Introduction: How to Build a Simple Vibrobot
Ok, welcome to my first Instructable! I thought I would make it something simple, and I just made some cute little vibrobots so why not do it about them?
Video:
The cross shaped one would have moved so much more, but the battery is running out. I'm sure both of them would move much, much more if they were smaller.
Video:
The cross shaped one would have moved so much more, but the battery is running out. I'm sure both of them would move much, much more if they were smaller.
Step 1: Items
Ok, so to build these cute critters you will need...
- Wire
- Foam Tape
- Vibrating Motor / Motor with an offset weight (a small one)
- Long nosed pliers
- Soldering iron and lead solder
- Watch battery (whatever size you want)
- And some normal sticky tape/cellotape/Scotch tape
- Optional: Braided wire, to wrap the cross-style bot on the join
You could add other cool stuff to them, like googly eyes/antennae etc.
- Wire
- Foam Tape
- Vibrating Motor / Motor with an offset weight (a small one)
- Long nosed pliers
- Soldering iron and lead solder
- Watch battery (whatever size you want)
- And some normal sticky tape/cellotape/Scotch tape
- Optional: Braided wire, to wrap the cross-style bot on the join
You could add other cool stuff to them, like googly eyes/antennae etc.
Step 2: Bend the Wire to Shape
Ok, now is the time to cut your wire. Cut it to any length depending on how big you want your vibrobot. Once you've bent a smooth half-circle in the wire, bend up the ends. This helps it to move around easier (and not scratch your floors). For the cross-shaped bot, you will need two of these half circles, and for the bridge-shaped bot you will need to half-circles and a straight piece of wire, any length you like.
Step 3: Solder the Wire Together
Now, I had trouble taking photos of this bit, so I couldn't get any on here. I think you know what to do, though.
For the cross shaped vibrobot:
Cross the two pieces of wire over each other in a cross shape. I wrapped some braided wire around the middle of the cross and soldered over that, it makes it a lot stronger.
For the bridge-shaped vibrobot:
Put the two half-circles on the ends of the straight piece of wire. Then solder it together. You shouldn't need to wrap these joins.
For the cross shaped vibrobot:
Cross the two pieces of wire over each other in a cross shape. I wrapped some braided wire around the middle of the cross and soldered over that, it makes it a lot stronger.
For the bridge-shaped vibrobot:
Put the two half-circles on the ends of the straight piece of wire. Then solder it together. You shouldn't need to wrap these joins.
Step 4: Now for the Electronics!
This is where you need the foam tape, watch battery and motor.
To make the bridge bot:
Lay a piece of foam tape on top of the wire holding the two wire half-circles together. Optionally, you could sticky tape the underside to keep the foam tape on. Personally, I would reccomend this, but it's not needed. Stick the motor down, leaving the offset weight or shaft of the motor hanging over the end of the foam tape so that it can rotate freely. The positive (red) wire sticks onto the foam tape and the battery goes on top of it. The negative (black) wire is taped on top of the battery. To turn it off, take off the tape on the black wire.
To make the cross bot:
Lay a square of foam tape on the intersection of the wire half-circles. This is very cramped and can be hard to do, especially if you have big fingers. Stick the motor on so that half of it is hanging off the side of the tape and find a good spot for the battery on the leftover space. The positive (red) wire sticks onto the foam tape and the battery goes on top of it. The negative (black) wire is taped on top of the battery. To turn it off, take off the tape on the black wire.
To make the bridge bot:
Lay a piece of foam tape on top of the wire holding the two wire half-circles together. Optionally, you could sticky tape the underside to keep the foam tape on. Personally, I would reccomend this, but it's not needed. Stick the motor down, leaving the offset weight or shaft of the motor hanging over the end of the foam tape so that it can rotate freely. The positive (red) wire sticks onto the foam tape and the battery goes on top of it. The negative (black) wire is taped on top of the battery. To turn it off, take off the tape on the black wire.
To make the cross bot:
Lay a square of foam tape on the intersection of the wire half-circles. This is very cramped and can be hard to do, especially if you have big fingers. Stick the motor on so that half of it is hanging off the side of the tape and find a good spot for the battery on the leftover space. The positive (red) wire sticks onto the foam tape and the battery goes on top of it. The negative (black) wire is taped on top of the battery. To turn it off, take off the tape on the black wire.
Step 5: Now You Can Have Some Fun!
Put the critters on the ground. The smaller you have made the wire half-circles, the more they will move around. Mine were quite big, but I still got some movement out of them. They are really easy to build, they look pretty cool and they are fun to muck around with. Enjoy!