Simple Motors Kit 12 User manual

Assembly instructions for kit #12 1
This is not aLego® product even if it contains Lego® bricks and plates. Allwarranties provided by Simple Motors.
LEGO® is atrademark ofthe LEGO Group ofcompanies which does not sponsor, authorize or endorse this product.
All rights reserved. 2014 Simple Motors, LLC ♦www.simplemotor.com ♦
Assembly Instructions: Kit #12
Rapid Assembly Basic QuikLock
Reed Switch Motor
1. Insert the motor shaft through the holes in two 2x2 rotor pieces as shown*. Center the
shaft.
2. Add plastic sleeves (washers) to both ends of the shaft. They fit tightly and require some
effort. You may put the sleeve on the table and push the shaft in with the negative end of
the battery. Leave a small gap so the sleeves are slightly above the surface of the knobs.

Assembly instructions for kit #12 2
This is not a Lego® product even if it contains Lego® bricks and plates. Allwarranties provided by Simple Motors.
LEGO® is atrademark ofthe LEGO Group ofcompanies which does not sponsor, authorize orendorse this product.
All rights reserved. 2014 Simple Motors, LLC ♦www.simplemotor.com ♦
If you notice burrs on the plastic sleeves remove them with a sharp knife.
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3. Attach double sided sticky pads to the magnets. It does not matter to which side you attach
them as long as you use the same pole for all magnets. This is very important! If you do
not use the same pole for all magnets your motor will not work.
The easiest way to achieve it is to attach the pad to the top of the stack and then move top
magnet to the bottom; after you attach all four pads your stack should look as shown. Do
not remove the second liner from the pads yet.
Neodymium magnets used in this motor are very strong! Be very careful – if they are
allowed to fly to each other they may shatter.
4. Attach all four magnets to the rotor. Try to be accurate and center them on each side. Make
sure there is no gap between the plastic halves.

Assembly instructions for kit #12 3
This is not a Lego® product even if it contains Lego® bricks and plates. Allwarranties provided by Simple Motors.
LEGO® is atrademark ofthe LEGO Group ofcompanies which does not sponsor, authorize orendorse this product.
All rights reserved. 2014 Simple Motors, LLC ♦www.simplemotor.com ♦
5. If you assembled the motor properly and lubricated the axle this motor on 1.5 Volts battery
may rotate with the speed up to 2600 RPM or even faster. This is really fast but may not be
fast enough for magnets to lose the adhesion and break the reed switch or fly off the rotor.
However as a precaution you may add a safety ring that completely eliminates this
possibility. This step is optional for your first experiments with the motor, but we strongly
recommend adding the ring later.
The ring fits tightly and requires some effort. After centering the ring squeeze the rotor
halves together to make sure that there is no gap between them.
6. Assemble rotor on the base plate. Try to spin it by hand. If it does not spin freely you might
need to squeeze blue bricks slightly together to push plastic shaft sleeves in. There should
be a tiny gap between sleeves and inner sides of the bricks with holes.
We strongly recommend lubricating the shaft ends. It allows the motor to run smoother and
faster. You may use a small drop of oil from your car dipstick, WD-40, or even vegetable oil.

Assembly instructions for kit #12 4
This is not a Lego® product even if it contains Lego® bricks and plates. Allwarranties provided by Simple Motors.
LEGO® is atrademark ofthe LEGO Group ofcompanies which does not sponsor, authorize orendorse this product.
All rights reserved. 2014 Simple Motors, LLC ♦www.simplemotor.com ♦
7. Remove the insulation from the electromagnet wire tips with fine sandpaper (included) or a
sharp knife.
8. Assemble electromagnet on the base plate.
9. Attach the battery holder to the base plate.

Assembly instructions for kit #12 5
This is not a Lego® product even if it contains Lego® bricks and plates. Allwarranties provided by Simple Motors.
LEGO® is atrademark ofthe LEGO Group ofcompanies which does not sponsor, authorize orendorse this product.
All rights reserved. 2014 Simple Motors, LLC ♦www.simplemotor.com ♦
10.Insert the battery and briefly connect electromagnet wires to the battery. If nothing
happens switch the wires. With the correct connection electromagnet repels the permanent
magnets and the rotor stops in the position shown below. This is a perfect test for the
electromagnet and the magnets orientation: rotate rotor quarter turn four times – if all
permanent magnets are oriented properly rotor should always stay in the position shown.
11.After you found the correct connection trim red (positive) wire from the battery holder and
corresponding electromagnet wire. Remove the insulation from the wire tips and twist them
together. You may tack this connection under the battery holder.
12.Fasten the reed switch to 1x2 brick with side holes using cable ties. Trim them with scissors.

Assembly instructions for kit #12 6
This is not a Lego® product even if it contains Lego® bricks and plates. Allwarranties provided by Simple Motors.
LEGO® is atrademark ofthe LEGO Group ofcompanies which does not sponsor, authorize orendorse this product.
All rights reserved. 2014 Simple Motors, LLC ♦www.simplemotor.com ♦
13.Assemble the reed switch on the base plate. Trim the wires as necessary and remove at
least 1” (2.5 cm) of insulation.
14.Wind bare wire ends tightly around the reed switch contacts.
15.You may tape the electromagnet wire that is connected to the reed switch to the side of the
rotor stand (clear tape is shown).

Assembly instructions for kit #12 7
This is not a Lego® product even if it contains Lego® bricks and plates. Allwarranties provided by Simple Motors.
LEGO® is atrademark ofthe LEGO Group ofcompanies which does not sponsor, authorize orendorse this product.
All rights reserved. 2014 Simple Motors, LLC ♦www.simplemotor.com ♦
Spin the rotor by hand. Make sure it does not hit the electromagnet, reed switch or wires.
You should hear the click every time the magnet passes the reed switch.
Your motor is ready! If it does not start on its own you may need to give it a slight push.
Generally if your battery is fresh it should start rotating without the push if the magnets on
the rotor sides are centered.
If you have not done it already add the safety ring as shown in step 5.
You may glue bricks together and to the plate if you do not plan to disassemble it.
Visit our site at www.simplemotor.com for principles of this motor operation,
troubleshooting, speed measurement, and other related questions.
Enjoy your motor! We hope you had fun building it.
* Colors of the parts may vary.