Kinetic Sculpture V3 Aurora

Hi All,

Inspired by the kinetic sculptures of David C. Roy, I decided to create one of my own.

My first version, built about four years ago, used a simple DC motor with a 3D-printed gearbox. While functional, it came with challenges—finding the right geared motor was difficult, and the operational noise was far from ideal.

In this new version, I’ve transitioned to a 28BYJ-48 stepper motor controlled by an Arduino Nano, delivering a significantly improved experience. The motion is smooth, precise, and nearly silent, resulting in a far more refined and elegant kinetic performance.

This design is fully backward compatible. If you have previously followed my article and built an earlier version, you can reuse the existing wheels

Previous Blogs

Version 1 – Aurora https://amitjain1980.blogspot.com/2021/04/kinetic-sculpture-v1.html
Version 2 – Flower https://amitjain1980.blogspot.com/2022/03/kinetic-sculpture-v2-flower.html
Version 2 – Infinity https://amitjain1980.blogspot.com/2023/01/kinetic-sculpture-v2-infinity.html

3D-Printable Kinetic Collection

Over the years, I’ve designed and created a wide range of 3D-printable kinetic sculptures.

For those who prefer not to print large-scale kinetic builds, I’ve also developed a curated collection of compact kinetic fidget spinners that deliver the same mechanical elegance in a smaller, more accessible format.

Explore the Full Collection

Cults3D Design Collection – Kinetic Sculptures https://cults3d.com/en/design-collections/Amit_Jain/kinetic-sculpture

Check out my other 3d models https://cults3d.com/en/users/Amit_Jain/3d-models

Material

Gear Box V3

• Gear A, B
• Gear M for 28BYJ-48 stepper motor

Main Body

• Rear Shaft
• M4 x 75 mm screw
• M3 x 4mm screw (2 nos)

Wheels

• Rear wheel
• Front Wheels
• Arms x 24

Electronics

• Arduino Nano
• 28BYJ-48 stepper motor with driver (Nema 17 can also be used)
• Universal PCB
• 5.5 mm female connector
• Wires
• Soldering iron kit
• 5 V power supply with 5.5 mm jack

Misc

• Super Glue
• Paper tape
• bread board
• Jumper wires

PS: I have included "gear N" for Nema 17 motors, and the main body is compatible with both the stepper motors.

Step 1: 3d Printing Setting

• Download the files from https://cults3d.com/en/3d-model/home/kinectic-scuplture-v3-aurora
• Infill
• Gears - 20 to 40%
• Main Body - 20 %
• Wheels and Arms- 20%
• Other parts - 20%
• Layer height
• I have used 0.2mm
• and 0.24 works as well

Step 2: GearBox Assembly 1/2

• Using M3 screws, fix the stepper motor
• Attach the Gear M from inside as shown

Step 3: GearBox Assembly 2/2

• Place Gear A on the rear side as shown
• Insert M4 x 75 mm screw; one needs to use a screwdriver
• Once it is halfway in, place Gear B with the Rear Shaft
• Push the shaft in, till it touches Gear A. Leave some gap for smooth movement
• Tighten the M4 screw till it comes out as shown

Step 4: Circuit and Code

• Based on the circuit diagram, I used a universal PCB to make the circuit
• Sharing images of the PCB for reference
• Using double-sided tape stick the circuit on the side of the main body
• Connect the motor wires
• Upload the code attached and test the gearbox

Code#

#include <Stepper.h>
const int stepsPerRevolution = 2048;  // 28BYJ-48
// Motor pins connected to Arduino
Stepper myStepper(stepsPerRevolution, 8, 10, 9, 11);
void setup() {
  // Set speed in RPM
  myStepper.setSpeed(10);  // 10 RPM
}
void loop() {
  // Rotate continuously
  myStepper.step(stepsPerRevolution);  // 1 full revolution
}

Step 5: Assembly Wheels

• Just place the Rear wheel on the floor and interlock the arms one by one
• Important: if an arm is bent or not flat, replace it with another
• Superglue the arms
• Do this for the front wheel as well

PS: The front wheel has a 4mm hole while the rear wheel has an 8mm hole. Arms are interchangeable

Step 6: Final Assembly

• Slide the rear wheel on the rear shaft of the motor
• I used some paper tape to tighten the fit
• Fit the front wheel on the M4 nut (turning clockwise)
• Make sure that there is enough gap between the two wheels
• Connect the 5 v power supply

Step 6: Tips

• Fit is loose
• Based on your 3d printer, some parts may not fit tightly,
• I separate them and apply superglue to one of the parts.
• Let it dry, and then try to fit it together
• Alternatively, use sandpaper to loosen parts as needed
• Do not use super glue on the rear shaft and gear B, I made that mistake and jammed the whole gearbox
• Gearbox should be smooth and easy to move, if not sand the base of the gear, loosen screws etc

Please let me know if you need more details on any step. I will try to add.

Please share your feedback and suggestions