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Finding inexpensive hardware — Parallax Forums

Finding inexpensive hardware

willy01willy01 Posts: 1
edited 2009-11-03 04:30 in Robotics
Does anyone have any suggestions on where to find hardware for bots (mounting brackets, scrap metal for the body, etc...).· I have completed the boebot and would like to move on to some projects of my own, but am struggling with getting hardware.· I was thinking of purchasing some erector·sets for 'mocking' up a rig before committing to purchasing something more permanent.

I was not able to locate anything in the forums along these lines, so I am opening this thread up.

Thanks.

Comments

  • John R.John R. Posts: 1,376
    edited 2009-10-26 23:52
    If you can get your hands on an old copy machine, like the type that can sort, staple, collate, etc., you'll have a real treasure trove of stuff. Stepper motors, sensors, connectors, metal and plastic panels, etc.

    Depending on where you live, junk yards can also be a bonanza.

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    John R.
    Click here to see my Nomad Build Log
  • PrettybirdPrettybird Posts: 269
    edited 2009-10-28 02:37
    Ebay erector sets. Cheap and easy to modify body designs. They also use high quality nickel screws. Caution, don't get carried away like I did on my first monster boe bot. I had to get heavy duty servos to move around. Got too big.

    Post Edited (Prettybird) : 10/28/2009 2:47:33 AM GMT
    IMG_3223.JPG
    3072 x 2304 - 1M
  • tedbeautedbeau Posts: 48
    edited 2009-11-02 19:51
    Another source for some neat stuff is that old cd player you took out of your computer when you upgraded to a dvd burner. You didn't trow it away did you?
    I tore a couple of old ones apart, cut the tray open/close drive out with gearbox/belts still attached, glued a piece of plastic tubing onto the final drive gear hub and made a wheeled robot. I used the cd body stamping as the body of the robot. The body is just slightly larger than a boebot, I think.
    The slide for the laser head position is usually a guide rail slide driven by a rack and pinion gear. The motor is a simple straight DC motor. I still cannot understand why they don't use a stepper motor for this, and how they control the laser head position with no feedback. Anyways this slide makes a great little catapult. Just attach a pivot arm with an extension spring, use the slide to pull back the arm and rig a release trip at the back position. It shoots a ping pong ball a couple of feet at least.
    I did make one minor mistake when I first built my drive using the·CD players.·The CD players are designed to run off the 12 volt power of the pc. Pc's have 12 volt and 5 volt systems (and sometimes something around 3 volts for the processor). I wasn't getting alot of power out of mine until a coworker mentioned that they might need the 12 volts. An upgrade to my battery pack made a lot of difference!

    I havn't opened one yet but I bet there are some nice drives, and maybe some soleniods in a vcr tape eject system. You might be able to use the tape up/down in/out·motion to build a nice walker. It might be better to try to get matched set componets as I did have to vary the PWM of my two drives to get them matched to the same speed.
  • HumanoidoHumanoido Posts: 5,770
    edited 2009-11-02 21:23
    Go to some repair centers, explain you want stuff they throw out. You can get old calculators, cell phones, drives, VCRs, mobile transceivers, text editors, transcribers, computers, radios, TVs, copiers, boards, motors and other parts and modules. Next, go to surplus centers that sell hardware, tractor parts, etc. and there are sections with assorted parts, wiring harnesses, motors, boards, etc. Go to some electronics assembly businesses and ask for waste boards and parts. Many places throw out items that don't meet tolerances yet are perfectly usable at hobby levels. Go to the good will centers and look in the electronics sections. You can find old printers, various computer peripherals, cords, cables, hardware, etc. Most electronics stores have closeout items at reduced cost. Some have broken products they will give away, and various components inside will be usable. Ask friends and neighbors for any old electronic things. You'll be surprised what they may give you for free. Look at Walmart, Kmart, Target, Shopko, etc. type stores and one can often find low cost items in the kitchen section that can be used for robots. Adapt common everyday things to robotic use and construction. Look around your own home. The kitchen clock may have gears, a motor, housing, cord, clear plastic window, battery holder, dial, etc. Use your imagination. Check garage sales, old toys, flea markets, ads in newspapers, and ask around.

    humanoido
  • allanlane5allanlane5 Posts: 3,815
    edited 2009-11-02 22:18
    What is this "repair center" you mention?
  • HumanoidoHumanoido Posts: 5,770
    edited 2009-11-03 04:30
    allanlane5 said...
    What is this "repair center" you mention?
    There are many types of repair centers. For example, perhaps the most common is the office supply business. Their repair center usually has a number of junk machines and they are more than happy to alleviate the load a bit. Here you'll find old calculators, copy machines, text editors, mechanical and electronic typewriters, dictation equipment, various transcribers, load cell scales, cash registers, word processors, spirit machines, printers, mimeographs, sorters, cutters, folding machines, offset presses, time stamp machines and even phone equipment and some old computers. Some brands are Victor, Norelco, Sanyo, Sony, Canon, Sharp, Philips, Lanier, Olivetti, and others.

    humanoido

    Post Edited (humanoido) : 11/3/2009 11:03:02 PM GMT
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