Electric Scissor Lift Kit – DIY Motor, Gear & Rack STEM Model
Build a battery-powered scissor lift: a motor drives gears and a rack, and the crossed links raise the platform from 6.5 to 20.5 cm.
Designed by Mematrix Lab
Description
Build a working scissor lift
This kit turns a motor, a gear train and a set of crossed links into a small electric lifting platform. Kids build the scissor arms, mount the motor and gears on the perforated base, wire the battery box and switch, then flip the switch to watch the platform rise and fall. The open frame lets you see every stage, from the spinning motor to the moving rack and the extending links.
Science it demonstrates
- Scissor linkages: how crossed links multiply a short horizontal movement into a large vertical one
- Gear reduction: how a small motor gear and a double-layer gear slow the motor down and increase its force
- Rack and pinion: how a gear turning against a toothed rack produces straight-line motion
- Simple circuits: a battery box, a switch and a DC motor, and reversing the motor to change direction
What you'll do
- Join the rods into two scissor arms with the axle pins and dowel pins
- Fit the motor, gear brackets, double-layer gear and rack gear to the base
- Attach the scissor arms, guide rails, shaft rod and platform
- Mount the battery holder and switch, connect the wires and insert two AA batteries
- Switch it on to raise and lower the platform, then try lifting light objects
Parts list
- Base, platform, battery holder, switch mount and switch assembly
- Motor assembly and motor mount
- Left and right gear brackets, double-layer gear and rack gear
- 12 rods, 2 guide rails, 2 rod brackets and a shaft rod
- Axle pins (14 long, 4 short), 2 limit pins, 20 dowel pins and screws
- Screwdriver
- 2 AA batteries required (not included)
Good to know
- This is a teaching model for light objects, not a tool for lifting people, tools or heavy items; no load rating is given.
- Insert the batteries with the correct polarity and remove them when the model is not in use.
- Keep fingers clear of the moving links and gears. Contains small parts; adult guidance recommended.
- Colours of the supplied kit may differ from the illustrations.
Specs and Docs
- Base size
- Approx. 11.2 × 10.8 cm
- Platform
- Approx. 8.5 × 8.5 cm
- Lifting height
- Approx. 6.5 cm (lowest) to 20.5 cm (highest)
- Drive
- DC motor, gear reduction and rack gear
- Power
- 2 × AA batteries (not included)
- Assembly
- Self-assembly kit, screwdriver included
- Suggested age
- 6+ with adult guidance
Shipping
Standard shipping: $9.00 for the first item, +$1.80 for each additional item. Free shipping on orders over $260.
We ship worldwide, by default with economical international post (UPU / China Post small packet) to keep shipping costs low. Orders are usually handed to the carrier within 2–5 business days, and economical international post then takes about 10–30 business days to arrive; these are estimates, not guarantees. Delivery time depends on the destination and on postal and customs handling. If you need your order by a certain date, email us before ordering: faster shipping can be arranged, with the extra cost charged at the carrier's actual rate. Items that contain batteries or magnets are marked on their product page and ship by a special carrier line; some countries and regions cannot be reached by that line, and if yours is one of them we refund the order in full.
Batteries & magnets
This item contains, or may contain, batteries or magnets (for example in a motor, speaker or rechargeable battery). Ordinary postal parcels with such items may not pass security screening, so it ships by a special carrier line, and its price includes a $10 surcharge for this. Some countries and regions cannot be reached by this line. If yours is one of them, we will email you and refund your order in full.
Customs & duties
Import duties, taxes and customs requirements depend on the destination country, the shipping route and the local customs office, so we cannot say in advance whether any will apply to your parcel. Customs may hold a parcel, ask for more information, or ask for duties or taxes to be paid, even when the declared value is correct. If you have a question about your country, email us before ordering.
See our shipping & returns policy.