The second wood project we started on this term was a paperfuge. This is a children's toy that over the years has adapted to complex tasks like separating blood plasma in hospitals, like the paper version of a centrifuge. It's simple design provided a good project for us to complete. They can spin up to 125,000 times per minute!
First of all we started off with a square of wood, which, again with the band saw, cut down to a circle shape.
Then, measuring accurately with a ruler, we marked out where we had to drill small holes to provide space for the string.
We drilled one hole in the very centre and then two approximately 5mm to the side of the centre hole. We were then able to cut a length of string and loop it around the holes to finish the spinner toy.
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| A paper centrifuge being used to separate blood plasma. |
I was happy with how mine turned out but I wish I had taken the opportunity to make a handle for it. The handles are made of thick wooden dowels which we drill a hole in to loop the string around in. This allows you to play with the spinner without your fingers or hands getting sore from the string.
Below is a video of how the paperfuge is helping to save thousands of lives around the world, including in third-world countries like Africa.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L5ppD07DMKQ
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