What to make (bunch of steppers)? - Electronic Circuits Projects Diagrams Free

Marks256 · 2nd July 2008, 04:10 AM

So i have that Lab Volt Armdroid robot arm, but it is just sitting in the basement, in a box, under other boxes...

What should i do with it? It has 5 stepper motors, and the controllers for them (i assume...), so what should i make?

I was thinking CNC mill, but, uh... i already have one... and i have no use for the robot arm...

Anyone have any cool projects that use steppers? I have a few projects in my mind, but i want some opinions first.

**Krumlink** · 2nd July 2008, 04:18 AM

quick google search

Stepper Motors

Mikebits · 2nd July 2008, 04:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marks256

So i have that Lab Volt Armdroid robot arm, but it is just sitting in the basement, in a box, under other boxes...

What should i do with it? It has 5 stepper motors, and the controllers for them (i assume...), so what should i make?

I was thinking CNC mill, but, uh... i already have one... and i have no use for the robot arm...

Anyone have any cool projects that use steppers? I have a few projects in my mind, but i want some opinions first.

Maybe you could use it to pick up all those boxes in your basement

What about keeping the steppers as spares in case your CNC burns one up?
I would like to see your CNC setup, is it homemade or prebuilt?

**3v0** · 2nd July 2008, 06:22 AM

It would be a shame to strip the arm for parts. They are a load of fun. If you are going to ruin the thing anyway.... I might be interested in buying it from you to use in my teaching. Would be a gas to have it around for demos at the very least.

EDIT: If you do strip it I would be glad to pay shipping to get the arm without electronics.

Mikebits · 2nd July 2008, 06:27 AM

Looks like it might be a cool thing to have for your class.

Basic sheet metal, but still cool, the steppers look like the cheapie types, but may be worth a deal.

**3v0** · 2nd July 2008, 06:32 AM

It has been years since I looked at it but I doubt that many people know how complex the math is for moving a robot arm. It gives me a headache just thinking about it.

Marks256 · 2nd July 2008, 04:15 PM

Oh, i know how complex the math is, 3v0. Back in 9th grade i wrote a simulator for the robot arm at school. WOW. It had a terrible headache when i was done...

I would use the robot arm if it worked, but i think the controller is fried, and the software for it is proprietary (i don't have the hasp for it, so new software will have to be purchased)

Actually. this is a picture of it

On this site Dan Kohn's Armdoid 1000 Project Page someone got one hacked together. It would be fun to get it going... Yeah... i might just get the robot arm going.

3v0, when i am ready to get rid of it, i will let you know. I also have the turn table for it, and the gravity feeder.

**3v0** · 2nd July 2008, 04:33 PM

Let me know when you are done with it.
Thanks

dknguyen · 2nd July 2008, 04:34 PM

Forget the math and use a pendant.

picbits · 2nd July 2008, 04:55 PM

Build a voice recognition device, hook it up to the robot arm and get it to scratch your back.

Up a bit, down a bit, left a bit, scratch !!!!

Marks256 · 3rd July 2008, 12:29 AM

Hey! I like picbits' idea!

I will let you know when i am done with it, 3v0.

EDIT: dkngyen, the pendant is dead.

I think the rom went bad or something, because when it is turned on, it shows a bunch of up arrows and fish ascii!

**Krumlink** · 3rd July 2008, 01:10 AM

use a gun to scratch your back

**Nigel Goodwin** · 3rd July 2008, 09:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marks256

On this site Dan Kohn's Armdoid 1000 Project Page someone got one hacked together. It would be fun to get it going... Yeah... i might just get the robot arm going.

You've got all the mechanicals there, all nicely build and tested - use PIC's to control it all, and write your own software to do so. It's a nice little project, and the difficult hardware part is already done for you.

Bear in mind you don't need to do it all in one go, start with a single stepper and movement, and develop solely for that. Once that's all done and working, then you simply duplicate it for all the other steppers, with any slight variations as required.

jpanhalt · 3rd July 2008, 11:05 AM

I agree with Nigel. It would be a shame to destroy it. Once you got it running wiht PICs, you could interface to almost any RC outfit for remotely controlling it.

Worst case, you end up with a wonderful machine, but no purpose. That is still better than a pile of useless parts. John

Marks256 · 3rd July 2008, 02:41 PM

That is true. I suppose i could get it working... it will give me something to do, at least.

