Octagon Acrylic Robot

Build a small programmable robot using laser cut acrylic for the platforms, toy gearboxes and motors, a handful of hardware, and a Basic Stamp Board of Education.  The robot can be programmed to move forwards, backwards, rotate right or left.  This robot is a great platform for experimentation and with the addition of sensors (ideas for those described in the last step), the robot could react to it's environment.  The possibilities are are endless!

Step 1 Parts List

You will need the following parts to build the Octagon Acrylic Robot:

Platform:

• 3 sheets of 1/8" Acrylic 12" x 12" (available from Tap Plastics or your local plastic retailer).
• 1 sheet of 1/16" Acrylic 12" x 12" (available from Tap Plastics or your local plastic retailer).

Electronic and Mechanical Components:

• 1 Basic Stamp Board of Education Full Kit (part number 28803, available from Parallax).
• 1 Mondo-tronics' Mini Dual H-Bridge Circuit Kit (part number 3-301, available from Jameco).
• 2 Tamiya Planetary Gear Box Sets (part number 72001, available in hobby stores and on the web).
• 1 Tamiya Narrow Tire Set (part number 70145, available in hobby stores and on the web).
• 2 Casters with Ball Bearings.  Ball bearings are critical to ensuring the robot can turn smoothly.  Wheels should be 1 3/8" in diameter. (available from local hardware stores).
• 5 LEDs.  Colors are not critical, but I recommend using three colors. I used one red, two green, and two orange. (available from RadioShack or other electronics parts retailers).
• 5 470 Ohm 1/8 or 1/4 watt resistors - color code Yellow Violet Brown. (available from RadioShack or other electronics parts retailers).
• 2 "AA" two cell battery holders. (I used Eagle Plastic Devices part # 12BH321A-GR available from Mouser Electronics).
• 4 "AA" Alkaline Batteries.
• 1 9 Volt Battery.
• 1 8" length of green wire.
• 1 8" length of blue wire.
• 1 8" length of red wire.
• 1 8" length of black wire.
• 1 4" length of white wire.
• 10 small lengths of wire for use as jumpers on the bread board (these come with the Board of Education full kit).
• 2 Two position terminal block connectors (available from Jameco, part number 164794).  This part is optional as explained in a subsequent step.

Board of Education Mounting Hardware:

• 4 #40 1" Round head bolts
• 4 #40 Nuts for mounting the Board
• 4 1/2" Nylon spacers for the #40 bolts

Platform Mounting Hardware:

• 4 #8 1 3/4" Round head bolts
• 12 #8 Nuts
• 16 #8 Nylon washers

Caster Mounting Hardware:

• 8 #8 3/8" Nylon bolts
• 8 #8 Nylon nuts
• 8 #8 Nylon washers

Gearbox/Motor Mounting Hardware

• 8 #40 5/16" Round head bolts
• 8 #40 Nuts
• 8 #40 Washers

Battery Holder Mounting Hardware

• 4 #40 3/8" Round head bolts
• 4 #40 Nuts

Tools:

• Laser Cutter.  I used an Epilog Laser Cutter at Techshop. If you don't have access to a laser cutter you can use hand/power tools to cut and drill the acrylic sheets.
• Small flat head and Phillips head screwdriver.
• Small needle nose pliers.
• Wire strippers and wire cutters.
• Soldering iron and solder.

Comments

[Ian01]

There's a simple error in the title. You might want to fix that.
Other than that, this is very well written; good job! 5 stars.

[talk2bruce]

Thanks for the feedback! What's the error - I've read it so many times I can't see it.

[Ian01]

That robot is in the shape of an octagon (8 sides), not a hexagon (6 sides).

[uguy]

Actually, an Octagon has 8 equal length sides. This robot is in the shape of an 8 sided polygon. If you are being picky. ;=)

[h8864]

an octagon has 8 sides. THATS IT.

[Ian01]

Actually…
An octagon is any polygon with eight sides and eight vertices, maybe even with some concave vertices. A regular octagon is an octagon with eight equal sides and angles. I am being picky. :)

[talk2bruce]

You're right! Thanks. Not sure if it's wise for me to change it since it's been entered into two contests - don't want folks to think I'm messing with the entry after the deadline. I'll have to find out whether it's OK from the instructables staff.

[talk2bruce]

I found out it was OK to edit the instructable and change the title and the text to correct the name. Thanks again for pointing this out. I never was good at those prefixes. :-)