Parts Needed

ORDER OVERVIEW

Follow these 4 steps to gather all the supplies you need.

Step 1

Parts & Equipment

Order the main setup components from Amazon, including the tank, turntable, power supply, and other required equipment.

View Parts & Equipment
Step 2

LEGO Parts

Order the LEGO pieces through Pick a Brick, then purchase the Technic motor separately.

View LEGO Parts
Step 3

Plug Adapter

Choose either to order the plug adapter directly or use the provided files to 3D print your own.

View Plug Adapter
Step 4

Other Items

Common household items that you may already have, plus optional tools that can improve setup and recording.

View Items
  1. Parts and Equipment

Order these required items from Amazon. Use the premade Amazon cart below for the fastest checkout, or open individual items using the links below.

Plastic Tank

OXO Turntable

Heavy-Duty
Hole Punch

Only needed once during assembly

Power Supply

Reusable Zip-Ties

Includes all required Amazon items shown above.

Estimated cost: ~$130
Without hole-punch: ~$65

2. LEGO Parts

Order the main LEGO pieces through Pick-a-Brick using the downloadable parts list below. Then purchase the Technic motor separately, since it is not included in the Pick-a-Brick list.

LEGO parts to order from LEGO Pick-a-Brick

Pick-a-Brick Step-by-Step:

1
Download the CSV file Download the LEGO parts list file. You will upload this file directly to Pick-a-Brick.
Download Pick-a-Brick CSV
2
Open Pick-a-Brick and click “Upload List” Go to the Pick-a-Brick page and click Upload List in the search area.
Open Pick-a-Brick
3
Select the CSV file Choose the CSV file you downloaded in Step 1 and upload it.
4
Continue to view the pieces After the file loads, continue so LEGO shows the pieces from the uploaded list.
5
Review the parts and add them to your bag Check that the list looks correct, then click Add to Bag.
6
Open your bag and check out When the confirmation window appears, click View My Bag, then click Checkout Securely.
Follow the same sequence shown in the walkthrough video on the right.

Estimated cost: ~$56

Pick-a-Brick List: ~$16
Technic Motor: ~$40

Not Included in Pick-a-Brick list

Technic™ Large Motor

Pick-a-Brick Video Walkthrough:

How to order through LEGO Pick-a-Brick?

3. Plug Adapter

The motor requires a small 3D-printed plug adapter. Choose one of the options below:
request a printed adapter from UCLA SpinLab, or download the STL files and print your own.

Option 1: Order a printed adapter

Email Jon Aurnou <jona@epss.ucla.edu> with your info below

Option 2: 3D print your own

Or use the STL files to 3D print your own

4. Other Items

You may already have some of these items at home.

Food Coloring

Water

Dish Soap

Bucket/Scoop/Cup

Scratch Paper (for leveling)

Can*

Ice*

Small Weights (e.g., pennies)*

*for specific experiments only

Optional Supplies

Gooseneck Phone/
Camera Mount

Bubble Level

Make sure your tank is level

To record your experiment
or show it over Zoom

Parts Summary

  • Tank

    Turntable

    Power

    Zip-Ties

    Hole-Punch

  • LEGO Pieces

    Technic™ Motor

  • Water

    Food Coloring

    Dish Soap

  • Gooseneck Phone/Camera Mount

    Bubble Level

Frequently Asked Questions

  • As soon as we can fabricate and ship it, typically 10-14 business days

  • 3-5 business days

  • The purpose of this site is to provide instructions on how you can build your own DIY kit, but we are happy to meet with you over Zoom to discuss your own project

  • The purpose of this site is to provide instructions on how you can build your own DIY kit, but we are happy to meet with you over Zoom to discuss your own project

  • Not currently, but someday we would love this to be the case! The purpose of this site is to provide instructions on how you can build your own DIY kit, but we are happy to meet with you over Zoom to discuss your own project

  • Please reach out to us, we have some materials but are currently working on creating more curricula