Thingamaplush Robot

Inspired by Bleep Labs' Thingamakit and Thingamagoop synthesizer noise maker creations, I set about making a plush version for my two-year-old daughter. My goal was to create something that was safer and easier to use for her, while remaining just as fun and quirky as the original Thingama' synths.

The electronics in the Thingamaplush are based on the Thingamakit design, available on Bleep Labs' website. I tweaked the design a bit to fit my own purposes, ending up with a sort of hybrid between the Thingamakit and the Thingamagoop. The electronics are stuffed into a plush robot I designed myself, and assembled with the help of my mother (how's that for some geeky mother-son bonding?)

This instructable will detail sewing the robot body, and stuffing it with my custom made board. Of course, you may remix any part of it to suit your own needs. You could design a different body, or install different electronics. Maybe an Atari Punk Console? Or a Robot Voice Modulator? It's up to you! You could even omit the electronics completely, to create a cute little robot toy.

EDIT: New videos added! See Step 11...

Please note that I made every effort to make my design safe for a toddler to use, but I can't guarantee its safety. If you're a parent you know how hard kids are on their toys - they are dropped, sat on, stepped on, chewed on, drooled on, and generally abused in ways that the Underwriters Laboratory can't even imagine. With this in mind, observe your child when they are playing with their Thingamaplush and make sure they remain safe. Unsupervised, I'd say the minimum age is 6.

Step 1: Parts and Tools

You'll need to hit two entirely different stores for this project!

The Body:

- Fleece, felt or fabric of your choice. It doesn't really matter what you use. If your robot is being made for a child, use nice bright colours. They like that.
- Thread, suitable for the fabric you're using.
- Various buttons and other accents for your robot (optional)
- stuffing, preferably flame and heat resistant (just in case the electronics short out somehow)
- a short zipper or snaps (optional, for easy battery replacement)

The Electronics:

- custom PCB (etched or perfboard - I recommend etched because it's more durable)
- blank perfboard
- components as listed in the parts list
- two 500kohm 10mm wide photocells
- three single pole double throw (SPDT) mini toggle switches
- four 22mm long hex threaded standoffs, and matching screws (probably 6-32 size)
- one mini 1.5"-2" speaker
- stranded wire
- lead-free solder (just in case)
- a 9V battery and 9V battery clip
- heat shrink tubing
- wire wrap tubing or aquarium tubing


Tools:

- a sewing machine (optional - you can do it all by hand if you like)
- a sewing needle
- PCB etching equipment
- soldering iron
- assorted circuit assembly tools
- glue suitable for fabric, for attaching accessories

Comments

[jakobus9]

now make two of those and let them 'comunicate' :D
that ought to be fun :D

[auka]

me you could send the listing of the materials? thanks

[Juanton94]

Can the speaker be replaced with an audio jack?

[jeff-o]

Not directly. You can connect an audio jack to the input of the audio amplifier, on pin 3. The other pin on the jack goes to ground.

[rko167%]

you are a genuis, i just have one question, does it really move or do you move it?

[jeff-o]

Thanks!

No, it doesn't move.  It does beep, though!

[oweng4000]

You sir, are a genius worthy of being inducted into the instructables hall of fame.

[jeff-o]

Well thanks!  I don't think I've earned such accolades just yet, though!

[oweng4000]

btw, did people stare at you strangely at the park? When i was playing wiht Bebot (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KFG7-Q0WI7Q) in Joe Ann(while my mother shopped for sewing materials), people stared at me like I was a weirdo.

[jeff-o]

I'm not sure, I wasn't really paying attention to anyone else.

[jorge.rabanal]

Very good job, it's really nice. But I have a question,
What IC corresponds to U2?

[jeff-o]

Whoops, sorry!  That IC is the brain of the operations, an Exar XR2206.

[jorge.rabanal]

Great ! , thks very much ;)
The answer that i esperate xD

[Very Interesting]

I need to see more of Thingamaplush's  adventures....can't...stop......watching....

[jeff-o]

 Success!  If you make your own, you could make your own adventures...  ;)

[Very Interesting]

Ooooo - maybe they could video conference!

[rayads786]

NEED HELP!!! Is this PCb double sided?
can someone send me a PDF of the pcb

[jeff-o]

Yes, it's double sided.  To view it, go to www.cadsoft.de and download the freeware version of Eagle.  That way, you can print out the PCB design from the original vector artwork, at the correct size, rather than from a PDF.

[rayads786]

 Every time I click your download link it downloads a .tmp file that cant be opened, this is the same for both the thingamaplush.sch and thingamaplush.brd

[jeff-o]

It's a bug in instructables.  Either rename the file that downloaded, or right-click the file, choose "save as..." and pick a name for the file.

[rayads786]

 tried renaming it as an .sch file but it still won't open. Is there somwhere else I can download the files.

I'd be really grateful if someone emailed me them

[e-mail]

[artobot]

This is super cool, I'll remember this for when I manage to produce some spawn.
Though I have to be honest, when I first watched the video I thought "Dang I hate to be caught with that thing in my carry on at an air port.". 

[jeff-o]

It's a great gift for Significant Others as well!

[firefliie]

so how much would all this cost?

[jeff-o]

Hmmm, maybe around $25-$30.  It depends on how many of the parts you have lying around.

[MACKattacksnipe]

Instead of sewing up the battery pack why dont you put velcro or buttons

[jeff-o]

I sewed it shut so that my daughter wouldn't tear the battery out.  But of course, if there is no danger of toddlers performing surgery then by all means use a less permanent method of closing it up!

[Jim5975]

yup i did your right

[jeff-o]

 Well, you can use it for something else then!

[cowscankill]

Coolest toy ever. 5*. Excellent work man, excellent work! I can't believe I didn't see this and vote on it!

[jeff-o]

 Thanks!  Maybe next time...  ;)

[cowscankill]

I'll subscribe so as to not miss something :P

[jeff-o]

jim244, the ears are just knobs for the potentiometers. They were bought from futurlec as well, and were part number "KNOB7"

[Jim5975]

ok uhm my country doesn't have the 1uf capacitor ceramic and mylar so i brought .01uf the problem is how will i connect it to make it 1uf

[jeff-o]

Well there's not much you can do unless you connect 100 of those in parallel. And that, of course, is not really an option! If you use that one in place of the 1uF, the modulation rate will be 100 times too fast. You could put in a 0.1uF capacitor - it would only be ten times too fast. It will at least be useable. But, try to get a 1uF capacitor if you can. They are pretty common...

[Jim5975]

typo it's .1uf can i connect these in parrallel

[jeff-o]

You can. You'll need 10 in parallel to get the full effect, but 2 or 3 should be enough.

[Jim5975]

ok thx

[Jim5975]

what are the caps for anyway

[jeff-o]

The caps are part of a very simple RC oscillator, consisting of one cap, a Schmitt trigger inverter, and a resistor. Also, don't forget to vote for me! :)