For School Groups
- School Program
- Costs $12.00 per student
- Takes about 2.00 hours
- Designed for 4th grade, 5th grade, 6th grade, 7th grade and 8th grade
- Theme: Social Studies
The Mill is the complex integration of simple machines. It brings to life the occupations that built Connecticut. It stretches student creativity to examine the ingenuity of our ancestors in the detail of 1/4" scale. Water drives three machines in the Mill.
Build a 'working' mill with a waterwheel that drives the line shafting that runs the trip hammer & drill press. Make a winch and a clamp to add to your simple machines.
Using the top and bottom boards as legs, begin nailing the housing together. The primary drive shaft fits through the center hole in the side.
Twist the second dowel through the third wheel and push the wheel onto the shaft.
The mill wheel assembly feeds through the front hole on top and the dowel goes behind the primary drive shaft. Finish the housing by turning the mill over and nailing on the second side.
Push the dowels into the holes shown.
Add all the moving parts onto the dowels. Slide the wheels on the primary drive shaft so that they line up with the mill wheel and the trip hammer. Use rubber o-rings to hold everything in place.
Wrap the drive band around the spinners. Pull the primary shaft to one side to slide the rubber band over the end.
Sand and glue the paddle wheel which will turn the drive shaft.
Use the plastic spacer on the drive shaft and twist the paddle wheel onto the end.
Thread the bolt through the wood block and the front hole beneath the trip hammer, then hand-tighten with the wing nut on the inside.
Push the pulley arm into the hole and thread the loose string through the loop.
Pull the string tight so the weight hangs even with the drive shaft and hold tight with the thumb tack.
Prepare your workers by pushing the short pegs though the stands.
Pose your workers and experience the drama of labor!
