Seven Easy Steps to Circuit Bending Any Toy
1. Find a toy - I’ve chosen this handy dandy gun.
2.Pick some parts to add to it - I am going to add a pot and a switch to this
3.Open her up. - It may be unwilling the first time but after that its easy
4.FIND A BEND - This is the most fun. there are several meathods to this, I just use alligator clips to touch around various spots on the board. After messing around with dozens of kids toys you start to see patterns as to what causes a different glitch. here’s a couple other guides if you are really interested The Art Of Circuit Bending F.A.Q.
In this toy we will be doing the most common circuit bend the “tone bend” locate a resistor (usually close to the main IC) and change its value with something. You could put a light sensor there or a volume pot. Here I’m using an old volume pot and an on off switch to that pot. The end result is that I am adding resistance to this place in the circuit.
Here I have the alligator clips connected to the resistor a couple different ways for testing. 
5.Mod the Case - basically drill any holes for parts and find how everything should fit before you solder anything in place.
6. Solder! - make sure you cut those wires the right length.
7. Button it up - finish up the job. you might have to do some more drilling to make everything fit, but as long as it can hold together then you are all good.
James
Recent Comments