Can someone CNC some parts for me?

[Ro-Bot-X]

Hello again fellow forumers, I have arrived in Toronto safely and things are slowly getting in place here. I have new ideas for a robot that I want to build and I'm looking around to see what's the best way to make the parts I need.

I want to build a robot from acrylic plexiglas (clear, to see the mechanisms inside, even clear servos will be used). The robot will use Admin's Axon, 2 DC motors with encoders, treads (from Vex or something similar), a bunch of servos (about 20 or so), an AVR camera (hope to be able to get a Blackfin camera if funds will be available), a MaxSonar EZ4, a few Sharp IR sensors, a few contact sensors for the mechanisms inside. Right now the whole thing is on paper, I'll CAD latter when everything takes shape.

The parts I need will be made from 3/8" plexiglas, so I can tap screws on the side. Some parts will be thinner.

But I need a special part that needs a four axis CNC. It is a pipe that has teeth on an end to make a crown gear. This will be the forearm of the robot and it needs to rotate. A pico servo will have a small gear on it's spline will be mounted to rotate the pipe. Another pico servo will be mounted inside the pipe to actuate the fingers (gripper style, but with 3 fingers). The pipe diameter will be around 3/4" (or whatever I can find close to this diameter, but not smaller). The pipe lenght will be around 2-1/2", that needs to be determined. A smaller diameter pipe will be mounted at the non toothed end and will hold at it's other end the fingers. There will be 2 such arms on the robot.

Any advice from experienced CNC fellows will be greatly appreciated. If this doesn't get too expensive, I will probably need the parts done the latest at the end of september.

Thank you in advance.

[JonHylands]

If you're in Toronto now, you should consider coming to our next BuildFest, which is this coming Saturday at the Bug'n'Bots store in Brampton.

Steve (the owner of Bug'n'Bots) has a pretty decent machine shop, although he doesn't have a four-axis CNC. We do know people who do machining for a living, and may be able to provide local suggestions.

- Jon

[Kohanbash]

There are many online CNC shops. I have used http://mfgquote.com/ successfully in the past to find one.

[Ro-Bot-X]

Thanks Jon, I will go there.

[JonHylands]

Start time is around 10:00 am, and we generally leave around 4:00 pm.

Location can be found here:

http://www.bugnbots.com/index.php?ID=5

- Jon

[Ro-Bot-X]

Jon, are you going to be there? I thought you live in Vancouver, I was about to prepare to visit you but my whife decided it is best for her PHD to go to Toronto. I know there is a great robotics group in Vancouver, but found nothing here besides BugsAndBots and some clubs that do batle bots. I thought in Toronto will be more clubs and interest for robotics...

I have considered buying a hardware kit for a desktop CNC from a guy in Mississauga (I allready have the motors and electronics for a 4 axis CNC) for $275. Only if I had a balcony... or some other room I can set up for CNC-ing...

[JonHylands]

Yeah, I'll be there. I live in SW Ontario, about 2 hours west of Toronto.

My brother Dave lives near Vancouver. He's also into robotics and CNC machining, so people get confused about us all the time...

- Jon

[Admin]

But I need a special part that needs a four axis CNC.

Why not use a 3-axis, then reposition the part for the 4th?

Or if it doesn't need to be metal, why not just get it 3D printed?
(bottom of this page: http://www.societyofrobots.com/robot_parts_list_manufacturing.shtml)

[ceruleanplains]

Out of curiosity did you try getting some basic stock materials from McMaster-Carr?  That's where I got my acrylic.

[Cotowar]

If I understand you right, you need teeth on the inside of the pipe?

I would recommend just drill pressing and lathing it out, but you could look for a CNC shop if you have the funds available.

My idea is by no means simple, and will take an enormous amount of skill to do it right, but it can be done. just trying to save you some cash if you have the tools and a free weekend.

[Ro-Bot-X]

Now this IS a cool CNC!

[youtube]quN37YskoaM[/youtube]

And here is the link to the author's page: http://www.hexapodrobot.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=14&t=12

[Admin]

already posted
http://www.societyofrobots.com/robotforum/index.php?topic=4428.0