Show and Tell: The Useless Box Kit
For this week’s Show and Tell, Norm assembles a kit of a machine he’s always wanted: a useless box. Flip the switch on the box and all it does is turn itself off. Simple, yet mesmerizing. The kit of laser cut plastic and some basic electronics isn’t difficult to put together, and makes for a great afternoon project.
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I have always loved these things. Though If I ever built one I would have to add some pizzaz to it it like. Have it flip the switch, then give you the finger, then go back inside.
I’ve made one myself several years back. I posted it here on the forums even. Below is a video.
What a useless little box! 😊
This is one of my favourites, somehow they managed to give a wooden box a (slightly cranky) personality:
Hahaha! I like when it waved the white flag at the end..
Yes, that’s immediately what came to my mind. Quite a bit more programming to that one than the one that Norm had.
i got the same kit about Feb. this year the box has closing problems i just changed the hinges and it works fine now
i’ve build a wooden laser cut one. i like how people react to it, since there are only 2 sorts of reactions.
Type 1 is like “that’s stupid”
Type 2 is over enthusiastic and is like “that’s the most awesome thing ever!”
i got mine here: http://msraynsford.myshopify.com/products/useless-machine it’s 20£ from the UK so probably cheaper for europeans who want a useless box.
Love it!
Wonder if I don’t need to get me one of those myself…
you mentioned issues with soldering and that you would get back to that, you didn’t. Was there an issue with your kit?
ah, sorry i didn’t loop back to that. the soldering wasn’t too tricky, but the main switch connects to the board over six contacts, and one kept getting disconnected when i flipped the switch. that prevented it from reversing the motor when the finger flipped it the other way. got it solved in the end, though!
I like the one linked up. I’d pay for that one.
Not useless as it is quite useful for entertainment!
These are also called “Leave me alone” boxes