IT WALKS - Knex Starwars AT AT

Its a four legged AT AT that walks pretty well on hard surfaces and non shag carpets. Made it over a few knex sessions and thought it would make a good first instructable. Let me know what you think :)

Step 1: Gather the Parts

If you dont have the half-thick grey connectors those aren't too hard to make with a hacksaw, file, and vice. Youll also need a broken axel in the next step.

Step 2: The Crank Shaft (broken Rods)

The rod in the middle needs to be 6 widths long (width meaning the thickness of a standard connector) with no end nubs. Next youll need two rods five widths long with no end nubs. The last two rods need to to be two widths long with a nub or three lengths long.

Step 3: Chassis

Step 4: Install Motor

Take the crankshaft apart and use the longest broken rod (6 width) to hold the motor in place. Its supposed to float around a bit. There are no other attachments for the motor.

Step 5: Crank Shaft

Install as shown. make sure that each side is offset by 180 degrees.

Step 6: Crank Guards

Snap in to keep the crankshaft from coming apart. I should have mentioned before but the build is mostly symmetrical; so do this for the other side as well.

Step 7: Cell Pack

Snap these in the placement shown. Also leave the battery pack cover off since it interferes with the walking mechanism.

Step 8: Body

Step 9: Back End

its a bit of a tight fit.

Step 10: The Head

Attach as shown. The blue circles are where to connect it. (ignore the broken wire on my spare motor). put the green rods in front to stop the cockpit from drooping

Step 11: Time for the Feet.

Make a mirror image of everything shown. then you're still not done until you make duplicates.

Step 12: Final Assembly

Line up the grey connectors on the legs with the grey connectors on the chassis then slide in a blue rod. Snap the orange connectors to the blue rod to lock it in place. Put a mirror image leg in on the left side and in front. The duplicate goes in the furthest away joint.

Step 13: Levers!

The orange connectors on top dont go in easy you really have to force them. Make four of these.

Step 14: Levers Placement

Attach the levers onto the blue rods from step 12. The grey connectors should be facing the body and the orange should be outboard.

Step 15: FINAL Final Assembly

Snap the levers to the crank shaft and you're done!

Comments

[RebeccaB111]

Hello, my 5th grade students are trying really hard to make this. They are struggling with understanding the exact pieces you used for the crank shaft and then correctly putting the shaft into the Chassis. Is there anyway you could send us some more pictures of these steps? Thank you very much!!

[Tarqy]

Hey, the crank shaft is made up of a long rod, destroyed and cut into specific lengths. I have broken a lot of rods (accidentally and on purpose) over the years. They are probably confused because I neglected to put those broken pieces in the parts needed page and instead, put them on the second page. i can take some more photos for you soon once i remake the build. Also i think they might need help with some of the later steps so ill check back soon.

[PlatinumUndefined]

Wow this is cool! It can actually walk! I have to build it. I might try building it with darker pieces.

[Tarqy]

did you make a better looking version? I also finished the self winding clock in the background. Lmk if you want instructions

[Botboi]

i have built this and it works well and looks accurate. btw could u upload instructions or pictures of the clock it seems interesting with it being self winding. one more thing, your motor seems broken

[Tarqy]

Yeah my motors broke a while back ha. While i did finish the clock, it was a bit inaccurate (0.5% variation). If i cant make it better within a few months ill just post the inconsistent version.