I’m thinking about making a zine or two based around the stuff that I do. This page is a little proof-of-concept to see if I can make something suitable

#STEAMjunk Goose made from bits and pieces found in our holiday flat. #goose #automata #mechanism

More experimenting with a 4 bar linkage 😀 #maker #mechanism #linkage

Why is the sky blue, and how do things stay aloft? ☁️ Join engineer Lucy Rogers to discover the forces shaping everything overhead through hands-on demonstrations and stories. www.rigb.org/whats-on/liv...

Not out for another month but squeeee - it's real!! (You can pre order from most good bookshops - and @biggreenbooks.bsky.social will have signed copies) Cover art by @rachelhillustrates.bsky.social and illustrations by @robives.bsky.social

Lovely @robives.bsky.social dragon linkage mechanism. Next step: recreate with my acrylic linkage kit and add servo control. 😀🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 www.robives.com/project/drag...

Experiments with dragon linkages #dragon #maker #linkage #mechanism #automata

Just finished Small Prophets - BBC ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Sled on a Scarf [Banjo-Kazooie] figure made from paper (bristol paper, cardstock, & sketchbook paper) joints pinned with brass tube and rod automata mechanism and base made from brass rod & 3mm plywood

More experiments with goat linkages #LogicGoat #linkage #mechanism #automata

Double Geneva Mechanism. A paper project for you to download and make. For each turn of the crank the index wheel advances quarter of a turn twice with a short pause, or dwell, between each movement. #automata #paperengineering #EssentialMechanism www.robives.com/project/doub...

Prototype for updated logic goat project. The geometry on the rear leg linkage needs a bit of work. I want it to really kick! #maker #paperengineering #PaperAutomata #prototype

@rvdbeemd.bsky.social please can you send me the link to the pipes you mean?

Crank the handle, and watch Rudolph dash! 🦌✨ Beads, paperclips, and a sprinkle of Christmas magic, your desk has never been so merry. #STEAMjunk #RunningReindeer Find out more... www.robives.com/project/runn...

Such a joy to be part of a photoshoot with Brother International 🌟 Here’s one of the videos featuring my Paper Treehouse , now available to download from the Brother Creative Center so you can make your own! #PaperCrafts #CraftCommunity #DesignInPaper #CreativeMaker

Lego people... What's the design software for recording Lego projects?

Add a Christmas Angel to the top of the rotate reciprocate mechanism to make a charming festive project 🎅🪽🎄 www.robives.com/project/reci... #mechanism #christmas #angel #papercraft #paperengineering

Reciprocating rotating #essentialmechanism to print out and make. Turn the handle to make the vertical shaft turn back and forth. An interesting starting point for your own #PaperAutomata !#paperengineering #automata www.robives.com/project/reci...

Latest newsletter! workshopnotes.robives.com

An #EssentialMechanism project to download and make. As the gear turns, it meshes first with one rack, then the other, alternately lifting and dropping them in a satisfying reciprocating motion. #paperengineering #papercraft www.robives.com/project/reci...

Happy Halloween! Make your own running skeleton #STEAMjunk project! www.robives.com/project/skel...

Spent a fun afternoon talking about paper automata with an online group from Cabaret Mechanical Theatre! www.cabaret.co.uk

Puffed up and proud 🐡 Just posted a newsletter about my latest automaton—a cheerful little fish with a big personality. workshopnotes.robives.com #AutumnalAutomata #Pufferfish #automata #maker

Download the pdf instructions and make your own puffer fish automata from conkers and paper clips! #STEAMjunk #WildMaking www.robives.com/project/puff...

