The Useless Can is a 52-part DIY kit that can be assembled without any soldering. It creates a fun and entertaining mechanism that makes an original gift for children, hobbyists, or anyone who enjoys unusual gadgets.
The Useless Machine in a Can: Fun Kit for Everyone was successfully funded on Kickstarter in 2015, reaching an impressive 300% of its original funding goal.
We are extremely grateful to our 427 Kickstarter backers and 173 Amazon customers who supported the project.
Our goal was to create a kit that would be easy and enjoyable for children to assemble, and we achieved exactly that. The assembly process is simple and requires no soldering, specialized tools, or complicated procedures. All you need is a screwdriver to build the complete mechanism.
It may be useless, but it is one of the most user-friendly useless machines ever created.
The first useless machine was invented in 1952 by MIT professor Marvin Minsky while he was a graduate student at Bell Labs. After seeing the machine in Minsky’s office, science fiction writer Arthur C. Clarke wrote: “There is something unspeakably sinister about a machine that does nothing, absolutely nothing, except switch itself off.”
When we decided to create our own Useless Machine, we wanted to make something different. This do-it-yourself kit contains 52 parts and requires no soldering or specialized equipment. Most of the assembly can be completed using a simple screwdriver.
To make the mechanism as compact, lightweight, and reliable as possible, we designed several custom electronic components. These components make the kit much easier to assemble by taking care of the soldering for the user.
The switch is mounted on a custom circuit board, allowing the components to be connected quickly and easily. This design also simplifies the cable layout and helps prevent assembly errors.
There is no risk of damaging the components by connecting the cables incorrectly. If a cable is connected in the wrong location, the mechanism simply will not operate. Once the cable is connected correctly, the machine will work normally.
This makes the kit especially suitable for children, since accidental wiring mistakes will not damage the mechanism.
The PDF assembly manual is available here: Useless Can Assembly Manual