Solarbotics

The Useless Machine Kit

7 reviews

Build your very own useless machine. Switch it on and watch it automatically switch itself off. On, off, on, off — get hours of entertainment!

$39.95 $35.00 Sale
Shipping calculated at checkout.

Suggested Add-ons

What's a useless machine? It's a machine that you turn on and it turns itself off. Why on earth would you want one? Because it's so darn entertaining! The Useless Machine started out as a simple Instructable with a video, which quickly went viral. Since then, the video has been viewed over 8.4 million times and the machine has been featured in Make: magazine and on the Colbert Report!

Now you can build your own Useless Machine with the Useless Machine kit. It features a laser cut acrylic case with a black acrylic "finger" and four metal hinges. The kit was designed with beginning makers in mind and features a custom circuit board to make soldering the electronics a breeze. Expect the assembly to take about an hour, and the fun to last indefinitely!

Note: Requires some soldering.Prefer not to solder? Try the Solderless Useless Machine


What's in the Box

  • 39300 Black acrylic "Useless Box" construction set (with nut/bolt hardware) 
  • Motor set (GM3 Motor and Accessory Wheel)
  • Double-pole, double-throw power switch
  • Single-pole, double-throw retract limit switch
  • 4-conductor ribbon wire
  • AA (2) battery pack
  • Double-sided sticky tape
  • Miniature hinges (x4)
  • #4 x 1/2" Motor-mounting screws (x2)
  • #2-32 x 3/8" Limit switch / finger mounting screws (x5)
  • #2 x 1/4" and #2 washer set for accessory wheel
  • #4 x 3/8" Bolts and #4 nut sets (x22)
  • #2 x 1/4" Hinge-mounting screws (x16)
  • "Little Rubber Feet" to protect your Useless Box from abrasive counter tops! (x4)

What You'll Need

  • Soldering iron 
  • Screwdrivers

Product Documentation / User Guide

Instruction Manual