DC MOTOR

The DC (or "Direct Current") motor rotates a shaft when you send it an ON signal. It even has a switch to set the direction of rotation! It also includes the motorMate-- an accessory that makes it easy to attach wheels, paper, cardboard, and lots of other materials to the motor. Simply slide it on the "D" shape on the shaft. Try attaching various things to make windmills, cars, helicopters and more.

Recommended Age: 8+

• The DC Motor Bit is a module that rotates a shaft whenever you send it an ON signal
• LittleBits let you add electronics to your arts & crafts projects without soldering or programming
• The magnetic connector won't let you put things together the wrong way

Product Specifications

• Dimensions (mm): 20.0(H) x 77.0(W) x 149.0(D)
• Product Number: o5-DCMOTOR
• Product Weight: 0.04 lbs (0.02 kg)
• Recommended Age: 8+

TIPS & TRICKS

Motorize Your Projects

The DC (or “Direct Current”) motor Bit rotates a shaft when you send it an ON signal. It even has a switch to set the direction of rotation! Try attaching various things to make windmills, cars, helicopters and more.

Build The Circuit

We designed littleBits to be present in every interaction possible: light, sound, touch, movement, etc. When it comes to mechanics, the obvious choice was to create a motor. The spinning motion provides a variety of mechanical results by transforming the movement or using the turning movement to spin whatever you want.

ATTACHMENTS

One of the most quick and effective ways to get moving with the DC motor is to create an attachment for the What’s the best way to attach an item to the D shaft so it can serve as a foundation for your piece? This decision may seem overwhelming, but it’s not! We have lots of ideas on how to create attachments so you can make your projects move (carrots, anyone?)

Crafty

If you like to DIY and enjoy creating projects with found materials, consider the following: Clay

Mold the attachment of your dreams! There’s a variety of clay on the market, but model making clay is the go-to for product designers, sculptors and the littleBits team. This maleable material is dense, which makes it easy to create shapes, fill space and connect the D shaft to other toy mechs or structures like Lego, makedo and K’nex. Our favorite model making clay is Van Aken’s Plastalina Modeling Clay. Air dry clay

This is an excellent choice for those creating permanent shapes and highly recommended for kids. When you open a package of air dry clay, you’re free to construct and deconstruct as you please. When you’re satisfied with your sculpture, leave it to dry and harden for a few hours. Then, you can place your solid attachment on the D shaft and build from there. Our favorite air dy clay is Crayola Model Magic. Office supplies.

You may not realize it, but your desk drawers are brimming with untapped resources. We’ve created solid attachments using hot glue guns and glue dots (ice skating) We’ve also had great success using erasers! These office supplies provide support for our favorite craft supplies, especially these metallic pipe cleaners. Kitchen items.

Our two kitchen favorites are plastic spoons and straws. These items can also be scored in take-out boxes and fast food counters. A spoon can be used on it’s own as a super stirrer, or as a base to propel other materials. Straws make excellent scopes when applied to the end of DC motors, we recommend using these multi-colored bendy straws. Food.

After hours of exhaustive testing, we’ve found that gum, Starbursts and baby carrots are excellent attachments and mounts for other materials. Our top pick for carrots is Nature’s Promise organic.

FRIDAY’S TIPS AND TRICKS: MOTORMATE

The Motormate is now included with your DC motor! This littleBits accessory makes it simple and easy to attach wheels, paper, cardboard, and many other materials to the 3mm ‘D’ shape of the DC Motor shaft, which brings littleBits projects to life.

MAKE SOMETHING THAT DOES SOMETHING

The littleBits 650-0035 DC motor rotates a shaft when you send it an ON signal. It even has a switch to set the direction of rotation. It also includes the motorMate - an accessory that makes it easy to attach wheels, paper, cardboard and lots of other materials to the motor.

Littlebits DC Motor Video