Welcome to Synthiam!

The easiest way to program the most powerful robots. Use technologies by leading industry experts. ARC is a free-to-use robot programming software that makes servo automation, computer vision, autonomous navigation, and artificial intelligence easy.

Get Started
USA
Asked — Edited

Future Ez-B Patient

User-inserted image

User-inserted image



Here's the robot I've been working on. All the aluminum is CNC cut and turned out pretty nice. The tracks and sprockets are from Lynxmotion and the drives are Sabertooth and Pololu. I've been driving it around with a RC setup but look forward to adding the EZ-robot controller I just ordered.
The center section powers up and the (face) is timed via a timing belt with the center rotation point so the smile always points forward no matter the position of the center section.

The sharpie drawn smile is just temporary and as soon as I can come up with a face that's got some character and can support a sensor or two I'll make it and install it.


ARC Pro

Upgrade to ARC Pro

Experience early access to the latest features and updates. You'll have everything that is needed to unleash your robot's potential.

Belgium
#1  
Waw, unbelievable cool ! Very nice work, congratz!
#3  
I love the look of fresh aluminum. Something about shouts "Manly".
#4  
User-inserted image


User-inserted image


The battery box has been added. It contains a 1400mah 11.1v lipo and three Pololu drives. I machined out the back of the black Hammond box and laser cut new panels to give me a bit more depth. Before cutting out the panels, I also drew in a feature that allows me to plug into the Pololu 18-7 drives and make program changes without opening the box.
I'm still watching for Fedex with the new EZ-B controller. The drives will plug right in just as if I were running servos.
Canada
#6  
@Dave..not just the shiny aluminum but also the mega treads on the tracks!..looking forward to the vid as well
PRO
USA
#7  
Awesome design, very original. It looks like a swat team/ military robot.
#10  
Alright. UPS tracking number says my Ez-Robot kit is out for delivery. This is the longest afternoon ever!
Come on UPS!
PRO
USA
#11  
Lol that's awesome , can't wait.
#12  
Hang in there..... UPS and Fedex show up at my door which is at the end of their routes around 6 or 7 pm.
#13  
Dude! *eek* Beautiful CNC work, man. I'm really diggin the lynxmotion tracks too lol. I remember the anticipation when I was waiting for my ez-b...in the end, it showed up while i was at work lol. Thankfully, my neighbor just happened to be outside (she knew that I'd been expecting it any day) and signed for it lol
Germany
#14  
This should end up as Johnny 5 from Short Circuit, man!
#15  
Sorry robot builders. I hit a wall tonight. Got my EZ kit only to learn my laptop doesn't have a bluetooth thingy and xp isn't going to cut it.
Gotta head out tomorrow and find a bluetooth antenna and windows 7. Darn


I'll post more on the robot when it's up and ready.
If all goes well with the EZ-B project, I'll install one in my Wall-e version shown below:

User-inserted image
#16  
Oh my that's gorgeous. out of curiosity what is the weight approximation.
#17  
It's a little heavier than I like. The bottom is made Mic-6 aluminum. The plates are .5 and .250 thick. The .5 plates have been machined out to help with the weight. The motors are 42mm planetary units and work great. I drove the robot in my yard with remote control and found it would climb steep hills with ease. It has two 12v 4 amp hour Nimh battery packs. I used a Sabertooth controller but may change that out when I add the EZ-B as planned.
As mentioned above, I'm trying to finish the smaller robot first. The larger Wall-e looking robot is one I built last year.
#18  
I say keep the sabertooth, it integrate well with EZ-B.
#19  
Got the EZ-B installed and after spending the afternoon at the computer store I was able to log in to the EZ-B.
I'm used to programming the BS2 so i'll have to start from the beginning on the EZ-B.
Here's a picture or two. Sorry, no videos yet.

User-inserted image


User-inserted image
#20  
Finally got the EZ-B up and running on my drive tracks this morning. Lots of configuration as to what constitutes a "valid RC signal" was required by the Pololu drives. All was working well until I unplugged one of the servo plugs to recalibrate the oposite one still plugged in. After recalibration I plugged it back in only to miss the orientation of the pins. A load pop insued and my LM1084 5 amp regulator which operates the I/O according to the support video physically seperated from the heatsink in a cloud of smoke. I thought the fuse was supposed to blow first? Guess I was wrong on that one. I ordered more 5 amp regulators and was able to unsolder the old one. Another setback, Darn!


User-inserted image
#21  
Ouch, I hate it when I do something like that. Good thing your handy and knowledge enough to repair it. I've found that the on line electronic suppliers like Mouser and Digi-Key have parts to us very quickly. I've received parts in as little as two days using regular shipping. Who do you use? I like Mouser.

As far as the fuse, it all dependson on if it will blow faster then the fault will damage the part or what direction the fault is coming from in respect to the part being damaged. All fuses have a delay wither they are fast blow or slow blow.
PRO
USA
#22  
@machine that fuse isn't a fast blow , its a standard. They can handle a couple amps over for a while. Its called "burn time". The regulator may have gotten too hot too quick... Quicker than the fuse burn time. I don't have specs on the fuse only that its a mini blade type. If you want the highest level of protection you can use a F or FF rated fuse which can pop in a fraction of a second. Physically they look like a little thin wire on the bridge in the fuse.
#23  
I use Mouser and Digi-Key both. Both have given me excellent service. I'm hoping in a day or so to get the regulators in. The bot was just starting to get interesting when it blew.
I still haven't worked out the head yet. The cylinder is proving hard to work with and give the bot some character at the same time. Has anybody seen anything that might work they can suggest to me?
#24  
I almost did this 2 days ago. Too bad, I was really excited to see a video.
#25  
Here's the unhappy robot waiting for repair parts for the EZ-B.
He did enjoy the Revolution last night though. I saw him smiling briefly.

User-inserted image
#26  
Still working on the face.
Give me some input, what do you think of the face I came up with?
There's an ultra sonic sensor where the eyes would be and LEDs for the mouth.

User-inserted image
#27  
That would look good I like the idea.
#28  
I used the laser cutter to cut out the two pieces. Then I heated them both in the oven to 300 degrees and formed them over the cylinder that makes up the "head". The back ground matches the acrylic that's inset into the tracks and the rest of the face is .125 ABS also cut out on the laser.
The EZ-B is working well now after the repair. I'm working my way through the tutorials trying to learn to make everything work.

User-inserted image
#30  
@Technopro THAT rocks. That should be the name.
#32  
@Machine27 That is slick. Did you do the machining your self?
#33  
Yes, all the aluminum is cnc'd on my Tormach. I built the laser cutter from scratch that cut all the acrylic. It'll handle a 24"x24" piece and cuts 1" thick in acrylic. I run Bobcad and do all the design work then convert it to G-code to either run on the laser or the Tormach. I've got Solidworks but it's an older 2007 version. I've done some 3d on the cnc with Solidworks.
I'm eyeing the Replicator 2 they use in the Ez-robot office. I think that'll be the next addition to my workshop.
#34  
Nice setup to have at your finger tips.
#35  
I like building things. I'm better at the building than the programming. I've used the BS2 up to this point and done quit a bit with it. I'm excited to learn more about this EZ-B setup.
#36  
Lemme ask a question for the more experienced users here. Is there an easier way to find my posting? Now, If I don't post any updates for several days, I have to go digging through all the numbered screens to find mine. The more time that passes, the further out in the numbers this post becomes.
#37  
The only way is to use the search bar at the top of the page.
#39  
Thanks! I did the favorite thing and it works well.
Login to post a comment