In this STEAM mechanism project, students design and build a carousel music box using LaserMaker, a laser cutting machine, and a music box movement. The lesson connects box-body layout, hole placement, rotating base design, small-hole positioning, clockwork slot design, horse figure selection, laser processing, and hands-on assembly.

1. Lesson Overview

1.1 Project Goal

Students will prepare a laser-cut box structure, add holes for a music box movement, design a rotating carousel base, import and arrange horse graphics, set laser processing parameters, cut the parts, assemble the box, attach the horse figures to sticks, and complete a carousel music box.

1.2 Recommended Classroom Use

2. Learning Objectives

2.1 What Students Will Learn

2.2 STEAM Skills Developed

2.3 Responsible Making

Students should operate the laser cutter only under teacher or lab supervisor guidance. Before processing, check material placement, focal length, layer order, line processing, and cutting paths. During assembly, use hot glue carefully, align the movement before tightening screws, and test the rotating structure slowly.

3. Project Context: From Music Box to Carousel

A carousel music box combines a familiar music box movement with a rotating, story-like display. In this project, students use a box body to hold the movement and a circular base to support the carousel horses.

The main design challenge is to make the movement holes, rotating base, horse sticks, and wind-up handle fit together. Students need to think about where the spring handle goes, how the base attaches, and how the horse direction affects the final appearance.

4. Pre-Class Thinking Questions

Before opening the software, teachers can guide students with short design and mechanism questions.

5. Lesson Procedure

5.1 Prepare the Box Design File

Open the design file for the box in LaserMaker and move each part into place. Students should identify which parts will form the body of the carousel music box before adding holes and rotating components.

5.2 Add Holes for the Music Box Movement

Draw a 6.5 mm circle as the wind-up hole for the music box movement. Then draw two 3.15 mm circles as screw holes. During the design process, a 19 mm by 1.5 mm rectangle can be used as a measuring reference for the distance between the two screw holes.

Adjust the hole position according to the actual size and layout of the music box movement. In the source workflow, Rotation is used to help position the holes. The middle spring hole should stay centered so the wind-up handle can work correctly.

5.3 Design the Rotating Base

Draw two 100 mm circles for the carousel discs. These circular parts form the main rotating base structure for the carousel.

Next, draw four 2.7 mm circles as small holes on the disc and arrange them diagonally. These holes help position the small sticks and carousel horse supports.

Draw two 30 mm circles. Change the layer color of one circle and place it on the rotating base. On the other small circle, draw a 7 mm by 25 mm oval to create the clockwork slot for the wind-up handle.

5.4 Import and Arrange the Horse Parts

Import the horse file into LaserMaker and choose suitable horse graphics for the carousel. After selecting the preferred horse parts, arrange all final parts neatly to complete the design layout.

5.5 Set Laser Processing Parameters

After the design is complete, set the layer parameters and adjust the processing order. The source workflow notes that line processing should come before final cutting.

6. Laser Processing

Import the completed design file into the laser cutting machine for processing. Before starting the job, adjust the focal length carefully to reduce the risk of incomplete cutting.

7. Splicing and Assembly

7.1 Install the Music Box Movement

Remove the spring handle from the music box movement. Install the movement onto the laser-cut part shown in the source workflow and secure it with screws after the holes are aligned.

7.2 Assemble the Box Body

Assemble the box according to the matching structure. Check the fit of the body parts before applying glue or final pressure.

7.3 Attach the Horses to the Sticks

Use hot glue or white latex to attach each pony or horse figure to a small stick. The source workflow recommends hot glue for this step. Let the glue set before installing the horse supports on the base.

Attach the small sticks with the horse figures to the two original boards. Pay attention to the direction of each horse so the carousel looks consistent after assembly.

7.4 Install the Wind-Up Handle and Rotating Base

Insert the wind-up handle into the small circle. Then attach the assembled base to the larger circular part using hot glue or white latex.

8. Test, Debug, and Improve

After assembly, spin or test the carousel and observe whether the structure is stable. Students should check whether the music box movement is secure, the rotating base is attached firmly, and the horse figures face the intended direction.

9. Classroom Practice and Teaching Tips

9.1 Student Workflow

9.2 Teacher Suggestions

10. Reflection and Evaluation

10.1 Reflection Questions

10.2 Student and Peer Evaluation

Students can evaluate their own work and give peer feedback based on creativity, technical process, artistic effect, and collaboration.

11. Finished Project and Sharing

At the end of the lesson, students can present their carousel music boxes, explain how they designed the box, rotating base, horse supports, and movement installation, and discuss what they would improve in the next version.

12. Extension Challenge

After finishing the basic carousel, students can redesign the horse figures, change the carousel theme, add engraved decoration, adjust the base shape, or create a more detailed story scene around the carousel.

For a mechanism challenge, students can compare how the music box movement is installed in the heart-shaped music box, music car, music windmill, and carousel, then explain how one movement can support different product designs.

13. Equipment Note for Teachers

This project is suitable for classroom laser cutters that support cutting and engraving of sheet materials for small maker and mechanism projects. For schools and beginner STEAM labs, projects like carousel music boxes, music box models, rotating bases, and beginner LaserMaker activities can be completed with a classroom laser cutter such as the Thunder Laser Bolt Series.

Teachers can choose the machine and material setup based on classroom space, student supervision needs, material thickness, project size, music box movement dimensions, and ventilation setup. Students should always test settings, check focus, and follow the school’s laser safety rules before final cutting.