TeacherGeek Wind Lift User manual

Start by building the example Wind Lift,
then turn it into your own unique design.
For use with TeacherGeek Wind Lift Activity Pack, or Maker Cart. Find documents and activity materials at teachergeek.com.

Page 2

Page 3
Below is the list of “ingredients” you’ll need to build a Wind Lift.
It includes some extra components to allow you to create your own uniqe design.
4 - Blocks
4 - Dowels
300mm (12″)
1 - Hole
Plate
1 - Slide Stop
100mm (3″)
2 - 25mm
Screws
#10 25mm (1″)
2 - Nuts
#10
1 - Mini Hub
Screw
1 - Mini Hub
Cover
1 - Mini Hub
Base
10 - Skewers
1 - Wire Roll
or section
1 - Portion
Cup
Multi-Cutter
SKU 1823-81
Reamer
SKU 1823-87
Screwdriver
SKU 1823-90
Pliers
SKU 1823-86
Tape
String
450mm (1.5ft)
Pennies
100 or more to lift
Recycling Materials
(for blades)

Page 4
Attach two blocks to the hole plate using a 25mm screw and nut.
Take two dowels. Tap each one
into the middle hole of a block.
Push dowels through the blocks
on the hole plate as shown.
Quick Tip
Keep block
holes lined
up straight.
block

Page 5
Cut a 15cm (4”) dowel.
Ream the two holes marked with
the symbol.
Insert the dowel into the block
holes in the uprights as shown.
Cut a 25cm (10″) dowel.
upright
upright
Quick Tip
Be sure to
ream holes
very well.

Page 6
Cut a 6mm (¼″) slide stop section.
Push or tap the mini hub base
onto the dowel as shown.
Slide the dowel into the reamed
holes of the blocks as shown.
Push the slide stop 5cm (2″)
onto the dowel.
Attach the mini hub cover to the
base using a mini hub screw.
Tape the 45cm (1.5ft) string onto
the dowel in the reamed holes.
string

Page 7
Quick Tip
Add more slide stop
to keep the dowel
from falling out.
Make a handle for the portion cup out of wire.
Poke two holes with scissors or a screwdriver
to tie the wire through.
Tie the handle to the string.
Congratulations!
You did it. You made the lift
mechanism of your design.
Experiment and play.
Spin the dowel to see how
the cup rises and lowers.
Next, let’s add blades to use
the power of the wind.

Page 8
b. Place tape half over the edge
of the
blade.
Now it’s time to make your blades. Make the example blades shown below.
Then, in the Engineering Challenges, make them into your own unique design.
Cut points off skewers.
Tape your recycling materials (cardboard, card stock,
cereal boxes, etc.) to the skewers as shown below.
a. Cut a section of recycling material.
This will be one of your blades.
c. Place a skewer at the edge of
the blade, overhanging to one side.
d. Fold the tape over the skewer.
Press to secure tape.

Page 9
Loosen the mini hub screw about 1½ turns to allow the skewers to slide in.
First, loosen the
mini hub screw
by
1½ turns.
Then, carefully slide
the skewers into the
mini hub’s holes
.
Angle
your blades
and re-tighten.
Documents at teachergeek.com/learn
If you are going
to do the optional
Wind Lift Lab,
now’s the time!