This morning, my wife asked if I’d be interested in an adventurous road trip. I asked for the destination, but she told me that “not knowing” was part of the adventure. After a moment’s hesitation, I

Have any of you been to AutomataCon? If so, could you please share your thoughts and experiences on the conference. I didn't know such a conference existed until I read about it in Automata Magazine,

Good evening everyone... As I work I find myself frequently using a couple of nuts that I rarely used in the past. Hex lock nuts with nylon insert: I use these a lot. When I am doing the prebuild work

Good afternoon everyone... I would like to point out that there are three threads of conversation that it would be wonderful if you would participate in: Video, Links To... If you have an automata fla

Good evening... I have been copper leafing my bipeds and liking what happens. As I build my automata I use some metal things that are shiny silver color...and I don't like that. I decided to experimen

Being new to automata I am always attempting to discover how the mechanical process inside the box drive the magic above. I have read several books and watched videos but am still hungry to learn more

This information is not easy to come by at the moment — but I have this video in my bag... It should be enough to get the ball rolling. Restauration des automates de Pierre et Henri Louis Jaquet Droz

Hi everyone, First contribution to the forum. I am a glad to share this finding, aimed at those who stand to benefit from learning basic mechanical engineering concepts for personal projects. It could

Hi Marc... In a recent email you mentioned that you were clearing space in your home for capturing video. It would be interesting to know what it's like when you are completed. Many of us would like t

Hello All Further to the discussion about paper automaton kits the other day, if you haven’t already, check out the COOL4CATS web site. I made the “Feeding Time at the Zoo”. Took me ages but the grand

Good morning automatists! I have a list in my studio of automata that I want to build. Every once in a while I get a bug to add to the list. To that end this past weekend I took a fun journey on Googl

Hello everyone. I thought I would add a comment about what I consider as essential tools. Not many people will have come across broaches, but I could not do without them. They allow you gradually enla

Not that many years ago I had not consciously heard of square dowels. Now I find them essential stock in my studio. I keep 1/8", 1/4", 3/8", 1/2", 3/4" and 1" hardwood square dowels on hand. Not only

As I have built automata I have concluded that all of my future creations will be powered by both a motor and a hand crank. Adding a motor certainly adds to the complexity of the project...not to ment

My first original automata was created in 2017 as a Christmas give-a-way for a white elephant gift exchange. The gift exchange allowed guests to steal presents from one another, do a search on "Dirty

Greetings automatists: I am trying an experiment with the Favorite Suppliers post. I've made it 'sticky'. I believe that what this means is that it will remain at the top of the messages stack (when y

Hello, I just want to introduce myself and say how much I am enjoying the magazine and now this group. I fascinated with automata and paper toys for as long as I can remember. I have never actually de

Hello everyone! I was very pleased to subscribe to Automata Magazine today, then imagine my heartfelt joy to find that there is an automata forum as well. A bit about me: I have tinkered with woodwork

Hi All, I was interested to read the explanations by Marc in the magazine for his method of markings cams. My method differs in that I use a direct means of marking, directly to the cam. ( I often sus

Greetings everyone... I believe that this forum is an investment in the future of Automata. If this forum becomes active with a focus on automata, and if it stays active for years and decades, it will