Nov.6, 2014 | By Alec
We come across a lot of fun 3D printing projects that are definitely worth trying. Some are fun toys, others are cute accessories and then there are also very challenging, ambitious projects that deserve applause. But have you ever seen a 3D printed object that is both a toy and capable of producing (theoretical) masterpieces?
Randy from the Instructables Design Studio has recently created a 3D printed pencil robot. While many robots we find online, this surprisingly simple robot walks on four legs.
And as you can see in the pictures, it uses convenient pencils as legs. Not only are these very sturdy and easily capable of holding the weight of the 3D printed frame and the electronics, you can also sharpen the points and see how creative the robot is!
As Randy explained, this 3D printed robot resulted out of experimenting and prototyping: 'This idea to have a walker bot that shifted its front center of balance is one that I have had for a few years. However, implementing it with off the shelf parts always proved rather tricky and prevented me from really trying. Yet, when I realized that this could be done quickly and easily with 3D printing, I was able to finally create this robot in about two days. Basically, 3D printing had enabled me to take an idea and actualize it in less than 48 hours.'
Furthermore, this project is quite easy to do, so anyone looking for an accessible 3D printing project should definitely give it a go. Aside from a 3D printer and filament, you will need a few electronics such as: two standard servos, an Arduino micro, a 40-pin socket, PCP, and a 9V battery (and battery parts) to power it.
To get started, simply 3D print the STL files provided by Randy. While he used an Afinia 3D printer, they should be printable on just about any FDM 3D printer. Then it's time to assemble the different parts and fasten these with a few bolts.
As for the robot's artistic legs, simply pull the erasers of a few standard pencils with a pair of pliers. Then insert the 'eraser' ends of them into the sockets.
Finally, it's just a matter of assembling and programming the electronics. Fortunately, Randy's comprehensive tutorial makes this a relatively easy procedure. Even those of us with just a bit of soldering and wiring experience should be capable of following all the steps.
After fixing the socket and Arduino to the circuit board, attach the battery pack to the bottom it. And after mounting it on your walking robot, it's simply a matter of programming your Arduino. The necessary code for this is provided by Randy, making this project quite simple and compact enough for a big weekend project.
Check out this brief clip by Randy on his robotic construction:
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