How to Make Electronic Music Boxes
Making an electronic music box is much easier than making a mechanical one. Electronic movements do not have a winding stem but do have a light-operated activation switch, which means you do not have to drill a hole for the winding stem, and you do not have to position the control switch so the lid releases it. Making an electronic music box is basically a matter of gluing the movement into the box. There are, however, a few precautions to take if the project is going to be successful.
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Instructions
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Familiarize yourself with the electronic movement. You must locate a couple of features to position the movement correctly. The most important feature is the light-activated switch---the movement must be glued so the light-activated switch faces up. Second, look for a small on/off switch on the movement, which must be on when you complete the project. If the on/off switch is on the same side as the light-activated switch, you can turn the switch off while installing the movement. Otherwise, it must be turned on before gluing the movement into place. Turning the switch off during installing and gluing means you will not have to hear the song constantly while working.
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Put the movement in the box (Don't glue it yet!) to see if it works. To test it properly, the batteries must be in place and the small on/off switch must be on. Place the movement where you want it to go to see if it goes on and off when the lid of the box opens and closes. It should work like the light in your refrigerator: It should play when the lid opens and stop playing when the lid closes.
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Glue the movement in place. Use enough glue to make a permanent bond but not enough to have glue in the inner electronics. You might want to put a protective cover over the mechanism--to keep lint and other debris from the electronics. If you do it must be clear--so the light-activated switch can act when the lid is raised. Test to see if the box still works with the protective covering in place before you glue it. Remember not to glue the protective cover over the batteries as they will eventually have to be changed.
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Tips & Warnings
Sometimes it is nice to line the inside of the box with satin or velvet. The container does not have to be a box. Electronic movements have been added to the bottom of mugs (a tune plays when the mug is lifted) and in large greeting cards. Only your imagination limits you here.
If the mechanism stops working, and replacing the batteries does not solve the problem, try "reseating" the chip. Songs are recorded on a chip that looks like a shallow box (usually black) that has metal pins running along two or more sides. The chip fits into a socket, but, sometimes after it has run for a while, the chip pops up from the socket. Gently press it back down to reseat the chip.
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- Photo Credit Romantic music greeting image by Photosani from Fotolia.com
