Introduction: Vibrobot From Old Camera

About: Mostly a programmer and random computer guy, but like to mess with hardware and other real life objects sometimes.

Inspired by the large bristle bot and Evil Mad Scientist (I'm having something of a crush on them lately) I decided to build a vibrobot. I used parts from a camera and some tape, less then a dollars worth total in my case. It's not terribly detailed and since the specific camera isn't likely to be found, it's more of an inspirational writeup of what one might do with scraps.

WARNING WARNING WARNING WARNING WARNING WARNING
Cameras with a flash contain a capacitor that may be charged even after the batteries are removed. Touching it's leads may discharge it into you, i.e. shock you. Opinions differ on how much actual danger is involved, but either way you do not want to touch it. There are a few other articles on instructables and elsewhere on how to safely discharge them (such as locating them and shorting them with an insulated screwdriver). Otherwise, disassemble while aware that some leads or components may have power in them despite the lack of battery.
WARNING WARNING WARNING WARNING WARNING WARNING

Step 1: Materials

As mentioned, I used an old camera. I bought this one at Goodwill for 75 cents. I wasn't specifically aiming to use it for this, but it did obviously have a motor in it (to advance the film), as well as clearly some other possibly useful parts (including two LCDs, some LEDs including an IR and some various other actuators). Clearly something to be used and this fine day when most people worry about the superbowl, I used it for this. I also used some duck tape (generic), perhaps six inches.

Step 2: Rip It Up

Unscrew all screws. Take apart further, unscrewing new screws you get access to and repeat until it's in pieces. If intending to salvage other parts, try not to break them. Keep ripping until you have the motor by itself and a pile of assorted parts.

Step 3: Build

Strip the ends of the wires to the motor. See what it will run on power wise. This one seemed to run ok off one of the two included AA batteries. Attach an offset weight to it. Here I use the battery compartment door, as it had a small springy part that snapped fairly tight to the cog on the motor. I then taped the motor itself to the top of the front of the camera case, as it kept the spinning (and wobbling and vibrating) battery compartment door off the ground. Tape the battery to the other side (or anywhere else it fits).

Step 4: Attach Inclined Flexible Part

Tape something mildly flexible and longish to one side. I used a part of plastic formerly on top, which seemed flat and long enough to work. Remember that this part will "ratchet" the device as it's moving, so it needs to be somewhat flexible and at an angle.

Step 5: Power Up

Attach wires with tape. The more ambitious might solder, perhaps add an on-off switch or something. This particular camera had only membrane switches, nothing especially useful as an on-off. For purity purposes, I used nothing beyond tape I didn't get from the camera itself so it's stick tape on/peel tape off to start/stop the action.

Step 6: GO!!


Put it on a flat surface and watch it scuttle around. If it is biased toward a direction (in this clip it tends to turn left) try to straighten the inclined part. The straighter it is the more erratic it tends to be since putting more pressure on one side tends to make it turn the opposite direction. Conversely, if you like it going mostly in circles tilt it slightly (it doesn't take much) and it will say in a fairly stable pattern of going in circles.

My kids think it's very amusing and my cats are a little unnerved by it. I can certainly think of worse ways to spend an hour and a dollar.