Open Source Beer Can Robot

erco

This is a tongue-in-cheek companion post to Humanoido's cardboard robot thread. But seriously, empty aluminum cans are strong, stiff,·lightweight, plentiful, and could be quite useful for robot arms &·legs.·They are shiny metal and look like robot parts already!

Do I·need to mention the obvious benefit that they are initially filled with beer?

·
Those cylindrical joints could be cans!·



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·"If you build it, they will come."

logan996

never really thought of that. Is there anyway to flatten out strips of can aluminum with anything that a normal person would have? The aluminum is always too curved.

erco

You can cut sheets out of the aluminum cans, but unless you put a hard crease in them they will be very flimsy. I plan to use them as-is, glueing them end-to-end or gluing fixtures (servos, pivots, flanges) onto the ends. Used properly, you get a VERY stiff link that weighs next to nothing.

There are several sizes of aluminum cans. The standard 12-ouncer, the tall boy 20-ouncer, and my favorite, the new baby coke cans, which I think are 8 ouncers. Perfect for my planned robot arm project, and maybe a small walker, too.

Another benefit is that you can electrically connect all the cans for a common ground connection. You must sand off the clear varnish, or thread a screw into the metal.

Have a look at http://www.chuckbauman.com/aluminum-can-art.htm

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·"If you build it, they will come."

icepuck

Here's another use for cans..
www.cansatcompetition.com/Main.html
-dan

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(Former) Caterpillar product support technician

Humanoido

I've used tin cans to build robots over a lifetime. Try to adapt the shape of the entire can to the robot. You can also use pop cans and a scissors to cut out strips and various shaped pieces for assembly. Double laminated brackets work well and hole punching is easy. Aluminum cans are very light weight and the newer the can, the thinner and lighter the material. Intact cans weigh almost nothing and offer the greatest strength. Small to large soup cans are the strongest, but add more weight. Sardine cans are my favorite. You can cut many flat pieces of aluminum from these cans.

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humanoido
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Post Edited (Humanoido) : 8/3/2010 7:40:42 AM GMT

Searider

Think Bigger

Kegs !

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Searider

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erco

@Searider: You mean like this flame-throwin' beer keg of a Battlebot?· ·[noparse]:)[/noparse]

http://current.com/technology/89665459_robogames.htm

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·"If you build it, they will come."

Searider

Thats what I'm talking about.

Building competition robots·········· +10

Using a Beer Keg for your chassis··+10

Using a flamethrower···················+10

all this and sponsored by a beer company·with free beer·· ....· Priceless



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Searider

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