Construct a Mechanical Crane | | : United States 6th

Construct a Mechanical Crane

United States 6th

The mechanical crane is a three-dimensional four-bar linkage on a prism shape operated with a set of handles. The main mechanical advantage of this configuration of the four-bar linkage is that with a very little hand movement, it can generate a much larger movement for the arm and hook to grab objects.


Overview and Objectives	05:00	∅	Assign this activity as a student resource. Have students watch the video then continue to Build section.
Materials	05:00	Collect materials before starting.	This section is in teacher view for preparation purposes. The total amount per project is broken down into piece types. If you're assigning this project to many students, it's easier to setup a general material station for them to search for color-coded connectors, straws, etc. Let them count and collect! You can also count pieces ahead of time and arrange into small kits. Multiply each piece type by the number of projects that will be made. For example, if there are 5 student groups then multiply the each piece count by 5 to create 5 projects. Or if there are going to be 10 students individually making projects, multiply by 10.
Build	20:00	Make the handles on the four-bar linkage then connect to prism shape for the crane.	The Mechanical Crane is built in the order of: Four-bar linkage Handles Crane arm Hook Crane's base Attach four-bar linkage Watch the video to get an idea of the project's structure and a demonstration of how it works. Some may figure out how to construct the project just from pausing the video or looking at a few images from the steps. The instructions are helpful for new builders or those seeking general guidance.
Challenges	10:00	Opportunities to extend your project and challenge your thinking.	What happens if you configure a new way to grab objects using other materials?