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Hand-cranked carousel

An elaborate PLA carousel that fits on a table: six seats, a radial platform and a golden segmented canopy. Build it in stages and turn the whole assembly with the top crank.

Age
8–12 years
Length
approx. 7 h
Level
Hard
Where you teach
Home
Purpose
Creative
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How to run this session

Stages and timing
  1. Two rings and the base spokes
  2. Four flat supports
  3. Assemble the bearing tower
  4. Two open bearings
  5. Join the bearings to the supports
  6. Build the rigid axle
  7. Insert the axle from above
  8. Prepare the thrust collar
  9. Fit the collar without welding the bearing
  10. Platform: start with the frame
  11. Platform: supported infill beads
  12. Join the platform to the axle
  13. Test the empty platform
  14. Six seats: flat components
  15. Assemble six seats on the platform
  16. Six canopy posts
  17. Stand the posts symmetrically
  18. Eave ring and six triangular borders
  19. Fill the first three sectors
  20. Complete all six sectors
  21. Assemble the low canopy on the posts
  22. Make the braced crank
  23. Attach the crank above the canopy
  24. Three complete turns of the finished carousel

What gets built

Build a toy with smooth, repeatable rotation.

What it practises
  • Making repeatable parts, aligning bearings and assembling a rotating structure.

Success criteria
  • The platform completes several full revolutions without rubbing the base or rocking the whole model.
  • All six seats with backrests, six posts and six filled canopy sectors are present.

What you need
Filament
PLA
Colours
colour shown in the illustration, colour shown in the illustration, colour shown in the illustration, colour shown in the illustration, colour shown in the illustration, colour shown in the illustration
Also
PLA-compatible 3D pen: 1 piece, Transparent heat-resistant mat: 1 piece, Ruler: 1 piece, Printed A4 patterns: 1 complete set

Files

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Version 6fec4847-9e99-477b-b169-8d9ae280e731 Updated 2026-10-12

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