Improved homebrew linear actuators
[Harrison Low] released 3D printed linear actuators, which generated a lot of interest. He received a lot of advice from people online and he took it to heart. The result: an improved version that you can see in the video below.
The original design used carbon fiber and Kevlar and was quite rigid. The actuators could move very quickly, which was important to [Harrison]. However, they were also prone to wear and tear and had issues with the force needed to put them together. He also wanted the design to be more modular for easier repair. The new design eliminates Bowden tubes and the resulting actuator is both easier to assemble and maintain.
One of the benefits of 3D printing is that you can iterate quickly, integrating the lessons you learn into new revisions. The old actuator, for example, failed after 39,000 cycles. The new ones were capable of 50,000 cycles and seemed no worse in terms of wear.
[Harrison] is investigating some future improvements, including using the motor body as one of the coils and switching to a timing cable. He is looking for suggestions for the next generation, so be sure to share your ideas and experience.
If you want to make your own, the last part of the video shows detailed assembly instructions. It would seem that they would be worth keeping an eye on as the assembly is not trivial.
If you want something easier to set up, try one hosted on a PCB. There are other models as well, many of which are quite inexpensive.
[Harrison Low] released 3D printed linear actuators, which generated a lot of interest. He received a lot of advice from people online and he took it to heart. The result: an improved version that you can see in the video below.
The original design used carbon fiber and Kevlar and was quite rigid. The actuators could move very quickly, which was important to [Harrison]. However, they were also prone to wear and tear and had issues with the force needed to put them together. He also wanted the design to be more modular for easier repair. The new design eliminates Bowden tubes and the resulting actuator is both easier to assemble and maintain.
One of the benefits of 3D printing is that you can iterate quickly, integrating the lessons you learn into new revisions. The old actuator, for example, failed after 39,000 cycles. The new ones were capable of 50,000 cycles and seemed no worse in terms of wear.
[Harrison] is investigating some future improvements, including using the motor body as one of the coils and switching to a timing cable. He is looking for suggestions for the next generation, so be sure to share your ideas and experience.
If you want to make your own, the last part of the video shows detailed assembly instructions. It would seem that they would be worth keeping an eye on as the assembly is not trivial.
If you want something easier to set up, try one hosted on a PCB. There are other models as well, many of which are quite inexpensive.
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