Paper Machines

There's something inherently ridiculous, and hence, profoundly playful about the very idea of "paper machines." Machines are supposed to be made of sterner stuff - hardened steel, tin, wood, even. But paper?

Hence the art, and fun, of paper machines.

And, of course, the science, as so beautifully illustrated in this paper on Pneumatic Drives and Paper Mechanics by artist and designer Walter Ruffler. The best way to understand this art is to see it in motion. Which is why Ruffler's animations are so valuable, and so much fun.

Another source for paper machines is Flying Pig. They sell paper kits that only need to be cut and glued together. Their page on Mechanisms and Movements is exceptionally informative and easy to read. The plans for their sheep toy, as illustrated above, are available for free (download a .pdf file).

For deeper exploration of the art of Paper Machines, be sure to click over to the work of Peter Markey. A collection of images of his work can be found here.