Alt-BEAM Archive
Message #10953
To: beam@sgiblab.sgi.com
From: BUDSCOTT@aol.com
Date: Sun, 27 Feb 2000 13:00:55 EST
Subject: [alt-beam] Re: The better RJP
the only problem about a bathtub is its color. Most bathtubs are a light
almost white color, which attracts the robots. What you need is something
greyish, inbetween black and white so that the robots aren't overly attracted
to the walls, but won't be repelled. this way you can goof around with white
patches and notecards and stuff to lure the robots the way you wan't them to
go. I didn't quite believe that it would work so well, but they really do
like the white stuff. I use an overturned card table now, this way you can
put the legs up and use them to mount lighting. Plus if you have a black
table, the sides of the park will be black so the robots won't be wall
flowers. I find that this works great if you don't wan't something elaborate
and expensive!
-Spencer
10954 Sun, 27 Feb 2000 13:05:44 EST [alt-beam] Re: mini walker beam@sgiblab.sgi.com BUDSCOTT@aol.com i have dismantled only one tape player before, i don't really have the
abundance of broken electronics. I'm on the search for two cassette motors
for this project, and anything else. I'm still workin on a larger walker,
which doesn't work due to overly geared motors. i took a look at a robot at
beam-online, it uses two cassette motors and something called an oven timer
unit, i know that its a type of gear box, but how does it work, can you make
something similiar to them? thanks a ton!
-Spencer
10955 Sun, 27 Feb 2000 13:09:29 -0600 [alt-beam] Re: master-slave bicore alt-beam@egroups.com Ben A Micklin You know the tutorial on how to free form a bicore on BEAM online?
would that work as the master, and another one as the slave?
And how would you attach them together?
~ben~
On Sat, 26 Feb 2000 14:15:36 -0800 (PST) "Travis D."
writes:
> I just hooked up my master/slave bicore circuit this
> morning, but I have a question. Is the slave bicore
> supposed to follow the master or is it supposed to be
> the opposite of the master (all I'd have to do is
> switch the motor leads to change it to follow it, but
> I'm not sure how it is supposed to be in order to hook
> it to a 2 motor walker--has anyone every tried hooking
> them up opposite one another?).
>
> Please respond to me personally,
> Thanks,
>
> Travis
> __________________________________________________
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10956 Sun, 27 Feb 2000 14:31:26 EST [alt-beam] Re: The better RJP beam@sgiblab.sgi.com Blumojo13@aol.com You have to be creative with limited space. I use a set of encyclopedias
arranged in different shapes on the floor with a desk lamp on one corner.
blumojo13
10957 Mon, 28 Feb 2000 06:29:50 +1100 [alt-beam] Re: Component Alternatives? beam@sgiblab.sgi.com, beam@sgiblab.sgi.com "Ben Hitchcock" The BC547 isn't really suited to being a motor driver. I have found that
the BC337 is a better choice because it can supply much more current.
Granted, the Dick Smith tutorial circuits use 547's, (and 548's) but these
aren't nearly as good a motor driver as the 337.
Just my 2 cents,
Ben
----------
>From: "Thomas Pilgaard"
>To:
>Subject: RE: Component Alternatives?
>Date: Mon, 28 Feb 2000 2:37
>
> I've replaced 3904's and 3906's with BC547's and BC327's
>
> - Thomas
>
>>
>>
>> Any one know of any alternatives to the following components?
>> I have been trying to purchase them in NZ and so far have not
>> been able to find a local supplier.
>>
>> 2N3906 (the 2N3904 is avalible)
>> 1381 (is there an alterative circut that could be use instead of this?)
>>
>> Im trying to get all my opperating voltges down to a minimum, the only
>> solar panels i have been able to lay my hands on are 1v 250ma.
>> I had thought about pulling them apart and re-wiring them since the motors
>> im using only require 35ma.
>>
>> Or would this be a bad idea?
>>
>> TIA
>>
>> Andrew Hooper
>>
>>
>>
10958 Sun, 27 Feb 2000 11:47:49 -0800 [alt-beam] Re: mini walker beam@sgiblab.sgi.com Bruce Robinson BUDSCOTT@aol.com wrote:
>
> ... i don't really have the abundance of broken electronics.
