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Post by Bones on Sept 6, 2004 20:44:35 GMT 10
Hi,
Batteries turned up today. 2x12v 12AH Gel cells. 2 to start off with. Will proberly need another 4. 4 for the motors etc and two for the inverter to run the computer system. I got my Picaxe's to play with for the servo and motor drives for the arms etc. And today I found the neck and spine material. It's a bit like the metal tubing that the arms that Dr Octapus has for his arms. It's a stainless steel interlocked tubing that can bend and twist.
Pictures to come soon. The new work bench is nearly finished.
Bones
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Post by Dingo on Sept 6, 2004 21:57:28 GMT 10
<monty burns> eeeeexcellent </monty burns>  Seriously, sounds like some good stuff |
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Post by Bones on Sept 19, 2004 23:44:22 GMT 10
The work bench has been build. 3M X 1M. With 2 added sides 1.2M x 600MM for the lathe and the other power tools.
The tank type base is built. Photo's soon. Waiting on the wheels and the tracks. I'm looking at conveyor belt system. Matters on the price.
The 300Watt scooter motors turned up and it's all starting to come together nicely. I'll do more on the body next week.
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Post by bender on Sept 21, 2004 21:30:09 GMT 10
i wish i had the skils and money to build something as cool as this.
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Post by Bones on Sept 24, 2004 0:59:26 GMT 10
Money??? I don't know about that. Large credit card bill more like it. It's a learning experience.
And sounds cool on a resume and if your mates ask "what have you been upto" and you say building robots!!!
The lathe is bolted down now and kicked over for the first time. Now for the metal. I found a real cool design for the fingers and hand. That is one of the next projects.
I'm waiting on the prices on some more tracks. I'll try plastic ones to see how they go.
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Post by Dingo on Sept 24, 2004 9:49:46 GMT 10
I don't know how much it costs but I have seen some places that do laser cutting of plastic.
That could give a good level of finish to plastic tracks.
Don't forget that there are plenty of metal fabrication shops around, it has been my experience that most places will do little jobs for really good prices (I'm talking starting at $5 but it is always cash so credit card would be no good).
(To the ATO: BTW I'm not talking about tax avoidance but avoiding the overhead of processing a small creadit card transaction).
Usually welding shops have the equipment that we hobbyists just don't have and they can do a job in no time flat using the proper tools.
If you are really lucky, get the apprientice to do it in his own time and it could be even cheaper (although if it is a precision part like a tank track I'd go with an old hand)
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Post by Bones on Oct 18, 2004 23:41:00 GMT 10
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Post by Bones on Nov 4, 2004 21:22:19 GMT 10
Update on progress.
The lathe is setup finally up and running. I got a milling attachment for it so the fingers are getting machined up.
Pictures are coming soon.
The arm design has been changed yet again. But I think I'm happy with this one. The tracks will be the fun part.
Each link will be machined up. Or maybe laser cut or if it is cheap enough casted.
As I said pics to come soon.
rod
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Post by Dingo on Nov 5, 2004 13:51:14 GMT 10
Excellent - I want to see those fingers move!
As soon as my exams are over (fri 12th) I'm going to get into casting in a big way, both plastic and metal.
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Post by Hollywood on Dec 5, 2004 11:43:10 GMT 10
An interesting sounding project.
Do you have pictures of your progress so far? I'd be interested in seeing them. I'm also creating something similar, at the moment.
What are you using for motion? DC motors? AC motors? Stepper motors? Pnuematic muscles?
It was a question that plagued me for a while, each has their own advantages and disadvantages, and honestly it really depends what you intend your 'robot' to be able to do.
Laser cutting plastics is also a very interesting comment that someone made as well. Did you think about this? I don't see it as possible, since laser/plasma cutting is a heat cutting process and plastics would melt leaving a deformed edge (which is obviously what you dont want as the only reason people chose laser cutting is for pure accuracy).
Also interesting to hear you talking about casting plastics and metals. I fabricate most items myself or outsource them. Could you introduce me to this ?
Thanks,
Dale
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Post by Dingo on Dec 5, 2004 18:44:36 GMT 10
Bones has some pics, descriptions etc in the projects section ( www.users.on.net/~symes/projects.htm ) The last I heard about it was he was thinking of using laser cut alloy for the tracks. BTW Hollywood, if you want me to host your project too I'm more than happy to. Oh and welcome to the site! |
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Post by Bones on Dec 6, 2004 16:35:07 GMT 10
Hi Hollywood,
I'm Using 300W scooter motors for the drive motors.
Air muscles for just about everything else and a few servos in the head and arms(finger, wrist etc).
The arms design has been changed heaps of times now and the final one is the same as Sonny from Irobot.
It seems the easiest. I have just done a prototype of the air muscle. I will email the pic to be posted.
I need to take more photo's I've been a bit slack.
The tracks will be lazer cut from 8mm alloy plate and the drive horns screwed to every second segment.
The simplest design and the best.
What was your project got any pics.
Rods
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Post by Bones on Mar 1, 2005 19:06:41 GMT 10
Hi,
Finally found some teflon tubing and stainless stess cable to use for tendons in the hands and arms.
RS components have the tube 1.07mm bore and 0.3mm wall thickness. The cable is nylon coated trace wire used for fishing 0.97mm.
A lot better and cheaper than buying from the hobby shop.
Bones
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Post by Dingo on Mar 1, 2005 19:11:15 GMT 10
sweet, what sort of money does teflon tubing cost? (likes $10s, or 100s per metre?)
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Post by Bones on Mar 2, 2005 1:44:36 GMT 10
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Seriously, sounds like some good stuff
