| Can-Crushing Robots -- Design and Construction, Part 2 |
From "Robot Rivals"
episode DROB-110 |
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With the preliminary designs worked out, work gets fully underway on constructing the components of the robots.
Activity Log: Southern Utah Universtiy (Hours 3 - 4)
- Jared completes the can-crushing wheel assembly, which now has four stages of counter-rotating tires. Now, he begins to add bracing.
- Tracy attaches the wiring of the motors, linking the red wires from one side of the robot to the black wires of the other side. By intentionally crossing the wires in this manner, Tracy arranges for the motors to spin in opposite directions.
- Onto a sheet of eighth-inch sheet metal, Tracy traces the negative space that emerges between the rows of wheels.
- Tracy then cuts out the scalloped pattern using a pneumatic nibbler. This shielding plate will be placed flush against the framing underneath the wheels and help guide the cans from one pair of wheels to the next.
Activity Log: University of Kentucky (Hours 3 - 4)
- Buzz and the team continue to adapt the treadmill to their design. Four-inch rubber wheels powered by DC motors are set against the treadmill belt. The motion of the spinning wheels is transferred to the motion of the circulating belt.
- Darren drills a three-eighth inch hole into a piece of extruded aluminum that will serve as the motor attachment for the conveyor belt.
- Casey begins construction of the pneumatic framing. Four vertical lengths of extruded aluminum will house the piston.
- By adjusting the height of the piston, Kentucky will be able to control the depth to which the cans will be crushed.
Expert Corner Buzz discusses the different forms of steel available to robot builders. The wide range of steel works that is stocked in the Robot Rivals lab (figure A) is not much different from the variety that can be found by the ordinary consumer at most hardware stores. As a building material, these various forms of steel are relatively cheap and have excellent welding properties. Steel comes in several categories including flat stock, angled stock, threaded rod, and slotted steal, and they each are especially tailored to specific uses. Hardware stores typically post illustrated charts (figure B) that provide helpful information pertaining to the various forms of metal stock they supply.
RESOURCES :
Robot Builder's Bonanza
Model: 0071362967
Author: Gordon McComb
Build Your Own Robot!
Model: 1568811020
Author: Karl Lunt
Robots, Androids and Animatrons : 12 Incredible Projects You Can Build
Model: 0070328048
Author: John Iovine
Personal Robotics : Real Robots to Construct, Program, and Explore the World
Model: 156881089X
Author: Richard Raucci
Mobile Robots : Inspiration to Implementation
Model: 1568810970
Author: Joseph L. Jones, et al
Special Thanks for Robot Rivals 100 series
The Robot Store
provided various robotic components for Robot Rivals.
www.robotstore.com
IFI Robotics
makers of the "Isaac 32" control system.
www.ifirobotics.com
NPC Robotics
provided wheels and motors for Robot Rivals.
www.npcrobotics.com
Robotic Power Solutions
provided battery packs.
www.battlepack.com
Parallax Inc.
Provided microprocessors, on-board robotic cameras, autonoumous programming.
www.parallaxinc.com
Hobbico
provided Futaba control system.
www.hobbico.com
Alloy Frame Systems
provided extruded-aluminum frame materials.
www.alloyframesystems.com
SMC Corporation of America
provided pneumatic systems.
www.smcusa.com
Team Delta
provided wiring kits and electrical wiring.
www.teamdelta.com
Radio Shack
provided component cabinets.
www.radioshack.com
Campbell Hausfeld Tools
provided pneumatic tools and compressor used on Robot Rivals.
www.campbellhausfeld.com
Delta Machinery
provided tools used on Robot Rivals.
www.deltawoodworking.com
Porter Cable
provided tools used on Robot Rivals.
www.porter-cable.com
Waterloo Industries
provided tool chests used on Robot Rivals.
www.waterlooindustries.com
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