Dancing Robot

In this Instructable we will be making a dancing robot.

Watch the videos to see this robot working.

It is advised that you read the whole Instructable before obtaining the components.

Supplies

You will need:

- 6 V DC motor,

- SPST (Single Pole Single Throw) switch,

- Four 1.5 V AA battery holder,

- Four 1.5 V AA batteries,

- soldering iron,

- solder,

- wheel,

- small piece of thick insulated wire,

- three dish washing brushes,

- 1.5 mm metal wire,

- 1 mm metal wire,

- pliers (preferably two),

- short 20 cm piece of insulated wire,

- scissors,

- electrical tape,

- old sock,

- and a few rubber bands.

Step 1: Make the Circuit

Attach the motor, switch and battery holder in a series circuit as shown in the photo. Use the 20 cm wire.

Step 2: Make the Structure of the Robot

Make the structure shown in the photo from 1.5 mm wire. The height of the structure shown in the photo should be about 20 cm. The width and depth should be about 3 cm. Later you will see how this structure will hold the motor, switch and battery holder. You need to consider the size of the motor, switch and especially battery holder when making this structure. Thus, if your motor or especially the switch and the battery holder are greater or smaller than the ones I used then you will need to adjust the size of the structure to make them fit.

Step 3: Modify the Shape of the Structure

Join two pairs of ends together and wind a 1 mm metal wire as shown.

Step 4: Wind the 1 Mm Metal Wire to Secure the Structure

Wind The 1 mm metal wire to secure the structure as shown in the photo.

Step 5: Insert the DC Motor, Switch and the Battery Holder

Insert the DC motor, switch and battery holder. Later you will see that the battery holder will be attached horizontally rather than vertically. The reason why you should put it vertically initially is the make sure there is enough space between the motor, batter holder and switch.

Step 6: Attach the DC Motor to the Structure

Attach the DC motor to the structure by winding 1 mm metal wire around the motor as shown in the photo.

Step 7: Secure the DC Motor 1

Make the structure more resilient by winding 1 mm metal wire in between to motor and the structure as shown in the photo.

Step 8: Secure the DC Motor 2

Wind the 1 mm metal wire as shown in red circles in the photo.

Step 9: Secure the Motor 3

Wind the 1 mm metal wire as shown in red circles in the photo.

Step 10: Make the Stand 1

Bend the 1.5 mm metal around the wheel as shown in the photo. The length of the spikes should be about 10 cm. However, later you will see that the spikes must be inserted inside the holes of the dish washing brushes. The position of the holes in the brushes will influence the required length of the spikes.

Step 11: Make the Stand 2

Twist the 1.5 mm metal wire spikes with pliers to tighten the grip on the wheel.

Step 12: Make the Stand 3

Insert the three spikes through the holes of the three dish washing brushes as shown.

Step 13: Make the Stand 4

Wind 1 mm metal wire around the brushes and bend the ends of the spikes as shown to prevent the brushes from detaching during the operation of the dancing robot, due to vibrations.

Step 14: Make the Stand 5

Bend the three dish washing brushes inward so that the structure stands as a tripod.

Step 15: Attach Sticky Tape or Wire Strip to Motor

Strip the small piece of thick metal wire (about 7 mm) and attach plastic/rubber strip to the motor. Alternatively you can attach sticky tape as shown. You need to make sure that the motor will have a good grip on the wheel in the next step. You can also use both the metal wire strip and sticky tape depending on the thickness of the wheel hole. If the hole of the wheel is very small then you would not need this step.

Step 16: Attach the Motor Structure to the Stand

Attach the motor structure to the stand. If the motor is not tightly attached to the wheel then add more sticky tape. You can also use super glue or craft glue and leave it to stand over night if the motor is not securely attached to the wheel. However, glue is only the last resort if you have no other choice because we all know that glue is permanent.

Step 17: Attach Switch and Battery Holder

The red oval shows how you should attach the switch with 1 mm wire. The two circles show how you should attach the battery holder. The red circle shows that you should put the 1.5 mm metal wire through the holes of the battery holder and wind the metal wire around the supporting rods of the structure as shown in the green circle. The green circle also shows why you need space (mentioned in step 5) for the battery holder.

Step 18: Secure Moving Parts 1

Red oval shows how you should attach the switch with 1 mm metal wire.

Green circles shown how you attach the battery holder.

Purple oval shows that you must wind a 1.5 mm metal wire around the battery holders to prevent the batteries from escaping due to centripetal forces.

Blue circles show how you show secure the wires to prevent them from moving. Unless you secure the wire the vibrations will cause the electrical connections to break during operation of the dancing robot and you will be forced to strip the wire and solder to motor and switch again. We all know then when you bend metal many times it eventually breaks.

Step 19: Secure Moving Parts 2

Green oval shows how you should secure the batteries with 1.5 mm metal wire.

Red circles show how you should secure the wires to prevent them from moving and breaking at soldered connections during operation of the dancing robot. We all know then when you bend metal many times it eventually breaks.

Step 20: Cut Old Sock in Half

Cut old sock in half as shown.

Half sock is used instead of full sock because in this instructable you need to consider the weight of the moving structure that might slow down its movement.

Step 21: Wind the Half Sock Around the Structure and Attach With Rubber Bands

Wind the half sock around the structure and attach with rubber bands.

You are now done. You can switch on the dancing robot and enjoy.