We describe a hands-on activity involving mathematical mechanical drawing machines. In particular, attending participants will construct a parabolograph, an artifact which traces rigorously a parabola with a continuous line. The workshop is addressed to general public and young people from 13-14 years old. The ultimate goal is to lead the participants to make a direct connection between the shape of the plotted curve and the setting of the machine, which is closely associated with the definition of the curve as a geometric locus. The approach reflects the historical cultural content of these machines, dating from XVII century. This approach has been tested by the authors in laboratorial sessions with high school students, in an elective course of the school of Architecture of Roma Tre University and in occasion of the European Researchers’ Night 2017.