Micbits, here is a link to the thread i started about the CNC stuff my friend and i got. http://www.electro-tech-online.com/r...ust-got-o.html

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2nd July 2008, 04:10 AM	(permalink)
Marks256	What to make (bunch of steppers)? So i have that Lab Volt Armdroid robot arm, but it is just sitting in the basement, in a box, under other boxes... What should i do with it? It has 5 stepper motors, and the controllers for them (i assume...), so what should i make? I was thinking CNC mill, but, uh... i already have one... and i have no use for the robot arm... Anyone have any cool projects that use steppers? I have a few projects in my mind, but i want some opinions first. __________________ There is no "I" in "team", unless Apple makes it... Then it would be iTeam.

2nd July 2008, 04:18 AM	(permalink)
Krumlink	quick google search Stepper Motors __________________ MechTronics World of Warcraft is a disease

2nd July 2008, 06:22 AM	(permalink)
3v0	It would be a shame to strip the arm for parts. They are a load of fun. If you are going to ruin the thing anyway.... I might be interested in buying it from you to use in my teaching. Would be a gas to have it around for demos at the very least. EDIT: If you do strip it I would be glad to pay shipping to get the arm without electronics. __________________ search engine for electronic parts Junebug USB PIC programmer kit., USB Bit Wacker, Homepage The 15 Minute Printed Circuit Board! (+drill time) Last edited by 3v0; 2nd July 2008 at 06:22 AM.

2nd July 2008, 06:27 AM	(permalink)
Mikebits	Looks like it might be a cool thing to have for your class. Basic sheet metal, but still cool, the steppers look like the cheapie types, but may be worth a deal.

2nd July 2008, 06:32 AM	(permalink)
3v0	It has been years since I looked at it but I doubt that many people know how complex the math is for moving a robot arm. It gives me a headache just thinking about it. __________________ search engine for electronic parts Junebug USB PIC programmer kit., USB Bit Wacker, Homepage The 15 Minute Printed Circuit Board! (+drill time)

2nd July 2008, 04:15 PM	(permalink)
Marks256	Oh, i know how complex the math is, 3v0. Back in 9th grade i wrote a simulator for the robot arm at school. WOW. It had a terrible headache when i was done... I would use the robot arm if it worked, but i think the controller is fried, and the software for it is proprietary (i don't have the hasp for it, so new software will have to be purchased) Actually. this is a picture of it On this site Dan Kohn's Armdoid 1000 Project Page someone got one hacked together. It would be fun to get it going... Yeah... i might just get the robot arm going. 3v0, when i am ready to get rid of it, i will let you know. I also have the turn table for it, and the gravity feeder. __________________ There is no "I" in "team", unless Apple makes it... Then it would be iTeam.

2nd July 2008, 04:33 PM	(permalink)
3v0	Let me know when you are done with it. Thanks __________________ search engine for electronic parts Junebug USB PIC programmer kit., USB Bit Wacker, Homepage The 15 Minute Printed Circuit Board! (+drill time)

2nd July 2008, 04:34 PM	(permalink)
dknguyen	Forget the math and use a pendant. __________________ NO, that picture isn't me so don't bother asking if we can be friends.

2nd July 2008, 04:55 PM	(permalink)
picbits	Build a voice recognition device, hook it up to the robot arm and get it to scratch your back. Up a bit, down a bit, left a bit, scratch !!!!

3rd July 2008, 12:29 AM	(permalink)
Marks256	Hey! I like picbits' idea! I will let you know when i am done with it, 3v0. EDIT: dkngyen, the pendant is dead. I think the rom went bad or something, because when it is turned on, it shows a bunch of up arrows and fish ascii! __________________ There is no "I" in "team", unless Apple makes it... Then it would be iTeam. Last edited by Marks256; 3rd July 2008 at 12:31 AM.

3rd July 2008, 01:10 AM	(permalink)
Krumlink	use a gun to scratch your back __________________ MechTronics World of Warcraft is a disease

3rd July 2008, 11:05 AM	(permalink)
jpanhalt	I agree with Nigel. It would be a shame to destroy it. Once you got it running wiht PICs, you could interface to almost any RC outfit for remotely controlling it. Worst case, you end up with a wonderful machine, but no purpose. That is still better than a pile of useless parts. John

3rd July 2008, 02:41 PM	(permalink)
Marks256	That is true. I suppose i could get it working... it will give me something to do, at least. Micbits, here is a link to the thread i started about the CNC stuff my friend and i got. http://www.electro-tech-online.com/r...ust-got-o.html __________________ There is no "I" in "team", unless Apple makes it... Then it would be iTeam.