How to Make (Almost) Anything: Building a Page-Turning Machine

In Fall 2023, I took How to Make (Almost) Anything at MIT’s Center for Bits and Atoms. Founded by Prof. Neil Gershenfeld in 1998, this legendary course teaches students to rapidly prototype using digital fabrication technologies. The philosophy: make things you cannot buy in stores. Each week covers a different process, from electronics design and 3D printing to molding, casting, and machine building.

For my final project, I built a robotic arm that turns book pages. The Electro-Mech-Hydraulic (EMH) Reader uses syringes as hydraulic actuators controlled by stepper motors, a low-cost approach to hydraulic systems (under $100).

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The machine has three degrees of freedom: a scissor lift mechanism for elevation, a rotating disc for lateral movement, and a linkage system for push-pull actions. I fabricated most parts through 3D printing and laser cutting, and built a web interface for control.

Full documentation: fab.cba.mit.edu/classes/863.23/CBA/people/Chance