🦆✨ Just sent out the latest newsletter from my narrowboat workshop where ducks, gears, and stories collide. This one is about my new column in Automata Magazine and has a T.Rex project for premium subscribers to download and make! workshopnotes.robives.com/p/snippets

Meet the slowest show-off in town… Henri Escargot, a paper Snail to download and make! www.robives.com/project/pape... #PaperAutomata #SnailTrail #MechanicalHaiku #MakerJoy #SlowAndSteady #PrintedKits #WhimsicalMechanisms #NorthYorkshireMakes

Make your own waddling duck automaton! Crank the handle and bring this cheerful duck to life, watch it stomp and bob with delightful precision. This hands-on project comes as a downloadable PDF, ready for you to print, cut, and assemble at home. www.robives.com/project/duck #paperautomata #duck

The crux of their argument is that if they're found liable, then the consequences of their own actions that no one forced them to take could ruin them and the rest of their industry that undertakes similar practices. To which I say motherfucker did you never hear about Napster

jumpers in jumpers

@drlucyrogers.com visited my narrowboat made a scampering dog!

🔧 Paper Piston in Motion! Here’s a peek inside the engine room of your imagination — a working piston mechanism made entirely from paper. With a simple frame, crank handle, and cutaway cylinder, this hands-on build shows exactly how a piston drives motion. www.robives.com/project/pist...

Slow turn, big charm! One gear rotation for every twenty four cranks. This updated worm gear #EssentialMechanism is a quiet celebration of paper movement. Perfect for curious makers, educators and anyone who loves paper engineering! #automata #paperengineering www.robives.com/project/worm...

We are finally ready to announce that EMF 2026 will happen on July 16-19, 2026, at Eastnor Castle Deer Park, Herefordshire. Expect more updates soon as we start spinning up the organisation again.

So excited to see two of my books in the wild! And in the Salt's Mill bookshop, one of my favourites! More details of the books on my website. #makingpaperautomata #paperengineering #PaperAutomata @thecrowoodpress @saltsmillofficial @hungrytomatouk www.robives.com/books/

A parasol unfurls—yours to craft, yours to keep. Made from paper and card, it opens with a rustle. No music, just a moment of quiet craft. Like it? Tag a maker friend. #maker #umbrella #papercraft #parasol Make your own... www.robives.com/project/pape...

#STEAMjunk Parasol. A bead and wire project to download and make! #maker #automata www.robives.com/project/para...

Wire Dino to download and make. Transform three paper clips and a terminal block into your own adorable desktop dinosaur! workshopnotes.robives.com/p/wire-dino www.robives.com/project/wire...

Cuckoo Whistle. Using paper bellows and cardboard pipes the cuckoo whistle recreates the iconic sound of Common Cuckoo. Alternately press in the two bellows to make the distinctive Cuc-koo sound! #bellows #sound #cuckoo #maker #papercrafts #paperautomata www.robives.com/project/cuck...

Latest newsletter is out! workshopnotes.robives.com Making paper bellows

Gnashers! Pendulum powered #paperAutomata project. Move the box even a fraction to start the teeth a-chattering! www.robives.com/project/gnas...

#STEAMjunk Busy Bee project for you to make on International Bee Day! #internationalbeeday #maker #automata www.robives.com/project/busy...

So excited for Automata Fest 2025 this coming weekend! Looking forward to seeing old friends, making new friends and seeing some amazing automata. Hope to see you there! #automatafest #automata #hastings #maker

Turn the handle to make the Scotch Bird fly! The offset crank and double scotch yoke mechanism produce an organic flapping motion. #STEAMjunk www.robives.com/project/scot...

Penrose Triangle Illusion to download and make! www.robives.com/project/penrose

Easter automata project! 🐰🐣😍

Dolphins #PaperAutomata to download and make from www.robives.com/project/dolphin The project comes as a downloadable pdf for you to print out and make. Crank the handle and bring the dolphins to life!

Easter chicks #STEAMjunk project!

Rise of the Mammals. The cover project from my new book "Making Paper Automata" The project comes as a pdf ready to print out onto thin card. Find out more here www.robives.com/project/rotm/ #automata #dinosaur

Dolphin prototype #paperautomata