it starts easier. I glued in some plastics until it seemed to not want to turn by itself in the dark.