@toymaker What about the questions on software and EZB I HAD posted?

@Tony I can't wait for the day that robotics is in the curriculum. I'm currently toying with the idea of starting up some kind of after school club for robotics - I have no clue how though lol (all ideas/suggestions welcomed). But I'd love to see these in the class room, kids building it and programming it, I can see it being one of those "fun lessons". When I was at college the "fun lessons" were those which involved programming (Pascal & Assembly Code) and debugging.

The cost is always going to be an issue. You need to make money but also need to have it affordable while keeping the standard to a high quality. I don't envy you on that task (I do on all other tasks though!)

The guy who never sleeps RICH lol

I KNOW toymaker needs to make a profit and costs will be a issue,a idea and may be you are using it get most parts made by china.

I know every one usa hates parts made in CHINA mostly because it takes away jobs,may be the rest of the world too.

IDEA on shipping if you come to a maker faire in usa you can sell some there and no shipping costs,plus people at the faire will mostly likely want one.

6 AM HERE IN SUNNY FLA

AND another idea for me since i travel a lot and love london and england i can easy pick up there and only pay customs fee,and baggage fee

Here is a first look at the EZ:1 (development robot) with its 5 DOF arm under the control of an EZ-B (and ARC).

Now I want to ask you all your advice, you can see that I get the dreaded servo noise when the arm is under load. I might be able to help this with "damping" springs but I do not think I can totally get rid of all the servo noise here.

The shoulder is a "home brew" power servo that has a whooping 200Kg.cm torque, but as you can see its this that makes most of the noise! My question to you all, is this noise acceptable on a hobbyist level robot (also for educational level) or do you think its unacceptable and I should design a new one from scratch? I have an idea of designing a screw driven high power servo, where the screw should hold position without drawing power or making any noise, I could produce an 8pin custom PIC as the servo controller cct, what do you all think?

Thanks in advance for all your comments.

Tony

I have no sound at the moment so I cannot comment on the sound level, I'll watch it again later when I have sound and post what I think. Although I wouldn't expect a silent robot, the noises from servos, motors etc. are all part of what a robot is. Look at the films with robots in, look at Titan, sound effects of the motor noises are added in.

Rich

I tend to agree with you on some motor noise, but this servo motor noise is pretty excessive from the high power shoulder servo and seems too loud to me and may be annoying to people. I look forward to your further thoughts when you been able to see the video with sound.

I am wondering if you are going to change to a ball screw design wouldn't a liner actuator work better. With a ball screw you either need a break or constant power to hold its place.

I see what you mean about the noise now. If you are able to adjust it then I would say now is the time. Moving noise is all fine but holding noise, at least in my humble opinion, should be a minimum.

Springs to aid the arms and sound proofing may help but a worm/screw method would be more effective.

To be totally honest, I wasn't satisfied with less noise in Melvin's arms.