Page 80 - Robot Builder's Bonanza

Chapter 5

Building Robot

Bodies— the Basics

o we know robots are a clever combination of mechanics and electronics. The mechani-
Scal part constitutes the “body” of the robot— call it a frame, a base, a platform, it’s all the
same.
Constructing a robot body comprises three straightforward tasks:

• Choose the material (you can mix and match).
• As needed, cut it to shape, and drill holes for mounting parts.
• Put it all together.

In this chapter you’ll be introduced to the principal materials used in constructing amateur
robots, plus the basic tools you need to form the material into the size and shape you want.
Then, the remaining chapters in Part 2 give you explicit and detailed instructions for using
these various materials. Chapters include hands- on plans for several robust robot platforms,
which you can use as starting points for your robot creations.

G Expensive, fancy tools are not required to complete any of the designs in this book. All you
need are basic shop tools— you probably already have them in your garage, or you can
borrow them from a friend or relative.

Picking the Right Construction Material

Your robots can be constructed out of wood, plastic, metal, even heavy- duty cardboard or
foam. But which to choose?
That all depends on the design of the robot: how big and heavy it is and what you intend
to use it for. It can be as simple as a piece of wood. Or it can be a fancy amalgam of high- tech
plastic covering a body of extruded aluminum and steel support brackets.
49

05-chapter-5.indd 49 4/21/11 11:43 AM