You want a robot to move when someone clicks a button on a RESTful website, and the robot reboots every time you click the web page. Here’s how I fixed it.
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In this tutorial I’m going to show you how to recursively generate a well formed maze in Java without overflowing your computer’s stack.
Marginally Clever’s very own Luke Brooks has been working overtime. Not only is he designing a 3D printer, not only does he film and edit all Marginally Clever videos, not only did he help on the Giant Wall of LEDs (coming to World Maker Faire 2015), but he also designs cool portable speaker systems. Made from laser cut parts, hot glue, and determination. At a moderate volume they’ll play for nearly 10 hours. That means it will outlast your phone battery!
Get all the details and the step-by-step pictures on the Vancouver Hack Space forums.
The electronic parts used in the kit are available here:
[products skus=’elec-0031, elec-0032, ELEC-0037, ELEC-0057′]
Controlling a linear actuator is fun and easy. They’re really strong and can be used for all kinds of things: raising your TV out of a hidden pocket; crushing your enemies; or building an RC backhoe or dump truck. I did this entire project in about 20 minutes for around $150 CAD.
Gearboxes can turn a weak fast motor and you need
When you buy a Marginally Clever robot kit, you don’t just get an awesome robot. You push the boundaries of science and engineering by funding my research. It’s a bit like I’m trying to run a personal Skunkworks.
You’ve heard me talk often on this site about my desire to build robot arms for less and make them for everyone. I need a gearbox so I can build the arms with affordable 3d printer electronics and hardware. Gearboxes transform weak but fast motors into slow but strong motors. Not every gearbox is right for robots. A good candidate is a hypocycloid, cousin of the harmonic gearbox.
these video’s aren’t mine. They are here to illustrate the concept.
I spent $3000 on a prototype that doesn’t work. In spite of the incredible tolerances and the top quality machining, we couldn’t get the gearbox to run without binding or jamming. More on that at the link, as well as details on my progress with the robot arm.
On the bright side, I can share my progress and save each of you a small fortune. Plus I haven’t given up. At a recent Bring-a-hack dinner after the 2015 Bay Area Maker Faire I got a number of great tips and suggestions about how to try again. They ranged everywhere from “run a kickstarter to fund more development” to “add more lasers”.
Do you have any ideas why the gearbox doesn’t work? Have you tried to make a hypocycloid or a zero-backlash gearbox? Comment below.
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