Dec 28, 2014 | By Alec
Olaf Diegel has created a very cool 3D printing project that is specifically designed to be 3D printable on almost every type of 3D printer. Anyone looking for an original robotic printing project should definitely check out his Oddbot. This cool little robot that can move in any direction without needing to change the angle of its wheels, is all about its fascinating mecanum wheels that make it omnidirectional. As he explains in his guide:
A mecanum wheel, invented by Swedish engineer Bengt Ilon in 1973, is a special wheel, with angled rollers around its periphery, that allows a vehicle to move sideways without needing to change the angle of it's wheels. If the front wheel rotates in one direction and the rear wheel rotates in the opposite direction, you get a sideways motion.
While a very cool robotic project, his Oddbot is nothing like the projects that Olaf Diegel is usually known for. He is a long-standing design engineer and professor of production development at the Lund University in Sweden, but is mostly known in 3D circles for his 'ODD guitars'. This is a company that produces a fascinating range of customizable and original guitars using 3D printing technology. Specifically, these cool instruments are made with Selective Laster Sintering (SLS) technology, which results in high-quality instruments that can be designed in just about any shape.
The Oddbot, however, has little to do with music. It is an open-source project intended as an educational experience for anyone who wants to improve his 3D printing skills. However, even veterans of 3D printing will enjoy making this unique construction, for which Diegel has released STL files and software.
Diegel was inspired to develop this project thanks to the work of a member of the Up! Forum, John Chan (aka Madox). The Oddbot does require a few non-printable components, but Diegel has included a helpful list of all these and where they can be found. This awesome robotic construction can be controlled with any type of micro-controller and servo motors, and can be powered with simple AA batteries. Furthermore, the design leaves room for any customization you desire.
Diegel's guide is comprehensive and accessible: Check it out here! Before you know it, you'll be exploring your own floors using the software included with this open-source project.
To get a better idea of this robotic construction, take a look at this video of Madox's original concept:
Posted in 3D Printing Applications
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Is it possible to get the CAD-Design for the Wheels?
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