Miniature DIY Microwave (with rotating tray!)

I am forever brainstorming ways to make miniatures that move just like their real life counterparts. Today’s tutorial goes through how to build this mini microwave that has a door that opens, a light that turns on and a rotating turntable. This was so fun to put together and I’m excited to make more functional minis.
If you want to download the 3d model I designed here, please visit my Etsy shop: thesquaretospa...
If you’re interested in the Creality Ender 3 V3 SE, there is a Black Friday 10% discount that’s valid from November 17 to December 1
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✏ Products used in this video:
Button Switch: amzn.to/3QBlbYw
Motor: amzn.to/3FVvt0T
Hand Saw: amzn.to/47gxjFt
LED Light: amzn.to/3QWQgHq
Stainless steel contact paper: amzn.to/3JM6P4U
Clear plastic sheets (0.03” thick): amzn.to/3NXIUSP
Waterslide decal paper: amzn.to/3NrMenq
X-Acto Knife: amzn.to/2pDCYnm
Micro hand drill: amzn.to/3NvX6Rv
Jewelry wire: amzn.to/3PCWOL4
✏ Equipment I use:
Canon Powershot: amzn.to/31ykgh1
Tripod: amzn.to/2WFADES
Daylight Flood Bulbs: amzn.to/2MNUYIL
Light Reflectors: amzn.to/2KYlfBF
Light Stands: amzn.to/2XTvg6o
Mic: amzn.to/2WGw0iS
Editing Software: Final Cut Pro
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This video is NOT sponsored. The Ender 3 printer was sent by Creality to test it out. Some of the Amazon links above are affiliate links.

[@MimmiesMinis-KellyPenny]

🤯 seriously! My mind is blown away! I feel like I've been under a rock, because I had no idea the buttons even existed let alone were available in a multi-pack on Amazon! Amazon has everything, so why not, right!? LOL 😄 I do appreciate you do always take into consideration most people don't have access to a 3-D printer and show examples of the items that can be used to make the hand crafted version. I know not for this one, and I'm not upset😊 this one would be a fairly easy one to figure out. I do love the things you create and I'm so glad you started posting videos again because I've binge watched I think nearly every one of you previous videos LOL 😂

[@queencityminis]

You're so good at simplifying things that flummox me, like adding electronics to minis 😮

[@mon6745]

It's so realistic I dont know what to say 😮😮😮 the mesh is genius! You are so.creative and talented- I can't beleive there's a light and the door opens and the tray moves 😊

[@TheSpotlightZone101]

SERIOUSLY YOU HAVE ME SO OBSESSED 🥰🥰🥰

[@robertballuumm730]

Your ingenuity and skills are beyond extraordinary. 🙏🙏🇬🇧

[@luluwolfgirl53]

HAHA i own that exact same microwave IRL this is way too cute!

[@daalelli]

This is just fantastic! I really don't have words.

[@nm9412]

This one is my favorite miniaturist ever!

[@taylortrent5568]

Cath your videos are amazing!! so soothing and relaxing and i learn something every time. you make it look so easy, the details are absolutely mind blowing.

[@TheSquaretoSpare]

Thank you so much!

[@mizzuzie3338]

It's adorable and you make even electronics look easy!

[@deannabarnes3771]

So blown away by this, I love these

[@courtneyford97]

Love that!! How cute and creative!

[@tammyhall6178]

WOW! That's awesome. You make me have the confidence to do better miniatures. Thank you. Your the best

[@harlembrown8987]

just wow. u r so talented. soft spoken & humble. U make it sound effortless. Sis, u the shyt!!!

[@barbaragrace1992]

This is so next level and brilliant. 🤩

[@ruthanneschulz204]

Great job 😊

[@lifeinminiboxes]

Wow. Amazing. Thank you!

[@jennglow4647]

Very cool 😀

[@rigbegreen]

So cool!!

[@gohawks3571]

No freaking way! You are amazing girl🏆

[@HolHealthWellnes]

Amazing work!

