Very nice! Thanks for posting progress pics ....and who said you cant build a better mousetrap(balsa claw )

That was very cheap for the laser cut parts. Can you please share your source for the acrylic cutting? Again very cool, I'm a huge fan of acrylic.

yes, for tutorial status!

Yes great pictures. I'll just use a band saw to cut the parts. But thank you for the drawings.

thanks guys! I'll put a little video tomorrow... unfortunately, I believe that the shop where I cut the pieces will not be very useful to you, since I'm in Brazil.. But, if you want to give a try, the name is "acrilicos bh" - here is the website...

http://www.acrilicosbh.com.br/index01.html

My job took me to a hazardous waste incineration facility. The conveyor system was all automated. It was pretty fascinating. What caught my attention was a claw that was able to pick up anything from 500 lb, 55 gallon drums, to cardboard boxes the size of milk crates. It didn't look exactly like the picture that I made here, but it was about that design. The black rubber that I show didn't really stretch. There were spring tensioners built into the claws, but you get the idea. Anything that fit inside the loop, got surrounded by rubber as it closed. It was quite simple, but I had never seen anything like it.

As I look at your design, Tevans, I am reminded of that. A few rubber bands incorporated into your claws might make them more versatile.

To my fellow B9ers. Here is a thought. I wouldn't want to stray from the original look of the B9 claws, but I am thinking of making some temporary clips with rubber bands on them that can be snapped on in case I want my robot to pick up a beer can or some other useful chore.

Looks like a great idea! I will try it out And see what happens. Thanks.