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Neat idea, a "chassis-less" robot — Parallax Forums

Neat idea, a "chassis-less" robot

WBA ConsultingWBA Consulting Posts: 2,934
edited 2010-05-20 01:21 in Robotics
Stumbled across this robot on instructables. The concept of building a complete robot by attaching the components rather than mounting them to a chassis ended up pretty slick. At first glance, I thought they made a BOE-bot clone (with a lower class brain... tongue.gif)

www.instructables.com/id/How-to-make-your-first-robot-an-actual-programma/

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Andrew Williams
WBA Consulting
WBA-TH1M Sensirion SHT11 Module
My Prop projects: Reverse Geo-Cache Box, Custom Metronome, Micro Plunge Logger

Comments

  • ercoerco Posts: 20,256
    edited 2010-05-19 18:03
    Servo tape is forever! Nice find.

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    ·"If you build it, they will come."
  • John R.John R. Posts: 1,376
    edited 2010-05-19 21:38
    Velcro might be a more intersting alternative. It doesn't take much to be very difficult to separate, especialy when applied to two flat surfraces. (you loose the ability to "peel" it apart)

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    John R.
    Click here to see my Nomad Build Log
  • ercoerco Posts: 20,256
    edited 2010-05-19 22:28
    John: Perish the thought! Using velcro is a tacit, up-front admission that you might make a miSTEAK and may need to disassemble it at some point! [noparse]:)[/noparse]

    I must admit, I have tried Velcro and it makes for a mushy structural connection, especially when you have dynamic motion such as in a moving robot. It flexes in use and slowly creeps apart with time and applied static loads. You might use Velcro or cheap double-sided tape for early testing, but you'll want to change to something more permanent when your bot gets heavy and you want to start getting it calibrated for navigation or some dedicated task. No place for Loosey Goosey.

    Black servo tape is good, as is the Scotch VHB tape, which I believe P'lax puts in their Project Board and Homework Boards to attach the prototyping area. Very tenacious stuff. As Peevey says to Howard Hughes at the end of "The Rocketeer", "We only get one shot at this!"

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    ·"If you build it, they will come."
  • John R.John R. Posts: 1,376
    edited 2010-05-20 01:21
    I wasn't thinking of mistakes, but adaptability, and an ability to overcome boredom without use of an Xacto knife and solvents. Besides, mistakes in general do not exist in my world. Like T. A. Edison, I may spend lots of time learning how not to do something, but I don't "fail", and I don't make mistakes... (well, at least not in the way you were inferring smile.gif )

    Actually, if Velcro is applied right (not clean, oil free surface applied right, but engineered joint right) it actually gets tighter with flexes and especially vibration. The hook and loops that are already tight don't get loose, and those that are loose get tight. And before you ask, other than that whole learning how not to do something, I don't know the "right" way to apply Velcro to a given joint.

    It was consumer psychology, not engineering or mechanical problems that kept car bumpers from being attached with Velcro.

    By the way, when disassembling parts fastened with servo tape, the Xacto should always be moving AWAY from all body parts, especially finger tips. I say this because I learned how not to cut apart a servo tape junction, and the Dr. who did the stitches was VERY impressed with the clean quality of the cut. (Sharp blades are a must...)

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    John R.
    Click here to see my Nomad Build Log

    Post Edited (John R.) : 5/20/2010 1:26:22 AM GMT
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