Newsgroups: comp.robotics
Path: brunix!news.Brown.EDU!agate!library.ucla.edu!csulb.edu!csus.edu!netcom.com!tallent
From: tallent@netcom.com (Mike Tallent)
Subject: Stepper motors, Robot bases...
Message-ID: <tallentCL4u2J.17J@netcom.com>
Organization: NETCOM On-line Communication Services (408 241-9760 guest)
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Date: Sat, 12 Feb 1994 22:20:41 GMT
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Because I started this thread, I thought I would add a little bit of 
information to it. My current project involves a robot that will 
ultimately be about 18 inches round and 30 inches tall. I plan on useing 
worm gears on a spur gear with about a 25:1 or 50:1 ratio. I've located 
gears from Stock Drive Products 516-328-3300, they make hard plastic 
gears as well as metal gears. Because of cost, I'm going to try and get 
the plastic gears to work.

The biggest problems in the past is lack of mechanical engineering 
knowledge, and a lack of tools. I've come to realize that in order to 
really build robots, you need a machine shop. So I have plans to purchase 
a drill press, metal lathe, grinders, metal band saw, and much more. 

My current thoughts are to take 2 wheels, about 4-5 inches. Drill a hole 
inside with a drill press and press beerings in each wheel. Place a metal 
alluminum rod between the two wheels. Figure out a way to mount a gear to 
each wheel the inside of the wheel so the 2 gears are both on the inside 
of the wheels. I need to have the wheels be a little bit away from the 
wheel because a worm gear is going to ride on top of the spur gear if it 
its to close to the wheel, it will rub. The stepper motors can be 
mounted on the base somehow and end up in the right place to ride on the 
spur gears. I have a motion controller board that drives 2 stepper 
motors and fits in a PC ISA slot. 

First plan is to just have a robot base move around the room via a long 
cord hooked up to my PC. I have the bulk of the software ready.

Its just to hard to work with allunimum and metal using the standard 
tools found in your garage.      
-- 
                                             tallent@netcom.com
