SCORPIO TECHNOLOGY WHIRLY NO SOLDER User manual

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WHIRLY –NO SOLDER
CONTENTS:
Section 1: General and Planning Information
Section 2: Components and Material Required
Section 3: Construction
Section 4: Wiring
DESCRIPTION
This model represents a WHIRLY in its most simple
form, consisting of a single rotating beam. This
beam has an electric motor with a propeller,
mounted at one end. A battery holder is on the
other end of the beam and counter-balances them.
The beam is mounted on an “axle” (shaft) at the
beams’ centre of gravity.
When the WHIRLY is switched on, the motor spins
the propeller, thus rotating the beam around its
axle.
SECTION 1: GENERAL AND PLANNING INFORMATION
1. DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS
1.1 GENERAL
The major aspects of this project are the planning, design, construction and assembly
stages of the device.
1.2 DESIGN
The drawing in this unit shows the basic construction of the WHIRLY.
NOTE: The designer should look at the design of the WHIRLY as a complete unit –not
just a collection of components.
1.3 THE ROTATING BEAM
The rotating beam can be made from wood, balsa or plastic.
The weight of the beam will affect the acceleration.
The beam needs to be large enough not to flex.
The width of the beam needs to be sufficient for all components to be securely
mounted.
The beam should be assembled and balanced before making the stand’s side
supports.
SCORPIO TECHNOLOGY VICTORIA PTY. LTD.
A.B.N. 34 056 661 422
Revised: 3 September 2018 www.scorpiotechnology.com.au [e-mail]

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1.4 OTHER POINTS TO CONSIDER
The two side supports need to be long enough and far enough apart to allow the
beam to rotate, and the propeller to spin, without hitting anything.
The base and two side supports can be made from any kind of (scrap) timber.
The base should be large enough so that the WHIRLY doesn’t fall over when the
beam rotates.
The beam is located centrally, along the axle, by the use of two tubes.
An on/off switch is located on the beam (in the middle for ease of operation).
SECTION 2: COMPONENTS & MATERIAL REQUIRED
2.1 COMPONENTS SUPPLIED
The following components are supplied - before starting we suggest that you check all
components using the checklist below - tick off each component as you identify it.
2.2 ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS
The following items are required and are available from Scorpio Technology, but need
to be ordered separately:
Battery –AA, 2 required (BATTAA)
Self-adhesive tape –Single-sided
Self-adhesive tape –Double-sided
The following material is to be supplied by the student / designer:
Material for the components (PVC or acrylic sheet, plywood, etc.)
2.3 TOOLS REQUIRED
The following tools are required:
Assorted hand tools
Drill bit –3.0mm
SECTION 3: CONSTRUCTION
3.1 ASSEMBLING THE COMPONENTS TO THE BEAM
Press the propeller on to the motor’s shaft.

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Attach the motor/propeller, the switch and battery
holder to the beam using double sided foam tape or
hot glue (roughen the surfaces to be glued with
sandpaper to improve adhesion).
Determine the assembled beam’s equilibrium point (centre of balance). The centre
of balance is not at the geometric centre, because of the different weights at each
end.
NOTE: This needs to be carried out with the batteries fitted.
The simplest way to determine the centre of balance is by balancing the fully
assembled beam on a “knife edge”, rule or something similar.
Drill a 3.0 mm diameter hole through the beam at this equilibrium point.
Double check that the beam balances at that point.
If after drilling the hole the beam does not balance, place some blue tack or
plasticene on the beam’s light end until it balances.
3.1 FINAL ASSEMBLY OF THE WHIRLY
The two sides of the stand can be made from any timber –dowelling or square.
If dowelling is used, appropriate holes may be drilled in the base.
3 mm diameter holes are drilled in the side supports for the pivot shaft (regardless
of what type of timber is used).
Assemble the rotating beam, stand and pivot shaft.
The rubber tube is cut to size and installed on the pivot shaft, on each side of the
beam.
SECTION 4: WIRING
The electrical wiring should be wired as shown in the “Circuit Diagram”.
Connect the battery holder’s red wire
to one of the red wires from the switch.
Twist the ends together, and finish by
screwing on the screw-on connector.
Connect the switches other red wire to
the motor’s red wire. Twist the ends
together and finish by screwing on the
screw-on connector.
Twist the black wires from the motor
and battery holder together and finish
by screwing on the screw-on
connector.
Insert the batteries, and turn the
CIRCUIT DIAGRAM
WARNING: If using hot glue, be very careful, as it
can burn you, if you get it on yourself.
HINT: Place the end of the shaft (where it exits the motor) on a hard surface, and
push the propeller down.
WARNING: Don’t just push the motor down by hand as this can push the motor
armature out of its bearings and jam the motor.

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switch on:
When connected correctly the propeller will spin and blow air back over the motor.
If the propeller spins in the correct direction, your wiring is correct.
If the propeller spins in the wrong direction, you will need to swap the motor’s
wires:
Remove the motor’s red wire from the switch and untwist the black wires from the
motor and battery holder.
Twist the red wire from the motor to the black wire from the battery holder.
Connect the motor’s black wire to the remaining red wire on the switch.
Twist the ends together and finish by screwing on the screw-on connectors.
NOTE: This kit has components that allow this to be assembled without soldering.
However, the connections will be more effective and permanent if they are soldered.