The word is out in my neighbourhood ... I'm an eccentric inventor & I'll
gladly accept & recycle any broken cassette decks, CD players, ghetto
blasters, VCR's, etc. etc.
The problem I have is getting anything that matches. I have all kinds of
one-off gearboxes, motors, etc.
> I'm on the search for two cassette motors for this project,
> and anything else.
BG Micro lists a "brand new" cassette mechanism, including motors,
gears, pinch rollers, etc. Price: $1.99 US (Part number ACS1154, page 16
of their January 2000 catalogue).
My experience with these things is you have to be inventive -- the gear
trains are NOT nice neat packages. The plus with this item is that
you'll probably be able to get matching components.
> ... and something called an oven timer unit, i know that its a type
> of gear box, but how does it work,
Oven timer unit is a pretty generic term. The OTU's of BEAM fame are
actually a very specific type. Generally speaking, mechanical oven timer
units consist of a small synchronous AC motor driving an attached
gearbox (teardrop shaped), which in turn drives a train of larger gears
(in an open frame) that operate various switches. Many variations exist.
The tear-drop shaped gearboxes are not that great to work with because
A) they are a tad bulky, and B) the housing is often part of the motor
housing (110 V AC motor, remember). I have found the large gears in the
open trains to be sometimes useful.
The BEAM-type OTUs are special -- hidden away in the actual motor
housing. You basically have to remove the tear-drop shaped gearbox and
then start to (carefully) dig into the motor housing. What you'll find,
if you are really lucky, is a small, compact gearbox that can be removed
as a unit. There will be an input gear mounted on the end of the motor
shaft (salvage it!) and usually a long output shaft.
These are rare nowadays. The only ones I've ever come across were from a
pair of oven timers I picked up 20 years ago (I forget why) from a
surplus store. I've taken apart dozens of newer timers and never found
anything like these. My suggestion is, try to find (and scavange) from
really old stoves. Keep in mind that mine were already sold as surplus
20 years ago.
Clues to look for: The endplate of the the timer motor (on the gearbox
end) has some kind of plastic sealer. Mine was translucent red. And,
when you start opening them up (I used a file on one corner, very
gently), you will strike oil. The entire OTU and motor armature are
immersed in mineral oil. Very messy. Be prepared.
Solarbotics used to have a tutorial on the website about how to use
these things, with some nice pictures so you'll know what you are
looking for.
Look for old stuff, and be prepared for disappointment.
Regards,
Bruce
10959 Sun, 27 Feb 2000 13:42:54 -0600 [alt-beam] Re: BEAM: Tendency toward miniaturization beam@sgiblab.sgi.com "Bryan Hengels" >> Ok, this is not true. Analog robot controllers do have advantages over
>> digital controllers. It's not hard to define what is an advantage either.
>> Almost anything can be, from the fact that 14 yearold can build a walker to
>> their pure analog nature. Look at the satallite that was put up while ago,
>> it used satbot techonolgy as it's backup controll system. One of the reasons
>> is because that sort of contorll system was just cheaper to build analog,
>> why? because analog systems are hardier in terms to the effect of radiation
>> on them.
>But 14 year olds also build CPU based robots.
Hey!! I fit this description, and being only 14 I have very little resources, which is why I like BEAM so much. Personally I think they both have certain situations where they are better than the other.
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10960 Sun, 27 Feb 2000 11:47:45 -0800 [alt-beam] Hello "Mark Brewer" Greetings from Newberg Oregon, suburb of Portland Or.
I've been part of the list for 3 days now.
I have 3 pager motors and a shopping list so I can built my first one's.
I'm buiding these for my daughter, who is in kindergarden, so she can take
them for show and tell.
it all started one day while we were watching The Empire Strikes Back and
she said "hey dad can you build me a robot to take to school?' And I replied
'sure I can'. Ha!!!!
I search for days for robot kits but the costs to were to great.
Then I found BEAM!!!(angelic choir in background).
I look foward to learning more and sharing my experiences.
Mark A Brewer
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