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3D Printing My Own Personal Robot Servant

Posted by Ellison Chan on January 9, 2013 at 9:00pm

Well, as you can see, I've started with the arm. This puppy has reduction gears, driven by a stepper motor. I'm planning to power the forearm with metal gear servos. Of course with slight modifications to the segment ratios, this is also going to be the legs of my robot.

I need more steppers and drivers, which are on order. This prototype is a result of several months of work, and almost 3 kg of plastic was used, in trial and error, before this stage has been reached.

Right now, all points of rotation are fitted with plastic printed bearings, but I've got some steel 26x17x5mm bearings coming from China. Not sure if they will be needed, since everything runs rather smoothly with the plastic bearings. Just some grease would make things run like silk.

Maybe it will help me clean up my room.

By request of Dany here's a video of it being run off my TOM's motor controller. Excuse the scruffy attire and lack of grooming. ;-)

arm, geared, motors, robot, servo, stepper

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Comments

Coptaire January 11, 2013 at 10:14pm

Ellison, your idea of sharing a grouped bulk filament order is great!

Perhaps, other people are interested in joining, just PM us.

I print with a Makergear M2 and 1.75mm ABS mainly.
Ellison Chan January 11, 2013 at 3:41pm

You should check out Gael's latest. He's well on his way to building an entire android, not just a hand.
Maxime Carrier January 11, 2013 at 3:35pm

Thanks for the vid ! I will need a 3d printer too someday, especially when I see that kind of projects :D
Ellison Chan January 11, 2013 at 3:02pm

Hey Coptaire, the InMoov is cool, but it's powered by servos and strings. It's very anamorphic, but I want an industrial type robot. More mechanical. Also, if you're interested, maybe we can split a shipment of the filament in have. I think 25kg is too much for a single person. It's probably a 2 year supply. PM me.
Coptaire January 11, 2013 at 2:11pm

Congrats Ellison!

you could add this 3D printed hand InMoov, your picture says it all!

I probably try the same chinese filament supplier, buying 25kg of ABS to reach a good deal on shipping cost.

3D printer is UAS/UAV best friend!
Ellison Chan January 10, 2013 at 9:21pm

Dany, you asked for it, you got it. Added above.
Distributor

Dany Thivierge January 10, 2013 at 7:47pm

Ellison, you know us.... we need VIDEO!! :)
Ellison Chan January 10, 2013 at 4:19pm

I found a Canadian supplier which sells the purple stuff @ $29/kg. Guess it's not a popular colour.

I'm going to order from a China supplier in bulk, who's selling it for $18/kg.
Scott Berfield January 10, 2013 at 3:47pm

I assume you have a source for plastic in bulk!
Ellison Chan January 10, 2013 at 10:53am

Hey Diederik, it's a Thing-O-Matic, from MakerBot.