Newsgroups: comp.robotics
Path: brunix!sgiblab!swrinde!elroy.jpl.nasa.gov!usc!howland.reston.ans.net!agate!iat.holonet.net!bsmall
From: bsmall@iat.holonet.net (Brad Smallridge)
Subject: Re: Drills
Message-ID: <CKJ9zJ.HHK@iat.holonet.net>
Organization: HoloNet National Internet Access System: 510-704-1058/modem
References: <2ijh8s$pq8@handler.Eng.Sun.COM>
Date: Tue, 1 Feb 1994 06:57:17 GMT
Lines: 28

cmcmanis@pepper.Eng.Sun.COM (Chuck McManis) writes:
: So I was putting up some drapes and once again amazed at the amount
: of torque you can get out of a cordless drill and it hit me, why not
: use this for a robot? There are a couple of really nice features with
: cordless drills, one they are already geared down to a reasonable RPM
: and two they have a chuck on the end of them for mounting your wheels! 

Yeah, I've used these motors. Recently I hacked my son's electric car
motor to replace the dinky motor with a cordless screwdriver motor. The
gears are metal, not a bad buy even new considering you get metal gears
and the NiCads for about $20.

The screwdriver wasn't as easy as the drills. I had to take the assembly
apart and turn the screwdrivers end down on my lathe in order to fit the 
gear on. Not impossible though, the screwdriver head, which accepts the
various attachment bits is soft steel. I have also put lawn mower wheels
over the ends of these screwdrivers. I can't remember now if I did and
machining or if the diameters were a match.

There are also Torque wrenches available that have the advantage of a right
angle turn at the drive end.

Come to the May 1 Robot Sumo contest at San Jose State and see if
screwdriver motors win the day!
 
Brad Smallridge
bsmall@sfrsa.com

