Learn How to Make a 3D Printed RC Tank From Scratch!!!

In this project we would learn how to build a 3D printed RC tank using tinkercad . I would take you through the process of 3D modelling tank, after this tutorial I believe you would be able to design your own projects in tinkercad. This is a very fun project and the tank is quite powerful. you can even add a bat grip onto tracks for more grip. It is a very cheap project too and only basic parts are needed

Supplies

You are going to need the following tools:

1. Laptop/Desktop with a tinkercad account
2. 3D Printer
3. Plier

Following Supplies Would be needed:

1. BO Motors(yellow Geared Motors) x4
2. Wires
3. 3D Printing Filament
4. Superglue
5. 2.5 mm iron nails
6. 3D printed Parts which we will design:

• Inner chassis x4
• Outer chassis x4
• Mid Connector x2
• Body Assembly x2
• Track Gear x4
• Track unit x55

IMPORTANT: use medium to high quality with 75% infill when 3D Printing for best results

Step 1: Inner Chassis

Steps:

1. Add round roof and cube from basic shapes to work plane
2. align them together such that round roofs rectangular face touches with cubes face as shown in figure
3. merge them to form one shape
4. adjust dimensions as shown in figure
5. adjust height
6. Duplicate the shape we created we would use it to subtract portion of 3d object
7. adjust dimensions of duplicated shape as shown
8. now select duplicate figure as hole
9. place it on original shape as to create the cavity
10. you can see a cavity has been created
11. import 3D model of motor from electronics tab in shapes as to create a cavity to fit motor
12. add 20x20 cylinder to shaft of motor as to create whole for motor shaft and track gear
13. place it inside cavity such that motor just fits in the cavity and select motor as hole and group cavity and motor
14. now we can see motor cavity in our shape
15. now create a 4x4x20 cubical rod to create hole which will later be used to fasten other 3d printed parts
16. we have created a hole as you can see in fig
17. repeat same on the other side of inner chasis to create other hole

Step 2: Outer Chassis

Steps:

1. Load the 3d model created in step3 of earlier part to the workplane
2. now adjust its height to 4mm
3. now add a 20x20mm cylinder
4. adjust its height to 4mm
5. our base is ready now
6. add 2 4x4x4 cubes place them at
7. distance of 4mm from edges and they should be perfectly aligned
8. now group them
9. I added some holes for ventilation u can skip that step if u want to

Step 3: Body Assembly

Steps:

1. Import inner chassis
2. import cube as a hole
3. now adjust length width and height as shown in figure
4. now place edited hole as shown
5. now extend cube to bottom of model
6. group them to create u shape and extend them to 70mm
7. add U shape we created on top of previously created model with dimension 55x30x10mm on both sides as shown
8. body of tank is ready

Step 4: Mid Connector

Steps:

1. import cube and adjust dimensions as shown in figure
2. load a cylinder from basic shapes
3. adjust dimensions as shown in image
4. select cylinder as a hole and place it such that longer diameter meets edge of cuboid do same on opposite edge
5. group them
6. add 4x4x4 cubes 4 mm from nearest edges as shown in figure
7. add 4x4x4 grooves below the cubes(see figure)

Step 5: Track Gear

steps:

1. import a cylinder from basic shapes
2. set it to 50x50 and height to 10mm and select 24 sides
3. add a 20x20 cylinder and center it with the other cylinder
4. now select 20x20 cylinder as a hole and group them
5. now add 1more 20x20 with 5mm height cylinder centering its axis with previously created shape
6. group them
7. search for geared motor(yellow one) in electronics
8. add it to workplane
9. center its shaft with cylinders axis
10. make motor a hole
11. group them and obtain the hole(motor model in tinkercad is similar to real life geared motor)
12. import a 5x5 mm cylinder and select it as a hole
13. now u would be able to distinguish 24 sides we created as edges if you look closely
14. place cylinder and group the to create a groove
15. create grooves on alternate sides to obtain the gear

Step 6: Track Unit

Steps:

1. Add a cube and adjust it according to dimensions shown in figure
2. now duplicate the same object and make its width and length 4 and 10 mm respectively and place them as shown in figure
3. place 1 more at tthe back
4. now make back cuboid a hole and place it inside as shown in figure and group them
5. adda 5x5 mm cylinder and add a hole in it using 2.5x2.5 mm cylinder
6. group them to create a hole
7. place cylinder as shown
8. "
9. "
10. group them
11. add side walls by 45x50x100 cuboids on inner side of tube as shown
12. repeat same for other tube
13. Track unit is ready
14. You can add bevel for more cleanliness by manipulating cube as shown in figure

Step 7: Assembling All the Parts

Steps:

1. 3D print 2 body assembly and super glue them together as shown
2. place motor in inner chassis
3. make sure motor is firmly pressed inside the chasis
4. repeat above step one more time
5. connect both of them with mid connector
6. add gears to motor
7. add gear to other motor
8. now add inner chassis push it till it clicks into place
9. repeat same for other motor (repeat steps 1 to 9 one more time to create one more track assembly)
10. now connect both track assemblies to the body
11. body of tank is ready
12. place to tank units as shown
13. insert nail or any other metal rod in the hole as shown repeat this to connect 26 tracks for 1 track assembly
14. now wind track around the track assembly as shown in figure

Important: wire motors of rail assembly in parallel and make sure both motors move in same direction

Tank is ready!!!!

Step 8: Making It RC(optional)

Supplies:

1. Arduino
2. IR sensor with remote
3. breadboard
4. wires
5. tank we created in earlier steps
6. battery

Follow the Schematic below and wire out the motor driver ,motor and ir sensor