[NEED SOME TIPS] Robot Arm Designing

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the design challenges faced in building a robot arm, specifically focusing on achieving rigidity in the assembly. Participants explore various design modifications and techniques to enhance structural integrity, sharing ideas and suggestions related to mechanical design and assembly methods.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested
  • Mathematical reasoning

Main Points Raised

  • One participant describes a design problem with a robot arm that lacks rigidity when assembled and seeks suggestions for improvement.
  • Another participant suggests using dowel pins to align parts more effectively than screws, which may introduce too much clearance.
  • A different participant proposes redesigning the flat plates to lock into each other for a more rigid connection, though this would require additional resources.
  • Participants discuss the potential effectiveness of a clamping method for securing parts, with one seeking feedback on this approach.
  • Concerns are raised about the clarity of the provided images, with requests for more detailed views that include fastener models to better assess the design.
  • One participant mentions that using CNC machining could allow for more complex geometries, potentially improving rigidity by reducing the number of parts needed.
  • Another suggests lengthening a specific piece in the design to enhance rigidity while maintaining clearance.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express various viewpoints on the best methods to achieve rigidity in the robot arm design. There is no consensus on a single approach, as multiple competing ideas and suggestions are presented throughout the discussion.

Contextual Notes

Some limitations are noted regarding the precision of parts and the need for high-quality machining to ensure effective assembly. The discussion also highlights the dependency on the specific design choices made by the original poster.

minmonster59
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hi everyone,
I'm a mechatronics student.
I'm sorry i posted this question here. I hope i can get some tips/answers/designs(rough design)

http://i101.photobucket.com/albums/m62/minmonster57/Robot_Arm_Design.png

I'm having this Robot building project.
And faced a designing problem,
This design is passed to me by my senior...
And the parts is fabricated out...
The problem is the whole robot arm is not rigid, it tends to move when it's assembled.
Is there any designs/ways to make the whole robot arm to be rigid ?
(If you don't mind, provide your rough design to me) I will appreciate it a lot.
Tyvm
 
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Are you clamping two flat faces to each other with screws and nuts?

You could use some pins on one side that mate with precision holes on the other. These would resist motion in the x-z plane and the screws would be used only in the y direction. You could also use some type of locking washers or screws with locking threads to prevent them from loosening.

Any of that help?
 
Hmmm... Do you mean using dowel pins ?

Sorry, I din give u the more detailed drawing...
This is another exploded view of the parts...
Hope this will help u to see clearer.

http://i101.photobucket.com/albums/m62/minmonster57/Robot_Arm_Design4.png

This is the exploded view... Is there any suggestions or other designs to make this whole arm to be rigid ?

Actually i thought of another idea but I'm not sure whether it will work...
Can you give comments on my idea ?
This is the picture...
My idea is by clamping the neck of the arm part...

Exploded view:
http://i101.photobucket.com/albums/m62/minmonster57/Robot_Arm_Design2.png

Assembled view:
http://i101.photobucket.com/albums/m62/minmonster57/Robot_Arm_Design2.png

Thanks for your advice =D
 
Yes, I meant dowel pins. Screws don't work well to align parts. There is almost always too much clearance involved. Precision dowel pins can be press fit into holes slightly smaller than they are. The pins can then mate with holes in the other piece that are only very slightly larger than they are. The holes must be machined with a high level of precision.

If you have the resources you could also redesign those two flat plates in a way that they lock into each other. That would make for a more rigid coupling than just using pins, but would obviously take more time and money.
 
Here's a useful site for projects like this:

http://www.mcmaster.com/

Even if you don't intend on buying anything from that site you can still download 3D models for many of the parts and fasteners listed.
 
Thank you very much, Skrambles...
It helps me a lot...
Thanks for the idea =D
 
Btw will the clamping method be useful ??
If u saw the exploded and assembled view...
 
You posted the same picture twice, and I can't tell much about the holes from your pictures. I don't know if they are threaded, or smooth, or go through the part all the way. Can you put some fastener models into your assembly and exploded views to make it easier to figure out?
 
Opps sry I posted the wrong picture...
This is the new pictures I've generated for you...

The whole arm assemble:
http://i101.photobucket.com/albums/m62/minmonster57/Robot_Arm_Design6.png
( The highlighted part is the part that we're dicussing about ) [Red Circle]

For Magnified part view that I'm changing:
http://i101.photobucket.com/albums/m62/minmonster57/Robot_Arm_Design4.png

The clamping method (Assembled) with screws:
http://i101.photobucket.com/albums/m62/minmonster57/Robot_Arm_Design5.png
Screws: M3x20

Clamping method (Exploded) with screws:
http://i101.photobucket.com/albums/m62/minmonster57/Robot_Arm_Design8.png

Clamping method (Eploded) with screws + Arrow indicators:
http://i101.photobucket.com/albums/m62/minmonster57/Robot_Arm_Design7.png

Red arrow indicator: Holes is threaded for M3 screw
Orange arrow indicator : Through hole [ diameter 3.4 ]
Yellow arrow indicator : M3x20 Screws
 
  • #10
Thanks for ur time...
Sorry to take u so much time for helping me.
 
  • #11
It should work if the parts fit almost perfectly together. It seems like the design is using several parts where one would work. If you can use some CNC machine tools you could use more complicated geometry in a single part to mount the motors more rigidly.
 
  • #12
Check out the attached image.

My assumption is that if you can lengthen the piece I have shown, it will allow for a little more clearance and remain rigid.
 

Attachments

  • Robot_Arm_Design.jpg
    Robot_Arm_Design.jpg
    23.5 KB · Views: 661
  • #13
oh thanks... that really helps =D Thanks for your advice =D
 

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