Newsgroups: comp.robotics
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From: nivek@cmu.edu (Kevin Dowling)
Subject: Drills
Message-ID: <NIVEK.94Jan31225019@scythe.cmu.edu>
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Reply-To: nivek@cmu.edu (Kevin Dowling)
Organization: Robotics Institute, Carnegie Mellon
Date: Tue, 1 Feb 1994 03:50:19 GMT
Lines: 28


In response to Chuck McManis' post on cordless drills.

Yes, cordless drills are quite viable for robotics work. Some
commerical ones now put out in excess of 200inlbs of torque. They
obviously run off batteries (nice for mobile applications) and are
lightweight and relatively efficient. Good quality ones run $150 and
up. 

However, they are really meant for intermittant use and under
continuous use might not last an hour under light load. Still, if
additional batteries can be brought to bear - it becomes a simple and
relatively inexpensive means to power a machine. Velocity and position
control could be tricky though.

OSU's Phony Pony, in the late 70's early 80's was powered by (regular)
drill motors.

				nivek

aka:    Kevin Dowling         Project Scientist
tel: 	412.268.8830          Carnegie Mellon University
fax:	412.682.1793          The Robotics Institute
net:	<nivek@cmu.edu>       5000 Forbes Avenue
                              Pittsburgh, PA 15213



