6″ x 6″ x 0.8″ MDF, cut in about40 minutes. It could have gone much faster, but I’m being paranoid about my machine’s limitations.
This is what the computer sees. Green lines are one cutting operation, blue are another, and red are “rapids” – quick movements without cutting between different operations.
By following the operations the router will shave layer by layer, round and round until the image is completed.
Want to print a 3D shape with tongue-in-groove snap fit parts?
http://engr.bd.psu.edu/pkoch/plasticdesign/snap_calc.htm
This should make things easier!
EDIT: Oh, and here’s one for annular (round) snap fits.
http://machinedesign.com/article/fundamentals-of-annular-snap-fit-joints-0106
EDIT 2: In fact, here’s a whole book on designing snap fits.
Are you a fan of The Beast and the MondoSpider? I’ve build a 2′ wide crab robot indivitually articulated legs and I want to build it again, bigger. Much bigger.
I want to build this thing. Because of the huge cost ($45k for used booms & sticks) I don’t want to play a DIY tinkerer’s guessing game trying to make it run. I also need to raise the funds, which means I need to attract potential investors (hello, kickstarter!) and that means I need to show them that I’m serious and have a working plan.
SO I think the way forward is to get a design on paper that *should* work – the math says the engine can deliver the power to the pump which can lift the entire structure such that it is standing on a minimum of three legs.
Once the paper plan is good, I’ll be able to find parts that fit the spec, put together a more accurate cost estimate, and start raising funds. I’m flexible as to the final size. I would like to carry two or three people on a bench like seat, have lights underneath to hold mini raves, a flamethrower or 5 like El Pulpo Mechanico, and great big speaker or three so the thing can roar. A top speed of 10k/h would be fantastic.
I figure I have about 2 months to get the design working on paper, 3 months to raise the funds, and 6 months to build it, test it, debug it, and add lots of blingy things. 8 headlights spider-style or something.
I’ve already written all the control software and tested it out, so once I put encoders at the joints I’ll and touch sensors in the feet that part will be ready.
The biggest challenge overall ATM is that the power supply & hydraulic gear will change based on the power requirements, which will change the chasis which will change the weight which will change the power requirements. A multi variable equation.
Sadly, I only just learned to weld and I’ve never worked with hydraulics before. At this point I’m relying on experts who are bored with their day job and who want to put “giant robot” on their resume. I’m eager to learn and happy to put in the work.
I promise if we – and by that I mean you – can get this thing to the next stage I’ll put you front and center when Discovery Channel comes calling.
What say you?
PS: If you want to help but aren’t an engineer, let me know! Tell your friends! Spread the word!
Recently Joel was going through the old Flipcode site and noticed a broken link to one of my old projects, Surrounded. It’s was my first attempt to write code that was easily cross-platform (windows, linux, and mac OSX). It’s a bit like smash TV, except that I never got around to making the wide variety of enemies that I should have. An exercise for the reader!
Here in this zip I’ve included all the source code, project files, and a pre-compiled windows executable. It is provided without warranty etc. If you build the appropriate project files for cocoa it should compile in OSX, and same goes for GCC/linux
I’ve just completed assembly on my second stewart platform. I’m still looking for information about how to calculate the forward kinematics. If you know, please send me a message!
http://visual-delta3.sourceforge.net/
http://www.acceler8or.com/2011/07/from-gamification-to-intelligence-amplification-to-the-singularity/
We will make games that teach our children. They will make smarter games. Smarter games will make smarter children. Repeat until the singularity.