My First Robotic Arm Made From Wood

Tony B.

This post and thread is to introduce my acceptance of Erco’schallenge to get your robotic arms out and stack little wooden toy robots with them (see the posthere). I don’t have a robotic arm, so Iam going to build one out of, you guessed it, WOOD. I will post my progress and code as theproject progresses. I’m going to startwith a BS2 and then port it to the Propeller. I’ve had an idea of what I thought I would build for some time. So my first goal is to decide if the idea is feasibleby building a simple working prototype without servos/motors. I’ll post the simple drawings and picturessoon.
I look forward to forum inputs, interaction, encouragement anda successfully completed project.
Thanks,
Tony

Whit

Can't wait to see your robotic arm come together! Go Tony, Go!

Matt Gilliland

so I am going to build one out of, you guessed it, WOOD.

Tony B - not you too!

-Matt

erco

@Tony B: Dat's my Dogg!

Tony B.

@Matt, I'm not a new convert to wood. Look at the post below, you will see I have been with Erco all along. I have included pictures of the wood Laboratory where all my evil projects come to life!

http://forums.parallax.com/showthread.php?130802-S2-Work-Test-Stand
http://forums.parallax.com/showthread.php?119580-My-Stingray-Look-a-Like-Plywood-Robotics-Platform-Update-7-New-Pings-Mounting
http://forums.parallax.com/showthread.php?127826-Super-Simple-BOE-BOT-Work-Test-Stand
http://forums.parallax.com/showthread.php?121248-quot-4-Paws-quot-Running-on-Propeller-amp-PropBASIC-Update-Ping-code-integration-almos
http://forums.parallax.com/showthread.php?122164-Stingray-Work-Test-Stand
http://forums.parallax.com/showthread.php?122989-Walkin-Sticks-Video-six-legged-robot
http://forums.parallax.com/showthread.php?122003-Bad-Hair-Day-a-Robot-for-the-BS2
http://forums.parallax.com/showthread.php?118914-Home-made-Development-Center

@ Erco, I'm off the porch and I'm a move'n on!

erco

Looks like yet another wooden robot, this time a walker from Germany: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gNXuzhop-u8&NR=1

Tony B.

It looks like this robotic arm build is going to be a father and son project. I’m very excited about that. I really enjoy working with my son. I hope it helps him learn the BS2 better and maybe the Propeller some.

We didn’thave the famous cocktail napkin to draw our prototype on, but we did use theback of an envelope so you know we’re destined for greatness.

Our plans are to first, build a simple 2-D model to check our geometry and ideas. Second, build a small prototype with servos. Third, to learn how to program movement we will make the robot touch individual dots placed on the area around it. Fourth, build a full size arm and get it working. Fifth, install the gripper and start picking up items and placing them in different spots. And finally, stacking the little wooden robot toys mentioned above.

Yes we know that we have left a lot of steps out, have no idea of the problems we will encounter, nor the time it will take, but every great journey begins with one step.

Step number one taken!

Tony & Matthew

erco

I should get something started with my little $50 arm ASAP to get the ball rolling!

Tony B.

@Erco, The more we have working on this project the better they all could be. Even if it is plastic.

We have been very busy with Vacation Bible School at church so arm building time has been next to zero, but I have been working on the control plans. Because of the number of servos I will be using a Propeller servo controller with the BS2. But I’m thinking of reprograming the Propeller Servo Controller with my own code to run the arm by the Propeller. A homemade daughter will provide the 5v power needed for the Controller board logic and for other sensors and devices that need 5v. The reason for this extra board is the power pins on the Propeller Servo Controller will be at 7.2v.

Really hope to have the 2-D prototype done this weekend and posted.

Tony

erco

Tony B. wrote: »

A homemade daughter will provide the 5v power needed for the Controller board logic and for other sensors and devices that need 5v.

Super: a father, son & daughter project during VBS. Play together, pray together, stay together!

I'm sure Whit+ approves.

Tony B.

Due to the long hours I left a word out. I will not be building a 5v daughter because I already have a beautiful one. I couldn't improve on God's handy work. I will however be building a 5v daughter board.

Erco you're right on! We're enjoying life, playing, praying and staying the course!

Tony

P.S. I don't think I'll edit the post above it's kind of funny, but if I did build a 5v daughter robot I wonder if she would clean her room?

Tony B.

Just a noteto let everyone know I haven't stopped working on this project. I have been working on design ideas that keep weight to a minimum. This is hard to do!. I have been watching Erco's light weight gripper with much enthusiasm for its possible use.

Also,creating a solid design that is, doesn't shake around, is very important if I will be trying to stand wooden robots on top of each other. Hence the reason the arm must be light. The more mass the harder it is to control the movements of the arm, i.e., mass in motion tends to stay in motion.

I plan to stop by the hobby shop and pick up some Hitec 645mg servos for the arm and refresh my memory with the many R/C linkage options. I have one idea that would onlyrequire one small servo be up in the movable mass of the arm.

I’m still planning on using the BS2 with the Propeller Servo Controller board.

Tony