Build cardboard inventions with reusable electronics.
Invention Engine building tools help students attach the Hub and bits to cardboard, test their ideas, remove the electronics and build again.
Getting started guide
Cardboard makes real classroom prototyping possible.
Cardboard makes it fast to test, change and improve ideas. Students can cut, build, rebuild and refine their inventions as they learn.
Easy to shape
Students can sketch, cut, fold, test and change ideas quickly.
Low-cost materials
Cardboard gives every group room to prototype, test and improve.
Fast iteration
Students can modify the build when the first version does not work.
Reusable electronics
The Hub and bits can be removed and used in the next invention.
The tools make cardboard builds repeatable.
Students use the stencil, punch tools and rivets to mount electronics securely into cardboard prototypes.
Stencil
Use the stencil to check cardboard thickness, mark bit positions and create a grid for accurate placement.
Stencil datasheet →
Outer punch tool
Use the outer punch tool to punch rivet holes through the cardboard.
Punch tool datasheet →
Inner punch tool
Use the inner punch tool to make perforated cut-outs for the Hub and bits.
Punch tool datasheet →
Rivets
Use rivets to secure the Hub and bits to cardboard. The base goes in first, then the hat.
Rivet help →How students attach electronics to cardboard.
The process is practical and repeatable: choose cardboard, mark the grid, punch the holes, mount the bits and test the build.
Choose cardboard
Use the stencil gauge to check that the cardboard is the right thickness.
Make a grid
Press the stencil onto the cardboard to mark accurate placement points.
Punch rivet holes
Use the outer punch tool to create holes for the rivets.
Make cut-outs
Use the inner punch tool to create perforated cut-outs for the Hub and bits.
Attach the bits
Place the rivet base first, then push the hat through the base and cardboard.
Test and improve
Run the invention, adjust the build, remove the bits and reuse them when needed.
Structured enough for class. Flexible enough for invention.
The tools give students a repeatable way to prepare cardboard, while still leaving room to design, test, fix and improve their own ideas.
The stencil helps students prepare the right cut-out for the right bit.
The stencil bit guide shows which cut-out matches each Hub or bit, so students can prepare cardboard before attaching electronics.
Not random. Organised.
Students match the bit to the stencil guide, prepare the cut-out, then attach the electronics with rivets. This keeps building predictable without turning this page into a full datasheet library.
Simple safety rules for classroom building.
The tools are classroom-friendly when students follow a few clear rules.
Protect the table
Place a piece of cardboard under the work surface before punching.
Keep cardboard flat
The cardboard should be flat when using punch tools.
Watch your hands
Do not put your hand under the cardboard when using the punch tool.
Handle the inner punch carefully
The inner punch tool has a point.
Keep rivets out of mouths
Rivets are small and should not be placed in the mouth.
Store tools safely
Put the inner punch tool back into the outer tool when not in use.
Remove the bits. Reuse them. Build again.
Students are not locked into one model. They can take the electronics out, save the rivets, recycle unused cardboard and use the Hub and bits in the next invention.
Less waste
Electronics stay valuable because they move from project to project.
More iteration
Students can rebuild the cardboard when their idea changes.
More invention cycles
Every bit can become part of a new prototype.
Quick fixes when the build is not holding.
Most cardboard build problems come back to cardboard thickness, hole placement or rivet order.
My bits keep falling off. What should I check?
Use the cardboard thickness gauge to check the cardboard. Choose sturdy cardboard. Make sure the rivet base goes in first, then push the hat all the way through the base and cardboard.
The cardboard is tearing. What should I do?
Choose sturdier cardboard and keep it flat while punching. Use the stencil to mark holes before punching so the cut-outs and rivet holes line up.
The rivets are hard to attach. What should I check?
Check that the holes have been punched clearly. Put the base in first, line up the bit, then push the hat all the way through the base and cardboard.
I punched the wrong place. What now?
Move the bit to a stronger area of cardboard, mark again with the stencil and keep testing. If the cardboard is too weakened, rebuild that part and reuse the electronics.
What cardboard should I use?
Use flat, sturdy cardboard that fits inside the stencil thickness gauge. If it is too thick, the rivets may be hard to fasten. If it is too weak, the bits may not hold well.
Can students reuse the rivets?
Yes. Remove rivets carefully from the bits and save them when possible for the next invention.
Can we recycle the cardboard?
Yes. Remove the Hub, bits and rivets first. Save the reusable electronics and rivets, then recycle unused cardboard.