Page 71 - Making things move_ DIY mechanisms for inventors, hobbyists, and artists

52 Making Things Move

hen you first build a project—whether it’s for your home, an art installation, or
Wa robot competition—something always goes wrong. Sometimes the cause is
dead batteries, broken connections, or a dog using your project as a chew toy.
But the problem I see most often is the use of inappropriate materials and fasteners
that don’t hold up over the course of your mechanism’s intended lifetime.
Usually, your mechanical devices will have a base, a skeleton, or some other kind of
central structure that will need to be put together. Knowing how to do this efficiently
will save many headaches later on. There are two main ways to join components
to each other: nonpermanent joints and permanent joints. I recommend using
nonpermanent joints whenever possible, because they allow you to take things apart
without damage. However, I will discuss permanent joints for use in situations where
they are the only option.

This chapter will give you a general understanding of various ways to put things
together. In later chapters, I’ll talk more about specific situations, such as attaching
things to motor shafts.

Nonpermanent Joints: Fasteners
Nonpermanent joints are practical and quick, and they come in a variety of designs.
The term fastener is used to describe the various nuts, bolts, nails, screws, washers,
and other components that have been developed over the years to hold things
together. Figure 3-1 illustrates the various types of fasteners.

FIGURE 3-1 Types of mechanical fasteners