Apr. 12, 2015 | By Alec
While toys are very commonplace among 3D printed creations, the coolest and greatest ones (for adults and children alike) are those that can do something. It doesn’t matter how old you are, but a toy that can move, transform or do something is just better, though those invariably make 3D printing and assembly more complicated. That’s exactly why the Spanish-made Bequi robot is a fun little project to work on; not only does the robot have multiple movement and functional options, it’s also quite easily made.
As its designer Sonia Verdu explains, the Bequi robot is basically a 3D printed toy with a massive 16 different joints, despite only being 23 cm tall. ‘Her favorite hobbies include to become a support for mobile and be the star of Stop Motion movies,’ she writes. As can be seen in the photos above, the robot can be put in a very large number of positions and can even be specially placed to hold just about every type of smartphone or a small tablet. That makes it not just a fun, but also a functional edition to any desk.
Sonia Verdu works at the bqLabs, part of the Innovation and Robotics department of Spanish electronics manufacturer (including 3D printers) bq. Accordingly, she asks that this robot is considered exactly as it is: a fun little experimental toy that has been designed to be shared with users and the wider 3D printing community. Sonia has therefore freely shared the designs for Bequi on Thingiverse here.
But as you might expect from a 16-jointed robot, Bequi can be a little challenging to assemble. Fortunately, it comes with useful instructions that (though in Spanish) are very helpful. In a nutshell, simply download and 3D print all different components in PLA using a 0.15 mm layer height and a 15% infill (no supports). You might notice that there are two heads and two chests, from which you can choose the ones you prefer. One of the chests features a Bequi logo, but you can add your own to the other.
The secret to actually making Bequi move is an elastic cord of 2.5 mm in diameter. This will be strong enough to be played with and will also ensure that Bequi remains in the correct position when you move it. As Sonia explains, it can be a bit challenging to insert the cord through all parts, which needs to be inserted in three different sections. The best thing to do is to keep an eye on the instructional clip below, though most steps can be intuitively solved. The result? A small, fun toy robot that will always keep an eye on your phone for you.
Posted in 3D Printing Applications
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