★ Paper Automata Free Downloads & Templates | Fun Examples and Mechanism Info ★

Paper automata are mechanical models which are powered by human input - usually in the form of a crank - and this leads to a range of movements from simple back and forth actions to multiple types of movement at once.

Automata are usually either wood or paper, with paper obviously being much easier, quicker and more versatile to use, and wood being more long-lasting and hard wearing. Most of the mechanical toys are whimsical and fun in style and are meant as curiosities or heirlooms, with the fun being as much in the making of them as it is in the end result.

Knowledge of cams and simple mechanical systems is neccessary if you plan on creating your own designs from scratch, but otherwise there are plenty of templates you can buy or download for free online, many of which you will find listed below.

I hope you find this page interesting, and I hope you have fun making your own automata :-)

Photo and toy by Custom Paper Toys.