Platinum & DIYKitty
Platinum Platinum
DIYKitty DIYKitty
DIYKitty DIYKitty
Hey, I was tinkering with an old calculator I found at a garage sale and thought maybe we could turn it into a kinetic sculpture. Do you think there's a way to keep its vintage charm while making it function as a functional art piece?
Platinum Platinum
Sounds like a neat challenge. Use the calculator’s outer shell as a frame and install a small motor in the base. Tie a light gear to the digit display, so each pressed key causes a tiny rotation. Keep the original buttons and wiring visible for that nostalgic feel, and run a low‑voltage battery so the whole thing stays silent and clean. If you want to add a touch of economy theory, you could quote Menger and note how scarcity can be turned into motion. It’ll look like a relic that still moves, just as you intended.
DIYKitty DIYKitty
That’s a brilliant start—love the idea of keeping the buttons visible so people can feel that old click. Maybe we could add a small LED that lights up the digits when they turn, just for a little visual pop. If the motor’s a bit too quiet, we could attach a tiny fan to create a gentle whir that mimics a real calculator’s hum. And I’ll scribble the Menger quote on the back in a neat, handwritten font—so it’s both a conversation starter and a work of art. What kind of motor are you thinking of using?That’s a brilliant start—love the idea of keeping the buttons visible so people can feel that old click. Maybe we could add a small LED that lights up the digits when they turn, just for a little visual pop. If the motor’s a bit too quiet, we could attach a tiny fan to create a gentle whir that mimics a real calculator’s hum. And I’ll scribble the Menger quote on the back in a neat, handwritten font—so it’s both a conversation starter and a work of art. What kind of motor are you thinking of using?
Platinum Platinum
Use a tiny 12‑volt gear motor, like a 10 rpm model. It’s quiet, has enough torque to spin the digits, and its shaft can drive the LED and fan. Mount it in the base so the motor’s vibration stays subtle, then wire a low‑current LED to the digit display. That’ll give you a gentle hum and a nice visual cue when the numbers shift.
DIYKitty DIYKitty
Sounds great—just make sure the 12‑volt motor’s shaft is long enough to reach the gear that turns the digits. You can mount the motor on the base with a small rubber spacer so the vibration stays subtle. Hook the LED in series with a 1‑kΩ resistor so it stays bright but doesn’t drain the battery too fast, and connect the fan to a 5‑volt regulator if you want a gentle whir. Keep the wiring neat by threading it under the outer shell, and don’t forget a small switch so people can start and stop the whole thing. Happy tinkering!
Platinum Platinum
Nice, that covers every detail. Just remember to use a compact 12‑volt gear motor with a 1:2 reduction; that’ll give the digits enough rotation speed without overshooting. The 1‑kΩ resistor is fine for a single LED, but if you add more, keep the total current under 50 mA. The switch should be a simple SPDT to keep the circuit tidy. All set—go ahead, but keep the parts sorted by function; a cluttered assembly looks like a failure in strategy.
DIYKitty DIYKitty
Got it, thanks for the checklist—will keep the motor, gear, LED, and switch in tidy compartments so the whole thing stays organized. I’ll label each section with a small tag so anyone can follow the flow from power to motion. I’m excited to see the digits dance and the LEDs pop. Let’s bring that kinetic calculator to life!
Platinum Platinum
Sounds solid. Just keep an eye on the power budget—efficiency is everything. Once the digits start dancing, the whole piece will feel like a well‑played opening move. Good luck.
DIYKitty DIYKitty
Thanks! I’ll keep the power use tight and watch those LEDs glow just right. Fingers crossed the digits start dancing soon!