Overengineering Your Own Motorized Notepad

This DIY motorized notepad is a fancy solution to a non-existing problem.
Christopher McFadden

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Regular notepads are useful, and all that, but what they tend to lack is an overengineering upgrade. Thankfully, this guide will show how to solve a problem that doesn't really exist.

Enjoy. 

motorized notepad complete
Source: Interesting Engineering/YouTube

Like any project of this nature, you are going to need a few bits and bobs. For this build, you will need:

With all the materials needed in hand, it is time to get on with the build. 

The first step is to cut out the various pieces you'll need for the motorized notepad's main body from your acrylic sheets. For best results use a jigsaw.

motorized notepad cut
Source: Interesting Engineering/YouTube

No dimensions are provided, so watch the video for more guidance. 

Next, secure your cut-out acrylic sheet to the base of your CNC milling machine. You can either screw it into place or using adhesive strips (or both).

motorized notepad cnc
Source: Interesting Engineering/YouTube

Insert your HSS mill end into your CNC machine, and begin to machine the parts needed. Again no models are provided, so you will have to experiment a bit here. 

motorized notepad cnc
Source: Interesting Engineering/YouTube

Next, drill and thread the screw holes as required for assembling the main body of the motorized notepad. 

motorized notepad drill
Source: Interesting Engineering/YouTube

Now, grab your ball bearings. Insert them into their matching receptacles on the main motorized notepad body sides. 

motorized notepad ball bearings
Source: Interesting Engineering/YouTube

Next, grab your brass rod and secure it into place in your lathe. Cut down the rod to around 15.3 mm (0.6 inches), and then mark out, and cut, three equal spaced grooves on the rod.  

motorized notepad rod
Source: Interesting Engineering/YouTube

With that complete, drill a hole through the center of the rod. Polish as needed. Cut off the grooved rod as shown in the video. 

Now, add three correctly sized rubber o rings into the grooves on the rod. 

Next, grab the steel rod and mark off 0.5 mm (0.02 inches) at one end and 10mm (0.4 inches) at the other. 

motorized notepad steel rod
Source: Interesting Engineering/YouTube

Cut off these marked sections, and insert the rod into the barrel of the brass rod your completed earlier. 

motorized notepad rod
Source: Interesting Engineering/YouTube

Now, grab three more ball bearings, various nuts, and a threaded rod. Assemble as instructed in the video.

motorized notepad threaded screw
Source: Interesting Engineering/YouTube

The ball bearings should be equally spaced to match the rubber O rings on the brass rod. 

Now begin to assemble the main motorized notepad's body. Using suitably sized screws and assemble as shown in the video. 

motorized notepad assembly
Source: Interesting Engineering/YouTube

Now, attach one of the drive belt gears to one end of the axles to the brass rod. 

motorized notepad gear
Source: Interesting Engineering/YouTube

Next, grab your DC motorized gearwheel. Attached its plastic mounting, as well as, another drive belt gear to its axle. 

motorized notepad motor
Source: Interesting Engineering/YouTube

Secure the motor to the main notepad body, and connect a rubber drive belt between the two gears, as shown. 

motorized notepad drivebelt
Source: Interesting Engineering/YouTube

Now grab your push button, and attach it to the main notepad housing too. 

motorized notepad button
Source: Interesting Engineering/YouTube

Wire up and solder the button and the motor into a circuit, ready to receive power. Connect the motor and push-button to the battery and test that they work. 

motorized notepad wiring
Source: Interesting Engineering/YouTube

Place the battery, and wiring, inside the main body of the notepad, and close off using the top plate of the notepad. Screw into place, as required. 

Now, build the paper cutting edge of the notepad. For this using the specially cut acrylic piece, and a length of an old hacksaw. Measure and cut to length, as required. 

Once cut, glue it into place.

motorized notepad saw
Source: Interesting Engineering/YouTube

Attach the cutting blade assembly to the main body of the notepad. 

motorized notepad blade
Source: Interesting Engineering/YouTube

With that stage completed, the machine is effectively finished. Now just grab a spool of car machine receipt paper, and secure it to the rear arms of the motorized notepad.

motorized notepad complete
Source: Interesting Engineering/YouTube

Feed the paper into the rollers, push the button, and enjoy the wonders of your new creation. 

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