Hydraulic Machines, Bridges, Medieval Siege Engines

This robotic arm is an easy to make 3 dimensional model that grabs, lifts items horizontally, and can turn very close to 90 degrees! Designed to be used alone (with a nice syringe holder), or in a group - each person using one syringe.

A great way to learn about Robotics, Levers and Simple Machines, Fluid dynamics, Engineering, and Invention, and Design and Technology - or just moving things around the house (small things, mind you - no dogs or cats, please.)

Easy to make in about an hour or two, it stretches 49 cm (16 inches) out, swings 18 cm (7 inches) around, and stands 37 cm (13 inches) high. Best of all: no batteries required!

Great for STEM programs!

$ 24 one set/ $180 for 10 sets

Excavators are big machines that are used to dig holes and move earth, and this model uses the same principles as those used in real situations, except you use water instead of hydraulic fluid. There are many types of excavators and this kit uses a first and third class lever to make the arm and shovel move. We think it provides and excellent example of how we use technology to dig things up. Great for kids to learn about hydraulics, levers and simple machines, and to finish small excavating projects. Simple to build in less than an hour, you need only a pair of scissors to make this fun and functional model. Best of all: no batteries required! GREAT FOR STEM PROGRAMS!

·  Easy instructions, suitable for beginner model makers.

Platform lifters are cool simple machines that are used to lift platforms horizontally.

This model uses the same principles as those in real situations, except you use water instead of hydraulic fluid much cleaner!

This kit is similar to the Cherry Picker except the platform swings freely.

Fully extended it stands over 22 cm high. This makes for some interesting fun as you can balance an object as you  raise up the platform.

Easy to assemble in less than an hour, this kit uses one hydraulic piston attached to the main arm. Great for teachers and kids to get going on the study of levers and simple machines, and a great beginning to make their own machines!

Best of all: no batteries required!

$17 one set/$120 for 10 sets

Widely used by power and telephone companies (and anyone who wants to get a cat out of a tree) this is an excellent model showing levers and hydraulics.

Using a parallel linkage, the platform stays level all the way up and down. And it swivels side to side! Great fun for moving Lego people around, (sorry, not included).

The nice thing about the parallel linkage is that as the platform moves up and down, the people don't fall off (we think that is a nice touch!)

Easy to assemble in less than an hour, this kit uses one hydraulic piston attached to the main arm.

Best of all: no batteries required!

$17 one set /$120 for 10 sets

Great for STEM programs!

Hydraulic  Mini Scissor Lifts are cool machines that are used on building sites to lift a platform horizontally. They are commonly used to reach high places like ceilings with a steady place to work from.

This model uses the same principles as those in real situations, except you use water instead of hydraulic fluid - nice!

Once made the Scissor Lift provides an excellent example of how we use technology to reach the top Great for kids to learn about hydraulics, levers and simple machines. Simple to build in less than an hour, you need only a pair of scissors to make this fun and functional model.

Best of all: no batteries required!

$17 one set  /$120 for 10 sets

Great for STEM programs!

This kit contains 4 hydraulics kits in one mini-Mega box of fun.

These kits provide hours of interesting building and thoughtful use – building blocks, moving Lego people around the house, and for those who want to give their mouse the ride of his life!

Kits included are: Mini Scissor Lift, Hyadraulic Robotic Arm, Mini Cherry Picker, and Mini Excavator

Most models stand between 18 and 24 cm high when fully extended and can hold things like a glass of milk, toys, false teeth and other fun items!

Hydraulic Gearbots are not all that common, but the fun thing about this one is that it is relatively easy to make, will amaze your friends, and you can toss popcorn around when your parents are not home (if you are a parent don’t read that last sentence).

There is information about the different gears at the end, and if you read it our researchers said you could be 42% smarter!

It was awarded “2016 Toy of the Year“- for building kits by Creative Child Magazine!

We want our kids to ask questions, solve problems, and take the design process from conception to an end product. This class pack of materials is designed to help enhance those crucial skills!

The kit comes with a teacher information booklet with great lesson plans, ideas, and a 15 page student handbook with information about the history of hydraulics machines, and pages of tips and ideas about how to use the parts.

Teachers need only scissors, glue, and cardboard to get their class inventing, designing and building in a great, affordable activity that will be the highlight of any science unit.

One of the most common types of bridges for freight trains, our Truss Design Lift Bridge is a working replica of the many lift bridges that have been made over the last 100 years.

Lift bridges became the workhorses of the freight railroads for many years as rail lines expanded over the rivers and ports of the world. The design was particularly useful in areas where there was no room for a bridge to swing, such as a busy industrial port. This bridge uses a small handle and crankshaft to lift the centre span to the top of the truss structure, allowing trolls and other vehicles to safely pass between the two ends.

The kit can be mostly made without glue and taken apart for storage. Snug slot construction and accurate cutting makes this possible!

Based on the classic design at Newcastle-upon-Tyne in the UK, this elegant design has been used for hundreds years around the world. In fact Leonardo da Vinci invented a swing bridge in the 1400's! Swing bridges are still used widely around the world.

Using a wooden bevel gear, the bridge swings open and closed, just like a real swing bridge.

Great for wooden trains and car sets, kids can learn about gears and have the neatest bridge on the block.

·  Kit comes complete with easy to follow instructions, all you need are some scissors.

·  Comes with great educational information and links to learn more about levers and bridges.

·  Easy to make in an hour or two, and has stickers for signs and the road

Probably the coolest bridge we make, this is a replica of the Joseph Strauss design that was made all over North America in the 1920's and 1930's. Well known bridges of this type are the Johnston Street (Blue Bridge) in Victoria, B.C., Wishka River bridge in Washington, the Ashtaula Bridge in Ohio, the Cherry Street bridge in Toronto and the Third Street Bridge in San Francisco.

Sized to fit the wooden train sets, this bridge is an elegant reminder of the cool truss bridges that used to be built years ago and are still in use! Great to use for school bridge studies, and learn more about interesting linkages, this kit will bring a new level of sophistication to playing with wooden cars and trains. Graffiti is not included, but that gives you the chance to be creative!

The bridge was designed by Leonardo Da Vinci between 1485 and 1490, to be built rapidly with  local trees, that could be easily slid into place, lashed together, and then crossed quickly, making troop movement over rivers speedy, creating a surprise factor that was critical to success in battles. Leonardo applied the laws of statics, which he had developed during his architectural research. In his journals he wrote laws about friction, one of which stated that if the load on an object is doubled, its friction also doubles. Interestingly, when weight is applied down, it gets tighter and stronger, yet when lifted it falls.

• Easy to make by beginner model makers.
• All natural wood.
• 9.5 cm tall x 24 cm across