3d printed robot parrot

piratebrian

Here is a robot that I printed using Sketchup.
Youtube link:
Youtube Video

The parrot was printed on an Afinia 5x5x5" bed mostly out of ABS.
I traced some profile and front view pictures of parrots. The 3d warehouse had some, but none that I liked. I was attempting to go along the methods used in that great Youtube video: Artisan SketchUp Tutorial: Part 1 I ended up not doing any of that and just started to play with the triangle meshes. Does anyone know what the Plugin is that allows you to grab onto a vertex?

Using the zero thin surface triangular shells I placed downloaded servos from the 3d warehouse, modified to my servo dimensions. I placed the servos inside the shape where I thought it needed pivots and where the essential actuation needs to be to match those goofy goofy birds. For the insides, the 3d printed parts just needed to either hold a servo, or mount onto the servo's arm. So designing parts to jump from servo to the next was fairly easy once the servo positions seemed right.
arm holder.JPG
Three plugins that were essential was the .STL export, Fredo's Junction push-pull, and TIG's Smart Offset plugin. After the thin membrane triangulated shape was good and adjusted to fit all the servos even when they move. I used the Junction Push Pull plugin to turn that thin triangulated framework into a thickened shell so there was something of thickness to actually print. In areas where I wanted a triangular open frame look, I used the Tig-smart-offset tool before Junction push-pull tool. That is how I got the open-frame skin look. I had a some lengths of 1/16" brass wire and a selection of both 6-32 screws and 2-56 nuts and bolts to solve problems that glue alone could not fix. To get the 6-32 screws to both act as free moving pivots and tight screw-down connections I printed out a trial and error template with multiple different sized holes to see which one corresponded to a 6-32 screw free fit and a self-threading hole with my preferred printer layer thickness settings.
test hole.JPG

The selected diameter circles were then used throughout the assembly via auto component updating. Each of the 15 parts used these components for nearly all the assembly methods. Overall the project took one month of free time including the Sketchup tasks, servo install, and adjusting the Arduiono code for the new body.

Friends don't let Friends print ABS in enclosed rooms.

pbacot

That's an incredible bit of work. Looks cool too. Ingenious!

d12dozr

Fantastic project, Brian! The movements of the parrot look pretty darn natural.

@piratebrian said:

Does anyone know what the Plugin is that allows you to grab onto a vertex?

The move tool will let you manipulate an individual vertex - or are you thinking of Vertex Tools?

I like your trial-and-error template for screw holes. One tip that may help would be using fewer sides on your small circles for screw holes. 6 sides would be plenty, and will even print more accurately to the intended size.

Thanks for sharing here!

dukejazz

Hey
Brian Matthews

Fantastic project: 3d printed robot parrot SketchUcation
and 1/2 thums

It's reminds me of Tiki Room parrot "Pedro"

Enchanted Tiki Room 2011 full show as it reopens at Magic Kingdom, Walt Disney World
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZsFuZig_ii8%26amp;feature=player_detailpage

I been following your story on the internet news

Man Designs and 3D Prints an Incredible Robotic Parrot.. 3dprint.com|
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3D Printed Robotic Parrot - Brian Matthews - YouTube. youtube.com|
"a 3D printed robotic parrot by Brian Matthews. Video from Flapping Sprocket."
3DPrint on Twitter: Man Designs and 3D Prints an. twitter.com|
"Man Designs and 3D Prints an Incredible Robotic Parrot That Moves Like a Real Bird"
3d printed robot parrot SketchUcation Community Forums. sketchucation.com|
"The parrot was printed on an Afinia 5x5x5" bed mostly out of ABS"
Prosthetic/Bionic/Robotic Design on Pinterest 311 Pins. pinterest.com|
"a design field that becomes more sophisticated every year. Robotic inventions"
3D Printed Robotic Parrot – Brian Matthews B3dgeable. .b3dgeable.com|
"This is a 3D printed robotic parrot by Brian "
3D Printing Sketchup Robotics And 3D Printing Sketchup. sketchup4architect.com|
"like .STL export, Fredo’s Junction push-pull, and TIG’s Smart Offset plugin to complete the project"
3D Printed Robotic Parrot : videos - Reddit. .reddit.com|
"videos (including ones related to current 3D Printed Robots for Everyone + get anything 3D printed "
Funny Robots - Kids Future Press. kidsfuturepress.com|
"this man’s created a 3D printed parrot robot with very life-like moves"

NezhDesheriyev

Robotics and 3D printing continue to converge on many different levels. Whether it is the robotic movements of 3D printers themselves, or the creation of better robotics through the use of 3D printing for complete customization, the technologies definitely have a magnificent future together. We have seen numerous robots created through the use of 3D printing, which has allowed for their total customization, while at the same time saving hundreds or even thousands of dollars in machine and injection molding costs.