Using the 123 Art Ring – VEX Library

The 123 Art Ring makes it easy for young students to customize the 123 Robot and enhance hands-on learning with VEX 123. Customizing the 123 Robot with the Art Ring encourages students to be creative as they personalize their robot for coding activities.

Customizing your 123 Robot with the Art Ring

The Art Ring is an attachment designed to enable you and your students to add creative elements to the 123 Robot. It has holes and slots where you can add craft items, like pipe cleaners, paper, or feathers, to turn the 123 Robot into various characters for your coding activities. The holes on the Art Ring are sized so that you can also use pieces from other VEX construction kits such as VEX GO and IQ to customize your robot as well.

Three example Art Ring designs on 123 Robots, one of a monster, one of a flamingo, and one of a sailboat.

For more information on using the 123 Robot, see the Using the 123 Robot VEX Library article.

How to attach materials to the Art Ring

Diagram showing how decorations are first attached to the Art Ring before snapping the Art Ring onto the top of the 123 Robot.

Add your elements to the Art Ring, then snap it onto the top of the 123 Robot.

Diagram of the Art Ring above a 123 Robot. The white arrow on the Art Ring is located at the front of the ring, aligned with the white arrow on the front of the robot. Arrows indicate that this is how the art ring should be attached to the robot, by pressing it down until it snaps into place.

When using the Art Ring with the 123 Robot, ensure that it is snapped onto the 123 Robot with the white arrows aligned with one another.

The following are some helpful hints for using the Art Ring:

Use lightweight craft supplies such as: feathers, pipe cleaners, pom poms, or paper. Don’t use heavy materials or attach too many objects that may weigh down the 123 Robot and impede its movement.
Make sure that materials don’t obstruct the movement of the wheels.
Don’t cover the Eye Sensor on the front of the 123 Robot.
Attach materials to the Art Ring with tape, pipe cleaners, or VEX GO or IQ pieces. Avoid using glue or other adhesives in order to facilitate a quick and easy cleanup.

Using the Art Ring Canvas

The Art Ring Canvas is a template that is designed to fit into the slots on the Art Ring. When cut out, the Art Ring Canvas can be taped together in the back, and will fit into the slots on the Art Ring, to sit atop your 123 Robot – turning it into any character or object you wish. Art Ring Canvases can be printed and drawn on, or decorated with other craft materials. Cut along the solid lines, and use the dotted lines as indicators of where the drawing space ends.

There are two formats of Art Ring Canvases.

Watch this video to see how to use the Art Ring Canvas with the Art Ring. In the video, the Art Ring Canvas is first folded over itself to form a ring, and then taped to stay in place. The folded Art Ring Canvas has tabs on its bottom edge that will then fit securely into the holes on the Art Ring.

Standard Art Ring Canvas print template, used here as an example of what the user can expect when printing it out. The outline is marked with solid lines to indicate where the printout should be cut.

One is designed to sit flush against the top of the Art Ring.

Print the template and cut along the solid lines.

Select the links below to print:

Close up of the Art Ring Canvas attached to the Art Ring and 123 Robot, to demonstrate the finished look. A series of characters are drawn onto the paper Art Ring Canvas to look as though they are standing on the top of the robot.

When added to the Art Ring, the drawing on the Art Ring Canvas stands up and wraps around the 123 Robot.

Close up of the back of the Art Ring Canvas attached to the Art Ring to demonstrate where the Canvas has been taped. Small tabs on the sides of the Art Ring Canvas stick out and are marked to help the user properly fold the Canvas into a ring.

The VEX 123 logo overlaps the cross hatching on the back, and can be taped together to give extra support when attached to the Art Ring.

Alternate Art Ring Canvas print template, used here as an example of what the user can expect when printing it out. The Alternate Canvas has a different tab design to allow for additional decorations to be added to the Art Ring.

The alternative gives extra space around the holes on the Art Ring, so that attachments can be added in addition to the Art Ring Canvas.

Print the template and cut along the solid lines.

Select the links below to print:

Example design of an octopus made using the Alternate Art Ring Canvas for the head and pipe cleaners to act as the tentacles.

With the holes exposed, this Art Ring Canvas can be used to create three dimensional characters and creatures.

Close up of the back of the Alternate Art Ring Canvas attached to the Art Ring, to demonstrate the different tab design. Gaps in this Canvas allow additional decorations to be added to the Art Ring.

The additional space around the holes can enable attachments and craft materials to be freely added to your 123 Robot.

The VEX 123 logo overlaps the cross hatching on the back, and can be taped together to give extra support to the Art Ring Canvas.

Examples of ways to customize the 123 Robot

Use craft materials, or pieces from VEX GO or IQ Kits to customize the 123 Robot to fit a theme for coding activities, or have students personalize the robot based on their interests. Use tape or pipe cleaners to attach materials. Avoid using stickers or glue on the Art Ring to avoid time-consuming cleanup.

Animals

Example animal design of a flamingo attached to the Art Ring.

Side view of an example animal design of a flamingo attached to the Art Ring.

Made-Up Creatures

Example made up creature design of a monster with teeth attached to the Art Ring.

Side view of an example made up creature design of a monster with teeth attached to the Art Ring.

Example made up creature design of a monster with arms attached to the Art Ring.

Side view of an example made up creature design of a monster with arms attached to the Art Ring.

Insects

Example insect design of a butterfly attached to the Art Ring.

Side view of an example insect design of a butterfly attached to the Art Ring.

Cars and Trucks

Example vehicle design of a truck attached to the Art Ring.

Side view of an example vehicle design of a truck attached to the Art Ring.

Boats

Example sailboat design attached to the Art Ring.

Side view of an example sailboat design attached to the Art Ring.

VEX Plastic Construction parts found in VEX GO and VEX IQ kits fit into the holes on the Art Ring. Use pieces from the VEX Construction System to add extensions and customize the 123 Robot.

Use VEX Plastic Pieces

Example VEX Pieces design of a race car attached to the Art Ring.

Side view of an example VEX Pieces design of a race car attached to the Art Ring.

Angled view of an example VEX Pieces design of a race car attached to the Art Ring.

Example VEX Pieces design of a monster attached to the Art Ring.

Side view of an example VEX Pieces design of a monster attached to the Art Ring.

Example VEX Pieces design of an airplane attached to the Art Ring.

Angled view of an example VEX Pieces design of an airplane attached to the Art Ring.

Side view of an example VEX Pieces design of an airplane attached to the Art Ring.

Example VEX Pieces design of a pom pom clean-up vehicle attached to the Art Ring.

Angled view of an example VEX Pieces design of a pom pom clean-up vehicle attached to the Art Ring.

Side view of an example VEX Pieces design of a pom pom clean-up vehicle attached to the Art Ring.