Parts-Description and Building Instructions:
Base-Board:
4mm Fiberboard, foam board or any suitable material. Make sure it is not too thick; the wheel axle mount needs to fit under it.
"Third wheel" - the glider in the front
I recommend a cut-in-half ping pong ball. I know, All pictures here show another plastic-thing, but I did not have ping pong balls at hand originally.
Drive unit:
All 3D-models are available here:
https://www.printables.com/model/915546-simple-robot-car-wheel-drive-train-gearbox
Drive unit hints:
- The axle holes in my model are adapted to my 2.5mm axles and the quirks of my 3D-printer. For precise hole sizes, you might want to 3D-print a hole size template first, with the correct hole sizes in a flat piece that prints quickly. It should have:
- A hole that gives a good sliding fit for the axles (for the 2 bearings)
- A hole that is a press fit on the axles (for all gears)
- A hole that is a screw thread press fit (for the M4 wheel bolts)
- All additional parts can be seen on the "explosion" view left. The steel axles can be made from coat-hanger wire, but then you need to check what diameter yours is, and probably adapt the 3D-model accordingly (see last step)
- All holes in the base plate can be drilled 2.5mm, and the M3-screws can simply cut their own thread. Does not work with foam board, i guess :)
- The drive units can be used as drilling template so that the holes in the base plate are precisely where they need to be.
Electronics hints:
- I used green LEDs because they are very bright at 3V. The LEDs were SMD, which is why the LED/sensor assembly is a bit complicated.
- Technically any photo transistor should work. For photo resistors, some tests are needed.
- There is no sensitivity finetuning on the electronics side (yet). It is possible that the vehicle does not work because the sensor might be too sensitive. Bending the sensor units a bit away from the ground helps usually.
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