XRobots

Big secret project

I've been working on a promo for a brand for the last few weeks, so the AT-AT isn't as far ahead as it should be. However, I did build a ball-balancing robot with a character from WoW on top. The first teaser short has just gone out for this today and the whole video is due to go out early next week - it's not actually finished yet so I'll be cutting it fine.

The whole thing is sponsored by Blizzard, so it's not billed to Patrons.

Big AT-AT

Here's part 1 of the Big AT-AT, this has been quite a lot of work so I've split it into two videos - pretty confident it'll work fine so far. This one is early for Patrons, it'll go out publicly next Tuesday 30th.

Legs!

I made four of these, they are very strong ;-) Video should be up for Patrons next week.

Rideable AT-AT update

Sorry for the lack of progress pictures on this, it's been a lot of printing and getting materials together. There's a LOT of assembly to do. It's coming together though - four half legs are done, but without all the intermediate gear and motor mounts which are printing now. Most of it is 1.2mm nozzle prints and 4040 extrusion with brackets. The feet are plywood and all four are made. I'm hoping to have a video out in the next two weeks all being well.

The next project

Remember when I made a toy-sized AT-AT that can walk along? ( https://youtu.be/9z1sABd3OE0 ). Well now I'm going to make one big enough to ride on. More preview pics coming soon.

Giant Tentacle Robot

Here's next week's video, early for Patrons. This one goes out publicly on Tues 11th all being well. There are some potentially flashing /flickering lights at around 23:55 - 24:55 and again for a short time at 26:40. I'll out an on-screen warning in the final version.

Off to EMF

Well the van I hired was bigger than I thought it would be, but it's better than too small!. I'll post some more pictures for Patrons over the weekend from the event all being well.

It got bigger

All of this has got bigger and heavier than I expected - it's definitely the biggest Omni-Directional machine I've built. Check out my previous posts for the overview. Video should be out publicly on June 11th, but some sort of preview version will be up for Patrons as soon as I get back from EMF Camp where I'll be shooting the testing.

Tentacle update

Here's more on the next project - quite a lot has been made including the third ring and all the wheels. It's looking pretty solid so far - check out my previous post for the concept.

Free Makers Central Tickets!

I'll be at https://www.makerscentral.co.uk/ in a couple of weeks. I'm speaking on the main stage on Sunday and I'll be demonstrating the Screw Bike all being well (yes on a raised stage). The event have given me a voucher code for 50 free Sunday tickets!

Use code: MCJames24 for 100% discount on Sunday tickets only.

I'm giving this to Patrons and YT Channel Members today, tomorrow it'l...

The next project

The Screw-Bike video has done very well on YouTube! My general strategy, for this summer at least, is to build some more bigger-bolder projects rather than sticking to a weekly/two-weekly schedule.

The next project is a giant tentacle robot! I previously used the general mechanism in my Tentacle Legs video https://youtu.be/USBnAr8Bz6c which was inspired by the LEGO build in Akiyuki Brick Chan...

Screw Bike!

Here's the video early for Patrons. It should go out publicly next Tuesday 16th all being well. I'm really happy with how this turned out.

The sun came out as well

This is working pretty well! Video should be up for Patrons in the next couple of days.

It lives!

The electronics are in and it's working. I'm pretty sure it's one of the best things I've ever built. I'm using a Teensy 4.1, and an Sparkfun BNO086 IMU breakout to make it balance. It was pretty easy to tune up the PID controller due to its large mass (I can barely lift it in one piece).

I should have a video ready for Patrons by early next week and I'm targeting 16th for it going public.

Looks like a bike

I found a saddle on Amazon and the handlebars are the ones I use/recycle on all bike projects. I also made a stand for it. I've a feeling it's going to be one of the best things I've ever built!

It's coming together

Here's another update on the next Omni-bike. The motor/reducers are the ones from the Rhino tank, but with a lower reduction so I can enough velocity overhead. There's still a top chassis to be mounted where the saddle and handle bars go. More updates soon

Chassis Time!

Well I made all the wheels, and a rather strange looking bike frame. More updates coming soon!

Mecanum Wheels

Here are some pictures of the Mecanum wheels for the new Omni Bike project I recently posted. They are about 360mm in diameter and I'll be driving them with the four ODrives from the machine I tested with Colin, but with a lower reduction so I've got some hope of it balancing and being able to screw itself along.

Each wheel has 12 little wheels, each with a steel axle and two bearings. The little wheels have tyres which are TPU and rigid cores, the hub is 3D printed ...

It's a 'bike'

This is going to be the next project - it's the next Omni 'bike', although it has four wheels (each with 12 little wheels), so it depends what you're counting. It balances sideways but can also 'screw itself along' all being well.

This time I'm building the balancing electronics/code myself - it's the same four ODrive belt reduction units that I used in the Rhino tank, but with a lower reduction ratio so there's overhead for balancing and driving.

The project i...

Tanks with Colin

Here's the next video, early for Patrons. This is probably going out publicly on the 12th or 19th, and it's the only video for March.

I'm working on the next project for which will be one or two videos in April TBC, I'll post some previews for Patrons soon.

A very special project

The next video is a very special project, but it's not going public for about two weeks. It should be up for Patrons this coming week some time.

Star Wars!

Here's the next video, early for Patrons. It's probably going out publicly this Thursday.

Yep - we're going to need some different motors...

The next video

The next video is slightly delayed because I've lost my voice and I can't finish it off. Hopefully it should be up for Patrons early next week, and it'll go out publicly later next week. It's the next part of the walking Star Wars Droid - it 'works' but it's become highly experimental.

Through-Motor Cycloidal Drive

Here's next week's video earthly for Patrons.

I want to built some bigger robots this year so this video is about some larger cycloidal drive experiments.  The original idea probably wasn't that sensible, but the end result is going to be quite useful, and not too expensive.

Marble Machine that makes tea

Here's next week's video, early for Patrons!  This one goes out publicly on Tuesday 23rd.
It's a marble machine that makes a cup of tea at the same time as being a marble machine.

Mobius Tank V2 - It Bends

Happy New Year!

Here's the first video of the year, early for Patrons. This one goes out publicly on Jan 9th. Finally an actual use for the Mobius strip tank!

Makers Secret Santa 2023

Here's the next video early for Patrons. It's this years' Makers Secret Santa which is supposed to go out publicly this Sunday 17th all being well. I believe there are still some gifts outstanding so we'll see what happens.

It's up to you if you want to watch it now, or not spoil the surprise and watch them all when the rest of the videos go out ;-)

Monowheel/Bi-wheel

Here's next week's video, early for Patrons, this one goes out publicly on Tues 12th. This is a combination of the Pedrail project and a 'monowheel', but the idea was that it's mechanically stable by itself, and a fun thing to drive. A few weird things happen though...

There's only one video after this before the end of the year which is the Makers' Secret Santa, but as usual that may be finished at the last minute ;-)

Bipedal Droid

Here's next week's video, early for Patrons. This one goes out publicly next Tuesday 28th Nov.

I'm pretty happy with how this worked out, although it is pretty basic. I have another four Dynamixel servos which I'll be adding at some point in the future.

Next week's video

Next week's video for Patrons is a new bipedal robot. I'm starting small and basic with this one, but it can walk. Video drops early next week for Patrons.