Tinker Crate Review & Coupon – Automaton

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tinker crate december 2015 box

December’s Tinker Crate focused on wonders from the past that are the precursors to today’s robots — automatons!  Tinker Crate is a subscription box that inspires kids to explore and learn about science, engineering, and technology, plus have tons of fun. Every month, you’ll get a new crate to help kids develop a tinkering mindset and creative problem solving skills. It is STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) focused and designed to help kids build their problem solving skills and to gain the confidence and curiosity to tackle problems where there’s no one right answer. 

tinker crate december 2015 review

This was everything that arrived in our December 2015 Tinker Crate – the supplies, a fold-out instruction sheet, and the Tinker Zine.  This box had a major project and a second, customizable project demonstrating the same principles.

tinker crate december 2015 supplies

The kit included everything needed to construct the two automatons.  One was constructed primarily of wood, with some cardboard braces for support (I realize that sounds backwards).  The second project used the TinkerCrate box itself as a case for the automaton — the additional materials were provided in the box.  

tinker crate december 2015 blueprints

Along with materials and instructions, you get some handy pointers and a troubleshooting guide.  The sheet tells you everything that came in the box, some tips, and help if you can’t get it to work.  This is a well-designed and tested box — we’ve never had a project with a fatal design flaw or any frustrating, unresolved engineering issues.  Plus, there is help available if needed.


tinker crate december 2015 instructions
The instructions are clear and easy to follow and include both visuals and text, with lots of tips and checkpoints to test whether you’re assembled your automaton correctly.  They do an excellent job of anticipating areas of possible confusion, making the instructions very explicit and thoroughly describing these sections with both text and diagrams.  The instructions look busy and complicated, but the opposite is true — the high level of specificity and detail makes it hard to take a wrong turn without realizing it quickly and setting it right.  They are great instructions for the target age, because they don’t assume that you know too much about the mechanics of the project (which would leave you guessing if you lacked the requisite knowledge).

I don’t know if I can stress enough how integral the zine is to this box!


tinker crate december 2015 IMG_3847

For reference, our daughter is 7 – a bit under the recommended age of this box, but she loves it.  If you have a precocious and super-interested child, don’t hesitate to try it out (although they may need a bit more help!).

tinker crate december 2015 IMG_3848

Our daughter reads the magazine cover to cover and we find that she has great retention of the information. The style is conversational while still being 100% accurate. There’s all sorts of goodies in here – read the whole thing!  This edition traced the history and development of automatons.

tinker crate automaton IMG_4352

The detailed schematics go a long way toward avoiding any confusion, especially for visually-oriented people.tinker crate automaton IMG_4354

The completed main project was remarkably simple to operate.  It was very durable, for the most part.  The main axle rod (camshaft) is made of a thin strip of modeling wood — this shape makes it particularly suited to securing the cams in a fixed orientation, but it is not as strong or durable as a design using a dowel would have been.  Though it still functioned well, it could be seen bowing after supporting the weight of the cams.

https://youtu.be/hEYFT4RrTt4&rel=0

And here’s a video of how it works!

tinker crate automaton IMG_4358

The kids thought it would be fun to race against each other, so we colored each ball a different color.  as they ascend the staircase and roll down the ramp, they often cut in front of the other balls and change relative positions quite frequently (especially when you are furiously cranking the handle.  The kids got really into our new sport — we found that one ball was actually faster than the others by a noticeable degree, lapping the slowest ball quickly.

Perhaps the most exciting part of this is that after reading the materials and observing the automaton our daughter was able to articulate how it works – that the balls don’t climb up the stairs – they fall down and are pushed up!

tinker crate december 2015 IMG_3852

The Zine has fun and engaging text, plus it sets out the instructions and some materials for the extra activities.  This edition had some cool notes on various automatons, including a special mini-feature on a mysterious automaton in the shape of a boy that could draw intricate pictures (it turned out to be a creation of Henri Maillarder, an 18th century Swiss clockmaker).  The articles do a wonderful job of building on the main theme and using appropriate terminology.  Our daughter reads through the Zine, and she doesn’t come away talking about magic illusions — she discusses refraction and reflection.  We love it!

tinker crate december 2015 IMG_3850The Zine set out full instructions for making an automaton toy that bobs, bounces, or shakes.  There were also additional instructions showing how to modify it to create a bobbing and spinning version by modifying the cam-follower.

tinker crate december 2015 IMG_3853

The additional projects, as they often do, combine the technical aspects of the major project with an eye for aesthetics — the toy pieces were left to be decorated however your tinkerers wish.

tinker crate automaton

The kids thought this one was really funny.  The paisley-shaped cam makes the chicken crack out of his shell steadily and then drop quickly back in.

We really love Tinker Crate — the protest are fascinating and extremely well thought through.  The STEM focus is much appreciated, and the Zine and the project choice itself do a great job of making the projects really fun!

Visit Tinker Crate to subscribe or find out more. Use code MS30 to save 30% on your first box!  (or Kiwi Crate  and the KiwiCo family subscriptions Koala Crate and Doodle Crate).

The Subscription: Tinker Crate
The Description: Tinker Crate help kids gain crucial STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) skills through hands-on activities that are also seriously fun. Every crate includes all the materials and inspiration for a super-cool project. Ages 9 to 14+
The Price: $19.95 per month

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