Retired - Solarbotics Useless Box Kit

$30.00

  • Model: SLB60005
  • Shipping Weight: 0.2Kg
  • 0 Units in Stock
  • Manufactured by: Solarbotics

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Sorry this product is retired from our store.

Ever see a Useless Box? It turns itself off when you turn it on! Here's a kit to build your own!

The Useless Box is now sporting 4 metal hinges to hold the lids in place instead of our previously tacky tape. Was that a pun? Didn't notice. A full set of assembly instructions (v1.2) is available in the below.

Now, on with the regular blurb:

Yes, it's ... Useless! Designed as featured over at Makezine.com. It's a clever electromechanical box that turns itself off after you've turned it on.

This is now a full kit, complete with Solarbotics satisfaction warranty, but you will have to assemble it (requires some soldering), supplying your own soldering gear, batteries, and screwdriver.

Each kit includes:

1 x 39300 Black acrylic "Useless Box" construction set (with nut/bolt hardware) with "crack" warranty. If you accidentally snap a piece during assembly, we'll send you out a replacement part (email sales@solarbotics.com for details).

1 x Motor set (GM3 Motor and Accessory Wheel)
1 x Double-pole, double-throw power switch
1 x Single-pole, double-throw retract limit switch
1 x 4-conductor ribbon wire
1 x 2xAA battery pack
1 x Double-sided sticky tape
4 x Miniature hinges
2 x #4 x 1/2" Motor-mounting screws
5 x #2-32 x 3/8" Limit switch / finger mounting screws
1 x #2 x 1/4" and #2 Washer set for accessory wheel
22 x #4 x 3/8" Bolts and #4 nut sets
16 x #2 x 1/4" Hinge-mounting screws
4 x "Little Rubber Feet" to protect your Useless Box from abrasive counter tops!

Sure it's useless... but it keeps your itchy switch-flippin' fingers busy!

Are your box hinges a bit stiff? Larry wrote in with what he did to loosen them up:

  1. I removed the hinge pin.
  2. I drilled the center tab with a #57 US drill (this is just slightly larger than the pin size)
  3. I tapered the top of the base piece to ensure the hinge was not rubbing on it.
  4. I reinstalled the hinge on the box with the center tab of the hinge on top.

Thanks for the tip!

NO BACK-ORDERS, please.


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