[@GensSancta]

Yay!!!! You actually made it! This is so awesome...excellent work! 💙

[@SabakuNoShi]

I missed this one before, but as always I'm amazed by level of your skills. Amazing work 😊

[@TheSquaretoSpare]

Thank you so much 😀

[@SabakuNoShi]

@@TheSquaretoSpare You're welcome ☺

[@inni.mini.creations]

Amazing as always but something about this mini is beyond incredible! Definitely one of my favorite pieces you’ve made 👏🏻👏🏻🤩

[@TheSquaretoSpare]

Awww thank you so much! Working hard to improve my skills and make minis more sophisticated 💪

[@healinspaces4u]

You are next level 📣

[@roriegilbert8304]

Great video!! ❤️❤️

[@susanpizzio309]

This is mind blowing!! So cute, you're so talented really!

[@lisagalle9222]

You're amazing!

[@s.eckert2682]

Outstanding! Great tutorial!

[@AshleyJohnson-wi3fi]

I absolutely love watching your work you really put your heart and soul in it and it is fantastic ❤❤❤

[@DollhouseTutorials]

Great job , looks like the one my dad and I built out of wood years ago. Technology really has advanced for dollhousing hasn't :)

[@TheSquaretoSpare]

It truly has! I bet the one your dad made is amazing just like everything else he makes

[@DollhouseTutorials]

@@TheSquaretoSpare thank you.

[@erikacardoso6162]

Maravilhoso! Parabéns! Minha boneca iria amar esse microondas kkkkk.

[@rebeccastanten3031]

You are just so incredible at simplifying! Any desire to make a motorized ceiling fan with light?

[@lilianahernandez02838]

Me encantan las cosas que haces, soy fan de todas las cosas en miniatura 🥺🖤

[@ShettikkaWoods-jl8iq]

That's totally cool ❤thanks

[@deehill6266]

Way to go, Cat🥂

[@cat3crazy]

Wow, it's amazing what can be done with a 3D printer. I'm not going to get one. I have enough problems with my regular printer/copier/scanner/fax machine and don't have the room any way. 😁 I do love watching your videos.

[@rebeccamount50]

Question? Instead of wire, could you also use flat head jewelry pins?

[@huzefaeqbal4805]

wow😮!!I can't believe my eyes .. So realistic!!!👏🤯 Btw, are you an engineer ?Just curious to know bcoz you're amazing

[@Blondivonrotten]

I am in awe of your miniatures! The light in the microwave is awesome but then you added the turn table! Brilliant! I have a question about decal paper. What do you do if you just want to print one thing on it? How do you reuse the sheet to print more after you have cut a piece out? Won't it get jammed in printer if you keep cutting off pieces? I don't want to print a whole sheet but don't want to waste any of it either. Thanks for the tutorial! ❤

[@fredericapanon207]

@TheSquaretoSpare, I second @Karlatipton's question regarding using only a portion of the waterslide paper.

[@airamsipuola5045]

As always, you do AMAZING work, and I know it takes a lot of time to figure out the exact measurements of things in order to create all the slots and holes. Can you maybe explain a bit how you do that, given the tiny size of everything? And for idiots like me who've never used a 3D printer or SD cards, how would one go about purchasing and using a digital file from your Etsy shop? I'd love to get a printer someday, but don't really know how to load the file onto an SD card (I have an old Macbook Air that I believe does have an SD slot, I just never used it). Thank you so much for your satisfying and creative work, and for inspiring us!

[@TheSquaretoSpare]

Thank you so much for your kind comment! And of course! I use calipers to measure all the tiny parts and it’s a life saver. For example, I measure the little button switch and make sure the hole I make in my model is the exact same size so it’ll be a perfect fit. Calipers are amazing for measuring tiny objects and they’re super affordable on Amazon. For this printer, I just opened the file (same one in my Etsy shop) in printer software, let the software do its thing, and then save it to the sd card which works the same way as saving to a usb drive. Then put it in the printer and print :)

[@airamsipuola5045]

Thank you @@TheSquaretoSpare !

