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Robotic arm controlled by NES gamepad

Robotic arm controlled by NES gamepad

In this instructable I gonna try to describe how to make a robotic arm with parts from a printer, and control it using a NES gamepad.
It may look like a hard work but I have prepared templates for all the parts and I try to take pictures for all the angles in order to make it simple.
Also it is a really cheap robot, most of the parts come from a dead printer.
I used two PIC16F628A microcontrollers because only one was not enough for all the motors, they are pretty cheap and easy to get instead of a PIC with more pins.

Age group: only me:18+.



 
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Step 1Tools and materials

Tools and materials
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Tools
Not many tools are required, a rotary tool is perfect for cut the metal and the plastic, also if you have a driller it could help with all the holes that you have to do.
For the electronics boards you will need a 30w soldering iron.

Materials
Most of the stuff come fron a dead printer HP660, other models of the printer like the HP670 are almost the same and will be fine. The things you must take from the printer are detailed in the next step.
For controlling the robot I use a regular Nintendo Entertainment System gamepad, it is not an original gamepad, any kind will work, and it is not hacked at all, you won't need to modify it to work with the robot.
From another printer you need the stepper motor that is attached to the belt, because the HP printer use a DC motor for this and they are harder to control.
Three plastic gears are required, two of the same size and one smaller.
The servo in the hand was broken so y took the wires directly from the motor and control it as a regular dc motor.
A block of plumb for using as counterweight, if you cant get one of these you can replace it with any other heavy thing.
Electronic stuff for the boards are detailed in step 11.
Wood: one piece of 54x16 cm, one piece of 11x11 cm and four pieces of  2x3 cm.
Aluminium: one bar of 8 cm and one bar of 20cm
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54 comments
1-40 of 54next »
Mar 30, 2012. 1:29 AMbaker amin says:
I couldn't understand how does the belt move the arm horizontal, can you explain it or at least provide a picture??
Nov 14, 2011. 6:50 PMMulato says:
Hey... please, answer me =)
Im have around 3 months trying to make to work this project and it doesnt... =/
Thanks.
Sep 11, 2011. 6:16 PMMulato says:
Hey I have a Q... where is the 100uF Cap in the board draw? jeje Thanks, it's helping me a lot!
Sep 8, 2011. 8:33 PMatorres sosa says:
what its the schematic diagram???
Aug 19, 2011. 6:59 PMpedro120495 says:
how much weight need the counterweight, or it didn't care???
Aug 18, 2011. 2:56 PMpedro120495 says:
how you make the card, where you found all the pices or they come in the printer card, did you speak spañish????
Aug 16, 2011. 5:10 PMpedro120495 says:
hi men can you make a video teaching how program whit winpic becos i will do the arm but i am new in this so i dont understand how program ir, ehat i need to conect to the pc or what?????
Aug 16, 2011. 3:37 PMpedro120495 says:
in the last photo the rectangles are of plastic????
Aug 16, 2011. 3:34 PMpedro120495 says:
hi men i like it, but of where you get the rectangle pices of metal that you weld, the one of the first photo????
Feb 11, 2011. 4:23 AMredback7 says:
This takes Jenga to a whole different level.
Aug 3, 2011. 11:56 PMrabb72994 says:
LOLS
Apr 19, 2011. 10:44 AMpietzeekoe says:
why did you use stepper motors? I think standard DC motors would have worked fine.
Aug 3, 2011. 11:53 PMrabb72994 says:
Where is your robotic arm controlled by an NES game pad?........ Oh that's why
Apr 27, 2011. 7:36 AMsaschi777 says:
hello to whoever has finished this project/ i need help. i need to find the NES controller conector or what ever it is. please if anyone knows where i can get it reply to this comment or message me.asap
Jul 24, 2011. 5:44 PMSgt Niesen says:
Go to ebay.com
Jun 12, 2011. 2:50 AMvishalapr says:
You must be great at video games etc
Jun 12, 2011. 3:04 AMvishalapr says:
How did you add the pdf and the other files please reply!!!!
May 29, 2011. 8:06 AMRybka30 says:
pretty cool :D
May 29, 2011. 7:16 AMyaly says:
me to i'm 14 and six days and i also want to build it. but i only have one tiny little problem is that the computer i have doesn't want to upload any hex file to any of my micro-controllers i have an already setup programmer i bought for 10.99$ and i made my own but the problem is in the computer i tried several computers and programming soft-wares but there is a hex file that when i load it to ic-prog it tells me that the file doesn't have a device id value and i don't understand what that means. here is the file. PM me if you corrected the file and send it to me it is meant for PIC16f84a. it is from this instructable.thanks please reply soon.
May 12, 2011. 11:29 AMumair01 says:
Dear Sir.
Please Upload the circuit diagram.

Thanks.
May 1, 2011. 4:59 AMMECHOL says:
PLEASE FILM
Apr 8, 2011. 9:36 PMumair01 says:
please tell me the length of side stepper motor holder case???
Apr 23, 2011. 1:55 PMthe_sad_bird says:
i want download pdf
Apr 17, 2011. 10:44 PMwsong says:
ha ha well done.
Mar 22, 2011. 11:31 PMmikeasaurus says:
so......the yellow buttons aren't hooked up to turbo yet?
Mar 20, 2011. 8:39 AMjholic says:
awesome !!!
its will be more cool, if the arm can spin, ,, ^_^
Feb 13, 2011. 5:09 AMSharlston Cat says:
Um you could replace the hand with a laser and use it for a custom basic laser cutter
Mar 9, 2011. 8:30 AMsharlston says:
It would have to be very powerful
Mar 10, 2011. 4:34 AMSharlston Cat says:
Ye I Know Im Not As Dumb As U
Mar 10, 2011. 1:30 PMsharlston says:
So if you know the same thing as me then you must be as dumb as me?
Mar 10, 2011. 11:04 PMSharlston Cat says:
no i mean i know more then u
Mar 10, 2011. 11:19 PMsharlston says:
i kmow what yiu mean but you didnt word it properly
Mar 1, 2011. 4:13 PMchessman908 says:
Do you think an HP855 would work? If not do you have any ideas were i can get a HP660 or something close?
Feb 18, 2011. 4:40 PMtim1986 says:
This is Amazing!! Well done!
Feb 18, 2011. 12:15 AMGrey_valentine says:
This is freaking awesome man. Great job.
Feb 16, 2011. 7:50 PMKaptain Kool says:
Wow this is awesome. Great instructable!
Feb 14, 2011. 6:14 PMLeuh4n says:
Muy bueno como siempre Bruno :P
Feb 14, 2011. 8:49 AMnandoi2c says:
Felicitaciones.
Tenes disponible el codigo en c del proyecto?
Estoy aprendiendo sobre los micros.
1-40 of 54next »

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Author:brunoip(Bruno Games)
Robots and video games...