Blueprint Turntable 15-Pack: What It Adds to Your Classroom
By Sphero Coding Robots & Kits | PK-12 STEM Education, AI | Published: 2026-10-13
Category: Produktbewertungen
A practical look at the Blueprint Turntable 15-Pack: what it adds to Blueprint builds, who it suits, and when other littleBits accessories matter more.
Quick answer
Buy the Blueprint Turntable 15-Pack if your students already build with the Blueprint Build Kit or Class Pack and need one connection to spin while the other stays stationary. Skip it if your builds do not use shafts or if you have not yet solved power and control for your classroom kit. It is a focused add-on, not a standalone STEM kit.
What the 15-pack actually changes in a build
The Blueprint Turntable 15-Pack combines Lock Plate and Bearing Plate functions into one part. That means it can hold shafts securely while allowing one connection to rotate and the other to remain fixed. In practice, this is the difference between a build that wobbles or binds and one that spins cleanly for demonstrations, kinetic art, or rotating displays.
Because it is sold as a 15-pack, it fits classroom-scale use rather than a single student project. If your lesson has groups building at the same time, a 15-pack keeps multiple stations supplied without students waiting for a shared part. If you only need one or two turntables for a teacher demo, the pack size is more than you need.
How to tell whether your Blueprint builds need it
Look at your current builds. If students are already using shafts and want a section of the model to rotate while the rest stays still, the turntable is the part that makes that motion possible. If your builds are mostly flat circuits, lights, or sensors with no rotating assembly, adding turntables will not improve them.
The turntable is also a precision part, so it rewards builds that are already stable. If students are still learning how to connect Blueprint pieces firmly, introduce the turntable after they can build a rigid frame. Otherwise the rotating section may be blamed for problems that come from a loose base.
Pair it with the right power and control
A rotating build still needs power and a way to control speed or brightness. The littleBits i6 dimmer is a simple control Bit: twisting the knob clockwise sends more signal to the Bits that follow, which can brighten lights, speed up motors, or raise buzzer volume. For a rotating project, that gives students a hands-on way to adjust motion instead of just switching it on and off.
Power choice depends on how permanent the build is. The littleBits 9V Battery + Cable keeps creations powered as a portable source, and it comes in two connection styles, 90-degree angle or straight cable, so you can match the build layout. The AC Power Supply (littleBits) is a power adapter and USB cable combo with a 1.5 meter USB to micro-USB cable, which suits permanent creations that stay in one place.
What the catalog does not tell you
The supplied product records do not list a maximum load, rotation speed, or specific shaft diameter for the Blueprint Turntable 15-Pack. That is a real limitation when planning a heavy or fast-spinning build. Treat the turntable as a connection and bearing solution, and test your specific build before committing a whole class to it.
The same caution applies to classroom quantities. A 15-pack supports multiple groups, but if your class has more than 15 simultaneous rotating builds, you will need more than one pack or a rotation schedule. Check your actual group count before ordering.
Decision rules for buying the turntable pack
- Rule 1: Buy only if shafts are already in the build: The turntable holds shafts and separates spinning from stationary connections. If your students are not using shafts, the pack has no job in the build. Check one current student build before ordering.
- Rule 2: Match pack size to group count: A 15-pack covers 15 rotating connections. If more groups build at once, plan for multiple packs or a rotation schedule. Count simultaneous builds, not total students.
- Rule 3: Budget for power and control too: A turntable does not power or control anything by itself. Pair it with a dimmer for speed or brightness control and choose battery or AC power based on whether the build moves or stays put. Treat the turntable as one part of a working system.
- Rule 4: Prototype before a full-class rollout: The catalog does not state load or speed limits. Build one rotating model, test it with your chosen power and control Bits, then decide how many packs your lessons need. One tested prototype prevents a wasted order.
Product facts to know
- Blueprint Turntable 15-Pack: A fusion of Lock Plate and Bearing Plate functionalities, these turntables securely hold shafts, enabling one connection to spin while the other stays stationary. This is the core reason to buy the pack: it creates controlled rotation in Blueprint builds rather than a loose or fixed joint.
- littleBits i6 dimmer: Twist this dimmer back and forth to control your circuit. As you twist the knob clockwise, more signal goes to the Bits that follow, brightening lights, speeding up motors, or raising the volume on buzzers. A dimmer gives students analog control over a rotating build, so they can adjust motion instead of only turning it on or off.
- littleBits 9V Battery + Cable: Keep your littleBits creations powered with this 9V Battery and Cable accessory. Available in two connection styles: 90-degree angle or straight cable, to suit your build layout. Portable power with a layout choice helps when rotating builds need to be carried, demonstrated, or set up away from an outlet.
- AC Power Supply (littleBits): This power adapter and USB cable combo is the perfect way to power permanent creations! You can extend your inventions with the 1.5 meter long USB to micro-USB cable. For a display that stays in one spot, the AC supply removes battery changes and gives you cable reach to position the build.
Who should buy it
Best for
- Classrooms already using the Blueprint Build Kit or Class Pack with shaft-based builds
- Teachers running multiple groups that each need a rotating connection at the same time
- Lessons on rotational motion, kinetic displays, or mechanisms where one part spins and another stays fixed
Not for
- Teachers who have not yet chosen a power and control setup for their littleBits builds
- Builds with no shafts or no need for a stationary-to-spinning connection
- Single-student or demo use where a 15-pack is far more than you need
