Cardboard Geneve Mechanism Intermittent Drive

60 mins Ages 9-14 Indoor

An engaging, screen-free learning activity that builds real-world creativity and critical thinking for kids aged 9 to 14.

Materials Needed

  • • Rigid corrugated cardboard (2 panels)
  • • Wooden craft skewers (blunted) (2 units)
  • • Craft knife and cutting mat (adult use) (1 set)
  • • Drawing compass and metric ruler (1 set)
  • • Hot glue gun (1 unit)

Pro Tips

  • → The Geneva drive converts continuous smooth circular rotation into step-by-step intermittent indexed motion.
  • → Cut a 4-slot Maltese cross wheel from cardboard and a drive wheel fitted with a single driving pin and locking disc.
  • → Each full revolution of the drive crank advances the slotted cross wheel by a 90-degree step, locking it stationary between cycles.

Safety First

Adult supervision required for utility knife cuts on heavy cardboard.

How was this activity?

Your anonymous feedback helps us recommend better activities.

Step-by-Step Instructions

1

Step 1

Draw and cut a 4-slot Geneva cross wheel (10 cm diameter) and a matching drive wheel with a raised drive pin from thick cardboard.

2

Step 2

Mount both wheels onto wooden skewer axles set into a cardboard backplate at the exact engagement distance.

3

Step 3

Ensure the drive wheel's raised pin slots cleanly into each cross groove while the circular disc locks the wheel between turns.

4

Step 4

Turn the continuous crank handle, watching the cross wheel advance in 90-degree steps.

What they are learning

Geneva drive intermittent rotary motion Film projector mechanical indexing Kinematic slot-and-pin engagement