Simple Animatronics (robotic hand)

I made my first animatronic hand when I was about 10 years old using stuff I found around the house. Now I want to share with you how to easily make your own at home!

 This hand is made from readily available materials and is perfect for your Halloween haunted house, scary pranks, as a movie prop or just good old fashion fun. It also serves as a good starting point for further work that might include the use of servos, remote controlling and more advanced animatronics. There's a few videos at the end of this instructable that shows the building process and some of the movement of the hand. Here's one;

Step 1: Parts and tools you need

Tubing
String
Tape
Sharp knife
Hot glue-gun
Marker/ pen
CD-cover
Plastic or wooden clothes hanger

The two latter can be replaced by other materials as you will find out later.

Comments

[Orzahn]

Thank the robotic overlords for instructables, I was looking to build a hand, but wasn't sure if the strings would work, but evidently they do ;) Thanks.

[exceeda88]

thank you for this, i have recreate it using rubber tube

[ksafaet]

nice work.... :)

[sridharvenkatesh]

simply superb! thamk you! i learnt a lot..

[MakingWorld]

well done!

[MakingWorld]

well done!

[wood wizard]

I have some armoured paintball gloves and shall try to make an exoskeletoney version .I shall try to put it on here but It could take a year for me to get round to it. if possible I'll make them extendable arms to. my mouth is often bigger than my skill level so don't count on it being up soon.shall put a link here if I get it done.

[ThamarBerber]

Thanks for posting this 'Ible! I'm one step closer to be able to get things from up high out of the fridge myself!

[cjs1298]

I like how extra additions can come. Like coverage with a glove or even adding an arm.

[mb inventor]

This is most likely the best one I've seen on this website beause it is simple but it works great and it's easy to make good job!

[mb inventor]

This is most likely the best one I've seen on this website beause it is simple but it works great and it's easy to make good job!

[jeroentrebuchet]

Just simple and therefore great, well done.

[YOUTHGONEWILD]

How long was the total length of tubing you used? I really want to make this..

[pelindolok]

I want to download this as pdf, why i can't? :(

[haredrier]

Is it possible to make one that is bigger than your own hand? I'm working on a robot suit for Halloween.

[tanntraad]

Sure! Did see one guy that welded his hand! Awesome, with a hint of deadly!

[jakepark]

tantraad, could you use straws instead of pipes?

[tanntraad]

Hi! I don't see why not. But wouldn't it be very skinny? Also, it might not be as strong.. but give it a go! Let us know how it works out:)

[TimmyMiller]

how would you put a glove on it? p.s. can you turn a dial with this? i want to build a robot that will be able to turn a thermostat dial. it's for a friend. please respond with a private message, thanks.

[Stefhan Albayaty]

If you had 5 Servos you could, that would be around $75 if you got them from radio-shack or you could find some on eBay. And for a robot you wish to function as a robot i would suggest using a stronger material for the hand such as hinged metal or a hard plastic/

[pyromanic]

cool

[admerritt4life]

where did you buy the tubing???? ps can i use this at an invention convention 4 my school???

[oneaze]

wire conduit, auto parts or hardware store.. or if you goto a junkyard there is tons under hood of almost any car from 82 present day.. newer cars, much more, and will have from 1/8"-1.5" pieces.. and typical junkyards just give it away..

[freeza36]

The tubing i bought has a cut going down the entire length. Is there a simple fix?

[Gunnar120]

hmm, seeming as it is already invented... I would think not. it is probably already copyrighted by somebody and you just might get sued

[freeza36]

Ok the plastic piping that i bought has a slit running down the whole length of the tube, so wires can be inserted. It is like you just cut a straight line down the entire side. Would this work, and if not, could i tape it together?

[vadivelp]

so nice

[Aethereal]

Dx I've been to several large hardware stores and can't find (even after asking) any of the tubing. Any help?

Thanks :)

[Themajor13]

Try an automotive store. I work for Napa and we have a bunch of that stuff for wiring cars. Its called wire loom. Make sure you dont get the split loom because it has a slit down the center.

[jackjackattack]

hi

[jackjackattack99]

Hi

[djudkins]

Hi

[jmcconnell5]

Hi

[Zach4997]

Hi

[Garrus]

Hi

[bstott]

Ha, Ha, Ha. You are just too smart. I'm loving this! This is really like a - Duh - moment.

So many of the simple things around us can be used for such vastly different, imaginative, creative and purposeful uses. Thanks for the creative eye opening. This is cool!

[djudkins]

dude thats awesome, gonna make my own tommorow

[11rex11]

Ready For This?! I Made Mine Out Of Steel Tubing But With Some Hefty Springs And 100 Pound Wire Cable I Can Literally Crush Full Cans With It.

Oh Iv Already Started On Another This Time Way Stronger And Powered By A Hydraulic Cylinder Placed In The Upper Arm Part Of It. If You Were To Put It On, The Part That Pushes (or In My Case Pulls) Is Facing The Body So That It Pulls The Wires Iv Still Got To Work Out How To Make It Compact. (Do They Sell Powerful Mini Hydraulic Pumps?)

Ideas, Ideas Ideas, Maybe I Should Make Another With Some High End Servo Motors With Censors So If I Move My Arm It Moves The Arm. (Guess That Would Get Expensive Considering Id Have To Buy 7 Servos And Censors Just For The Fingers/Wrist)

[chosenangelx]

Iron Man much?
-R

[Traw]

Um, I'm sorry, but I just noticed... why are all your words capitalized?..... and that's awesome! Could you post some pictures or something so we could see it?