Build a heat-driven monitor spinner

Science
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

14 thoughts on “Build a heat-driven monitor spinner

  1. The Oracle says:

    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.

  2. yachris says:

    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!

  3. crobl says:

    Umm…. Mine’s broken… not even a hint of spinning…

  4. Collin Cunningham says:

    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.

  5. FunnyPolynomial says:

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

  6. yachris says:

    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.

  7. BovineOne says:

    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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