How to get started?

Basic steps:

  1. Download PDF with robot design and print it
  2. Stick the printed design page to a cardboard sheet with paper glue stick
  3. Cut the cardboard with scissors
  4. Use nuts and bolts and rubber bands to assemble the robot – check our construction page for details
  5. Attach BBC Micro:Bit and servo motors – check our electronics instruction for details
  6. Code the robot with Makecode

Tools you need

1. Screwdriver

Main assembly tool for cardboard robots used for nuts and bolts and making punctures in the cardboard.

We recommend using 10cm long screwdriver with PH0 phillips tip best for M3 nuts and bolts. It is also more comfortable to use a screwdriver if its handle has rotatry tip.

2. Scissors

Use good quality scissors for with fairly sharp tip to cut the cardboard and making bending traces.

3. Nuts and bolts

In our design process we found out that M3 nuts and bolts we were using in our previous LOFI Robot wooden construction system are a great way for cardboard constructions as well.

Main advantages of nuts and bolts:

  1. Provide sturdy and firm joint
  2. It is easy to make corrections and take a step back in your assembly process – reduces building stress
  3. Reasonably cheap when bought in quantity
  4. Reusable and almost indestructible – unless your students will eat them, you can reuse nuts and bolts millions of times
  5. Clean connection – does not make mess as glue and adhesive tape

PROTIP!
Use screwdriver to puncture the cardboard and make holes for bolts. It requires some practice but with proper guiding this assembly technique is accessible and safe even for small children.

4. Rubber bands

Standard rubber bands are a great thing for putting things together and greatly speed up prototyping with paper. Rubber bands are easy and fun to use even for small kids, encourage play and boost creativity. Furthermore parts assembled with rubber bands can be reasambeled as many time as you want which takes down fear of failure and encourage experimentation.

Advantages of rubber bands:

  1. Easy to source from recycled packaging
  2. Cheap to buy in bigger packages
  3. Reusable
  4. Clean work
  5. Fun and inspiring to use :-)

Do not use glue or adhesive tape!

Usually wherever you find building instructions for paper models, you are guided to assemble them with paper glue, glue gun or any type of adhesive tape.

We encourage you not to use them becouse they are:

  1. Messy – your hand get dirty, paper gets dirty, everything get dirty with glue :-(
  2. Glued connection is irreversible – you can not take a step back and review your idea – this rises design and assembly stress
  3. Needs refill – paper glue and adhesive tape is not so expensive still it is a cost to refill your supplies from time to time