Alt-BEAM Archive
Message #00335
To: beam beam@corp.sgi.com
From: Richard Piotter richfile@rconnect.com
Date: Thu, 11 Feb 1999 21:28:51 -0600
Subject: [alt-beam] Re: Snake
The pictures are in those mobile critters link at the bottom of the main page at
solarbotics. (I think! :) Well, they're in there somewhere.
The basic idea behind the mechanics are that the motors drive a right angle gear:
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Dennison told me he used gears from a cheap RC car gearbox. He also told me that
the MECI motors He used require a lot of current. The MECI motors typicaly are
under 30 mA, but he told me he had to force it to drive more power to make up
for the low gearing. If you use MECI motors, you'll have to consider that. I'm
using the famed BG micro motors for mine. They are MUCH more powerful. I look
forward to building mine! The TV show they were going to be on ot canned cause a
bigger more important show in UPN's lineup got the network into some financial
trouble cause of a mistake. Of course, the smaller budget shows got canned to
make up the losses of the big show, which of course will keep on! Typical!
Anyway, the total construction apeared to me to be to have each segment 90
degrees from the other. I havn't thought about what each one being 60 degrees
from each other would do??? I might try to make my snake adjustable, to
expiriment! I may also mount the motors straight, skipping the gears all
together, since BG Micro motors aren't as long as the other ones, but they also
would still stick out. I'm still going to look for right angle gears. I wish I
had metal ones. If I can't find any, i'll mount the motors side ways.
I'm also making a Turbot, a Spyder, a 5 motor walker, and a giant photovore.
There are other robots too. Things won't go as fast without the funding from the
show, but I'll have money to get it done. I've already have 19 of the motors
now, used or planned for use, and I've cleaned out the last of the stock, which
should bring me up to about 24 or so. They are very nice! Anyone who's used them
knows how nice they are. Thanks Dennison. You've got me addicted to those
things! Hehe! (:
Richard Piotter
richfile@rconnect.com
The Richfiles Robotics & TI web page:
http://members.xoom.com/richfiles
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