[@nerdalert2782]

Let’s go 👏

[@sysop224]

(CLAPPING) brilliant Cath, how do you know all this stuff?!

[@barbkeith2697]

WOW! I have been toying with the idea of getting a 3D printer. This one looks amazing! How long did the main part take to print out? Did you have to do any sanding? You make soldering look so easy. I need to play around with our soldering gun, especially since I want to make individual lamps for my dollhouse. I love your videos. You make everything look so easy and doable. ❤

[@TheSquaretoSpare]

It took about 1.5 hours to print as I keep my in precision mode instead of fast mode. No sanding needed thank goodness. Soldering is pretty simple once you get over the fear of burning yourself lol. That was my biggest hurdle and I’ve never been burned. It’s also important to do it in a well ventilated space :)

[@jessielapidus8434]

Hi Cat- I watched your tutorial and made the microwave and it turned out beautifully. I did have one issue I wanted to ask you about, though. I had trouble wiring the light and the motor together. As soon as I added the motor to the negative prong, the light stopped working. I had my husband help me and he figured the battery was not powerful enough to make both work. We ended up using a 6v battery pack and that ended up working. I bought the same battery holder, light, and motor you had so I'm not sure why I couldn't get mine to work. Any thoughts? BTW, I love your tutorials and have made several of your creations. I've also bought many of your STL files from Etsy and they are all wonderful. Your creations always inspire me and I hope to be as good as you are one day. The finishing is always the hardest for me (getting the contact paper looking perfect, painting, and cutting the materials perfectly straight), but I'm dedicated and slowly noticing improvement. I'm hoping to buy a laser cutter and engraver next, which I think will help a lot.

[@PrimateProductions]

You did not include the Amazon link for the light! Could you please add it

[@TheSquaretoSpare]

Oops! So sorry for the oversight. It’s added now :)

[@christinefrank1520]

Wehren you get the Buttons, please share the Amazon link, thanks

[@fredericapanon207]

@christinefrank1520, look in the description for this video. On the app, click on the ...more text under the title. Kath put links to the items that she used.

[@ashlygonzalez4863]

Please, can you make a house tour in the Victorias farmhouse? 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻

[@donnap587]

I used to enjoyed watching your videos, but since you’ve gone to 3-D, not so much, it’s something about creating something with your hands without electronic technology. But I do enjoy hearing your voice.

[@bellagabriella1]

Is everything you make with a 3-D machine? I just don’t have $800 or more to spend on that.

[@TheSquaretoSpare]

It’s not and you can check out my other videos. Printers are available for $100 so they’re quite accessible to many. Many public libraries also have them for use free of charge. Happy crafting

[@zulmarivera5053]

How can I do without a machine .I don't have one

[@shenghongloo5065]

😊Buy one and you'll find that the machine allows you to do very interesting things

[@fredericapanon207]

Look up some of Kath's other videos where she shows how she makes boxes, counters, cabinets and other kitchen furnishings. The techniques are basically the same, just the dimensions change. If you wonder about scale, that is how much to shrink dimensions of actual furniture to miniature size, Ara of Bentley House Minis has a great video on that subject.

[@JessicaGarciaSalas]

🤩

[@serialkillerbarb]

awesome!

[@emmas_dollhouses]

This is absolutely amazing!!! You’re a genius. I want to make this. I have a 3d printer that I have used plenty of times. I bought all the stuff on your list. The only thing I’m a little confused after watching your video is , do we have to design the tray that moves around or does it come with the digital file ? Thanks @emmas_dollhouses

[@TheSquaretoSpare]

Great question! It comes with the digital file :)

[@CrystalMorrison]

ANY SUGGESTIONS?!? I’m almost finished but for some reason the motor just runs even if I’ve not hit the button. Light works properly & I followed instructions exactly. Maybe something changed that wasn’t edited in? BTW… your art is simply amazing and can’t wait to just get this one last step completed! Absolutely appreciate that you take the time to show us in Tinker! You finally gave me the confidence to do it myself with this video and 9 prints later but it worked bc of YOU!! 🫶