Page 85 - Robot Builder's Bonanza

54 BUILDING ROBOT BODIES— THE BASICS

Basic Tools for Constructing Robots

Construction tools are the things you use to fashion the frame and other mechanical parts of
your robo- buddy. These include such mundane things as a screwdriver, a saw, and a drill.
Take a long look at the tools in your garage or workshop. You probably already have every-
thing you need to build your robot. But if you’re short a tool or two, relax in knowing that
constructing an amateur robot— at least the ones described in this book— doesn’t require
anything special.
There are other tools for constructing robot electronics. These tools are detailed in their
own chapter; see Chapter 30, “Building Robot Electronics— the Basics.”

TAPE MEASURE
You need a way to measure things as you build your robot. A retractable 6- or 10- foot
tape measure is most convenient. Nothing fancy; you can get one for a few dollars at
a discount store. Graduations in both inches and metric is helpful, but it’s not critical.
A paper or fabric tape measure— one yard long, available at yardage stores, often
for free— can substitute in a pinch but may not be as accurate. They’re handy for
measuring in tight places.

SCREWDRIVERS
You need a decent set of screwdrivers, with both flat and Phillips (cross) heads,
as shown in Figure 5-4. These come in sizes; get #0 (small) and #1 (medium)
Phillips, and small- and medium- tip flat- blade drivers. Magnetic tips are handy, but
not necessary. Be sure to purchase a good set. Test the grips for comfort. The plastic
of the grip should not dig into your palm. Try soft (rubber) coated grips for extra
comfort.

HAMMER

None of the designs in this book call for pounding nails into wood, but you might still
use a hammer for tapping parts into alignment or for using a center punch to mark
a spot for drilling a hole. A standard- size 16- oz claw hammer is perfect for the job,

Figure 5-4 The basic assembly tool for making a robot is the screwdriver.
Phillips Flat There are two common types, Phillips and flat.

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