Hacking Drills- Cheap/Powerful Gearmotors for Robotic Applications

This Instructable will cover the process of how to modify a generic cordless drill for use in robotic applications by removing the chuck and disengaging the slip clutch. It will also cover mounting options for the motors.

Why use a drill motor instead of a purpose built gearbox/motor like a Banebots P60?

1. Cost. It's around $80 for a banebots gearbox/motor and about $30 or less for a cheap drill.
2. Drills are designed to be lightweight, durable and powerful. (isn't that we want in a motor?)
3. They are almost the same thing as a Banebots P60, but with more plastic. they have a similar final output speed*, and identical motors in most cases.
4. You get a battery and charger, which are always useful.

I use two of these in my top ranked combat robot Phoenix


* Banebots 26:1 gearbox with a 550 size motor outputs ~900rpm, which is about the same speed that most cheap drills spin at.

Step 1: What You Will Need

1. Cheap cordless drill such as the Harbor Freight 18v 900rpm drill but any single speed 500-900rpm drill with a 3/8" chuck will do.
2. V-Jaw Pliers
3. Snips
4. Cordless Drill (will not be disassembled)
5. 2 10-32 set screws and hex key for them
6. Philips and Flat Head Screw Drivers
7. 1/4" or larger hex key (it need to fit in the drill's chuck though)

Not Pictured
8. Steel pipe preferably about 2-3' long and 3/4" or smaller diameter
9. Table mounted vise