Lego used to Recreate the “Most Useless Machine”

You might remember back a few months ago when we mentioned a machine that automatically switched it’s self off each time it was switched on, post found here. This device pictured above is the equivalent of that machine but built out of Lego rather than wood.

The principle behind the box is the same in that when a user flicks the switch to power it on, an arm jumps up and switches the unit back off.

‘The hardest part was probably getting the flap to operate easily and smoothly, and to open and close at the correct parts of the cycle. Careful design of the “pusher” allowed the hole to be fairly small in the later prototypes. There were probably around ten partial or complete prototypes before I found a reliable method and layout. I use the latest prototype(s) as a reference for the next, so I try to have enough bricks around to keep several on the go at once.’

We still don’t quite get why you need this Lego gadget, but for some reason it’s quite entertaining to see it repeatedly switching it’s self off every time it’s switched on.

Check out the video below to see how it works along with a breakdown of what’s inside the unit that makes all the timing just right.

Via: BoingBoing