Build a heat-driven monitor spinner

Monitor_Spinner_II.jpg
From the MAKE Flickr pool

Member funnypolynomial built a very simple, heat driven motor that sits atop an LCD monitor bezel. It's actual a revision of an earlier design for use with CRTs -

The original Monitor Spinner did its thing on a giant CRT and was prone to falling off, especially if I turned on the fan in my cube.
I was pleasantly surprised when I got my flat LCD monitors and found they still put out enough heat to make it spin. I decided to make a second version, less susceptable to breezes.
He's also posted a template for download. Print, cut, add a metal wire with a sharp point, - prepare for numerous comments from your coworkers. - Link


From the pages of MAKE:
Curie_Engine.jpg
HOW TO - Curie engine - MAKE:09 p.114 - Link

Posted by Collin Cunningham | Feb 27, 2008 04:00 AM
DIY Projects, Science | Permalink | Comments (7) | Email This | Bookmark and Share | Digg this!

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Posted by: The Oracle on February 27, 2008 at 5:04 AM

I wasn't exactly pleased when I learned how much heat my LCD put out, I was expecting to save a lot more power with it.

I guess this is the silver lining.


Posted by: yachris on February 27, 2008 at 7:53 AM

This was fun -- it's a small enough paper-crafting project that even I could get it to work! My monitor may be more heat-efficient than The Oracle's (or my office is chillier :-) but it hardly spins at all. In a way, it's kind of more interesting than one that just spun constantly... I never know if it's going to be running or not!


Posted by: crobl on February 27, 2008 at 8:09 AM

Umm.... Mine's broken... not even a hint of spinning...


Posted by: Collin Cunningham on February 27, 2008 at 8:55 AM

Hmm, try using a metal wire/post with a sharp point. Such as the piece from the back of a lapel pin or perhaps a needle.
I'll edit the post to reflect this variable.


Posted by: FunnyPolynomial on February 27, 2008 at 9:06 AM

Yeah, NOT a paperclip. See the pointy hook thing I used.


Posted by: yachris on February 27, 2008 at 9:46 AM

For me, I had to cut the ends off of the little feet-thingies that stick out and hold onto the shaft. They kept stopping the rotation. However, I am using a paperclip, perhaps I'll try something pointy.


Posted by: BovineOne on March 9, 2008 at 5:40 PM

Here's another monitor spinner that we made for the office. We used a piece cut from an aluminum can to reinforce the pivot point.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gsl-Tlod828


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