Ok so what do you build with
MarkCrCo
Posts: 89
Just wondering what other people use to build stuff out of. I have been trying an erector set with very limited success. I found some aluminum channel at Servo city that looks pretty interesting but I haven't tried it yet. Anyone have any experience with that stuff or other suggestions.
http://www.servocity.com/html/channel___brackets.html
http://www.servocity.com/html/channel___brackets.html
Comments
http://youtu.be/sfZ7mGclzhs
Depending on the size of the project I like to start with ePVC, sheet metal, aluminum square tube and L channel. It's easy to work with using basic tools, especially the ePVC.
The servo city stuff looks really nice, I've used stuff similar but not the same stuff. Predrilled holes are usually in the wrong places when you need to mount something with mounting holes and you need to drill anyway. Plus it can really expensive.
Plywood and extruded angled aluminum. (My entry to the Retro Bot thread in post #121.)
I learned about expanded PVC from Gordon McComb. Here's a prototype using it.
The above mentioned prototype also uses foam board which I also used in my cheap bot.
I used carbon fiber and ePVC to build a hexacopter which can be seen my Polymorph thread. I used Polymorph to make the landing gear on my hexacopter. I've also used Polymorph to joint aluminum "L" extrusion together.
I had made a video showing how I joined the aluminum together but the camera eat it. The Polymorph video was supposed to a part 2 but since part 1 didn't get saved properly, you'll have to see the aluminum extrusion held together with Polymorph by looking at 6:44 in the video. The blue stuff on the floor I'm using hold my props is more ePVC.
Another thing every roboticist should have is a roll or two of Gorilla Tape. It's really good stuff for holding things together.
Gordon't McComb's Robot Builder's Bonanza 4ed is a great resource for learning about what stuff to use with a robot. I wish I had had RBB4 when I was starting out with robotics.
and servo city has this https://www.servocity.com/html/servoblocks.html
-Phil
Makes me wonder what other smart things can come out of NASA.
BTW I learned about NASA handbook on the forum. I'm sure I have a link to it in my index (see signsture).
Sorry, I realize HST is a bit OT.
+1 ! I can't tell you how many times I have done exactly that when I visit any store for the first time.
Another pair of secret treasure places are thrift stores and antique stores. I have a fantastic metal tin that I found for 25 cents at an antique store that is perfect for a project I have in mind for a "vintage minded" person. It is round and the top is lithographed with the company/product logo for Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing's "Scotch" Cellulose Tape; the original "Scotch tape" by 3M. (I myself am a big fan of 3M history; if you are, download 3M's History of Innovation PDF 6.8MB )
A while back I wrote an article on how to build a small robot would of a CD/DVD Spindle case. You can see the thread here:
http://forums.parallax.com/showthread.php/138417-SpindleBots-Construction-artilce-in-April-2012-SERVO-magazine?highlight=spindlebot
It uses the large feed rollers from an old HP inkjet printer for the wheels. Just an example of what you can re-purpose to build a robot. I also have another construction article on a Minibot robot made from a small trash can.
http://forums.parallax.com/showthread.php/146950-NEW-Propeller-Quickstart-powered-robot-MiniBot-appearing-in-May-2013-SERVO?highlight=minibot
I plan on adding more details and pictures of each one on my website:
http://www.robotworkshop.com/robotweb/
Robert
I've been really tempted to learn about sand casting aluminum. It looks reasonably safe if you wear a leather apron, gloves, face shield, and use tongs. Really long and sturdy tongs. It seems like the ideal way to fabricate custom metal parts. But then I would need a metal lathe.
Why buy when you can make use of what's around you?
http://hackaday.com/?s=Cypherbot
They are a good source for motors and connections.
Another good place for servo/ motor connectors in lynxmotion. http://www.lynxmotion.com/ You can make almost any type of legged robot from their aluminum parts.
I also get aluminum and plastic cut from Big Blue Saw. https://www.bigbluesaw.com/ They are great.
I have learned to cut my own plastic parts (usually derlin from eplastics) at the Tech Shop.
I have built robots from a variety of tins, most importantly, the Peanut Tin of Terror!
I've not tried polycarbonate cutting board, but I've used plenty of HDPE ones.
The HDPE machines just like wood and doesn't seem to be too hard on the tools.
I've even run it through the planer to reduce the thickness, makes really nice chips...
That board with the Rabbit 2000 and three PIC16F877's is what led me to the Propeller.
C.W.
We had a family day yesterday (daughters, sons and their partners and the grand kids, ) where I was told off by my daughter for inspecting the (slightly) broken toys too closely. Her exact words were "and what are you thinking of making out of that?"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=t00JWWQIWrc
Very cool!
Well done.
It's really fun to see an idea come to life. Thanks for posting it.
That's great.
I've done a bit of sand casting myself. It's pretty easy actually, and very fun. I was just starting off the Dave Gingery book series on how to do it. You'd be absolutely amazed at the amount of heat that can be released from just charcoal and a shop-vac running in reverse. The flame was like a jet engine taking off. I threw a piece of charcoal into the hole and it floated in space before dropping.
I've found that using a grab hook style, like they use in steel mills is the best way to do it. Just don't expect great results right away. Casting is a craft, and it takes practice to get the right pour rate.
You don't need a metal lathe to do it, and actually the Gingery series shows you how to build a lathe from scratch, starting out with hand tools and a charcoal furnace.
Here's someone doing it (not me)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D-QRZfd3Dhg