This Thing is an open source edition of our Maker Studio Winches Construction Set that we sell on Amazon. We give you all the files to print your own parts, and also we include PDF files of the Instruction Manual and Build Assembly Diagrams for four different machines that use these parts. We also offer 10 open ended Engineering Challenges (PDF file) to stretch your creative thinking muscles. Find all these in Thing Files.

The four machines you can build from our PDF instructions:

• A Popcorn Tow Truck
• A Jeep
• A Well
• A Crane

After this you use your imagination to build your own engineering challenges. For inspiration, watch this Made by Bella video

Our concept is to make it easy for you to create customized machines - cars, trucks, trolleys and others - that can move and/or lift things. You use our engineering parts to build a machine skeleton, then customize your machine body by using recycled boxes, bottles and other household items. Give this some thought, it's amazing what you can come up with.

Check out this Princess Carriage, from Made by Bella

Each of the four assembly builds in our Maker Studio Winches Set produces a different machine that serves a different purpose and demonstrates its own engineering principles.

Beyond this, the 10 Engineering Challenges are designed to stretch your thinking; they are open ended and will push you to think creatively about how to achieve a solution.

For the ultimate in creative solutions, check out how Bella takes care of her loose tooth! Made by Bella Toothpull Challenge

Download and 3-D print the following STL files, find these in “Thing Files”:

Tow Hook (1 piece)  
Spool (1 piece)  
Long Connectors (2 pieces)  
Short Connectors (5 pieces)  
Medium Gear (1 piece)  
Small Gear (1 piece)  
Large Wheels (4 pieces)  
7” Rods (4 pieces)  
5.5” Rods (1 piece)  
2” Rods (2 pieces)  
Hub Caps (26 pieces)  
Hole Punch (1 piece)  

Download the following PDF files for reference:

Maker Studio Winches Set Printed Instructions including inventor story  
Popcorn Tow Truck build diagrams  
Jeep build diagrams  
Well build diagrams  
Crane build diagrams  
10 Engineering Challenge Cards and 10 Tips  

NOTE: If all this printing is too much work, you can buy a commercial version of this Maker Studio Winches Construction Set on Amazon.