Folded Metal Automaton

Students transform a laser-cut sheet of aluminum into a moving automaton. After cutting, folding, and setting pivots, they install a small DC motor with a rubber-band drive to animate the head and neck of their creation. This project weaves together safe metalworking techniques, mechanical design, and an introduction to gear ratios, torque, and power (volts × amps = watts). TEKS-aligned for multiple grade levels, the session combines motor teardown, mechanical assembly, and a shop tour. Students leave with their own functional automaton and a paper-based version for classroom adaptation.

 The Austin STEM Center (ASC) is a central hub for hands-on STEM learning in the Austin community. We support FIRST Robotics teams, provide a facility for pre-workforce development, host community-led classes, and is home to Austin School for the Driven. Our classrooms and maker spaces are tools to bring people together to learn, build, and share knowledge. ASC is not a school — it’s a community resource designed to support and amplify STEM education.