3D Printed Robot

Robots have traditionally been difficult and expensive to manufacture. They usually required expensive tooling to make many unique parts. To make the parts efficiently, large production runs were needed.

3D Printed Robot

Now, however, robots are becoming easier, faster and less costly to build. This is due in part to the adoption of 3D printers to make many parts used in robotics. 3D printers work by depositing numerous layers of material. Think of a book being formed from hundreds of thin pages of paper, except each page can have a different, two dimensional shape. When all the layers are stacked and fused together, a three dimensional object is formed. This process can be used to form very complex objects from different kinds of material, including metal and flexible materials.

This “additive manufacturing” process can be much faster and much less expensive than removing material from an object (i.e., “subtractive manufacturing” or “machining”). Additive manufacturing can also be faster and less expensive than molding processes because there is no need to make a mold.

In the last decade the cost of these 3D printers has dropped so much that small businesses and individuals can afford the basic models. If you want to use a more expensive printer, you don’t need to buy one. Printing shops are opening in many locations that will print your item for a fee.

Robot designers and manufacturers are now using 3D printing technology to build their robots. This has dramatically decreased the cost of some robots. The low cost of 3D printed robots has allowed elementary and middle schools to make relatively complex robots within their classrooms.

The following robots are built using 3D printing technology:

SkySweeper

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k5ew1ez7nzU#at=82]

This robot is made out of almost entirely 3D printed components. It has a very simple design and is cheap to manufacture. The purpose of this robot is to inspect utility lines. If performed using manual methods, utility line inspection can require a great deal of time and resources. SkySweeper is V-shaped and inches along cable lines like a caterpillar. Thanks to 3D printing technology, simple robots like these are easy and cost efficient to create.

STAR

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RmGXfBBYbAY]

STAR (sprawl tuned autonomous robot) is an insect inspired robot. Besides the electronic components, which only take 30 minutes to assemble, the robot is made entirely using a Project 3000 3D printer. The 3D printed components were designed for rapid production, making this robot simple to make and repair. STAR is able to navigate many different terrains thanks to its ability to adjust the stiffness of it’s legs. It can also flatten itself and run underneath objects, such as doors. STAR can move up to 5.2 meters per second.

Emotive Eyes for Robots

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hB85O3yy0zM#at=22]

Disney has used 3D printers to make emotive robot eyes. Papillon, the name of the robots, uses bundles of printed optical fibers to guide light. Images are projected on to the receiving end of the bundle and the fibers transit the light to the display end (eyes) of the bundle. The display end then displays the images to the user. An infinite variety of images can be displayed on the eyes. Disney designers believe this technology could one day be used in prosthetic eyes.

3D Printed Robot Patent Application

Here is a sample patent application related to 3D printed robots:

20080082301

Title: Method for designing and fabricating a robot

Abstract: A method for designing and fabricating a robot utilizes 3D modeling tools and techniques. The method begins with creating a digital three-dimensional model of the robot. A 3D mechanical structure for the robot is designed based on the digital model. Aesthetic (typically external) and mechanical (typically internal) components based on the digital model and mechanical design are fabricated utilizing rapid prototyping machines and techniques. Other components are obtained or fabricated according to the 3D model and mechanical structure as needed. The aesthetic and mechanical components are then assembled into a completed robot.