A 3d printable ROV - Also, hello!
Posted: Sep 18th, 2014, 10:10 pm
Hello everyone! I'm Tim. I've always been fascinated about Remote operated vehicles, and I have a couple of 3d printers. So, I've decided to build a moderate sized ROV that can be produced by a larger format (12 inch bed) 3d printer, and more importantly, offer the design files to other people so that hopefully the design can grow and improve and maybe introduce more people to this hobby.
What I have so far is located here:
http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:451236
It's basically a free flooding frame, designed to work with 4 Bluerobotics thrusters, with an 8 inch Acrylic tube at the front for a pressure hull. The main frame material is 20mm T-slot aluminum extrusion, which will hopefully make for easy repair, upgrade and modification. The tube and the frame parts cost about $150 from McMaster carr with the hardware. Thrusters and electronics will likely cost you a bit more than that. I figure corrosion will not be a major factor on a scout class hobby ROV initially, and anyone worried about that can paint the metal pieces or mill alternate ones out of delrin
There are still a few pieces that are somewhat fluid in the design at the moment. Carrying handles, the lower cross spars, the float section, the electronics mounts for the tube, the eventual robot arm.
I think I have a decent basic design, but at the same time most of my knowledge is theoretical so If you get time, please take a look and let me know of any suggestions you might have. I'm also quite willing to design up any additional mounts / brackets / parts etc. to go with it if you would like to see something added to the design.
I plan on having a light mounting crossbar on top, and provision for mounting baskets, etc underneath the hull between the skids. The motor mounts inside the frame will likely be redone as I get closer to operational. I'll admit I kind of hurried that aspect of the design for a contest.
I would also be happy to provide the design files themselves in whatever format you would like if anyone is interested in adding to the design themselves, just let me know.
I've got about 1/3rd of the frame printed so far, mainly because the larger pieces take about 8 hours to print on the nozzle I have on the large machine, and I haven't been home to print more of them.
I do have some design questions for people in the near future as well once I get a bit further along (are there electronics packages that offer more servo outputs than the OpenROV controller, any good sources for 8" tube endcaps pre-made, or secondary battery boxes, etc). FOr now though I'd like to make sure I have the frame as dialed in as I can get it
So, if you have a moment, please let me know:
1. do you see any major flaws that I should change right away
2. is there anything you would like to see added that isn't there (angled rear thruster brackets, etc.)
3. Anything else relevant to the design
Thanks in advance!
Tim (aka Piercet, aka piercet_3dprint)
What I have so far is located here:
http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:451236
It's basically a free flooding frame, designed to work with 4 Bluerobotics thrusters, with an 8 inch Acrylic tube at the front for a pressure hull. The main frame material is 20mm T-slot aluminum extrusion, which will hopefully make for easy repair, upgrade and modification. The tube and the frame parts cost about $150 from McMaster carr with the hardware. Thrusters and electronics will likely cost you a bit more than that. I figure corrosion will not be a major factor on a scout class hobby ROV initially, and anyone worried about that can paint the metal pieces or mill alternate ones out of delrin
There are still a few pieces that are somewhat fluid in the design at the moment. Carrying handles, the lower cross spars, the float section, the electronics mounts for the tube, the eventual robot arm.
I think I have a decent basic design, but at the same time most of my knowledge is theoretical so If you get time, please take a look and let me know of any suggestions you might have. I'm also quite willing to design up any additional mounts / brackets / parts etc. to go with it if you would like to see something added to the design.
I plan on having a light mounting crossbar on top, and provision for mounting baskets, etc underneath the hull between the skids. The motor mounts inside the frame will likely be redone as I get closer to operational. I'll admit I kind of hurried that aspect of the design for a contest.
I would also be happy to provide the design files themselves in whatever format you would like if anyone is interested in adding to the design themselves, just let me know.
I've got about 1/3rd of the frame printed so far, mainly because the larger pieces take about 8 hours to print on the nozzle I have on the large machine, and I haven't been home to print more of them.
I do have some design questions for people in the near future as well once I get a bit further along (are there electronics packages that offer more servo outputs than the OpenROV controller, any good sources for 8" tube endcaps pre-made, or secondary battery boxes, etc). FOr now though I'd like to make sure I have the frame as dialed in as I can get it
So, if you have a moment, please let me know:
1. do you see any major flaws that I should change right away
2. is there anything you would like to see added that isn't there (angled rear thruster brackets, etc.)
3. Anything else relevant to the design
Thanks in advance!
Tim (aka Piercet, aka piercet_3dprint)