Language
3D Print Your Own Actuator for Robots

News

HomeHome / News / 3D Print Your Own Actuator for Robots
search
RECENT NEWS

Mar 27, 2024

PK Sound Augments Trinity Series With Next

Mar 12, 2024

L

Feb 26, 2024

New Nano Focusing Devices for Imaging and Nanopositioning Stages for Super Resolution Microscopy Showcasing in PI Booth at Neuroscience 2022

Mar 19, 2024

Precise measurement for line structure light vision sensor with large range

Apr 03, 2024

Cable bacteria with electric connection to oxygen attract flocks of diverse bacteria

SEND YOUR INQUIRY
SUBMIT

Jul 21, 2023

3D Print Your Own Actuator for Robots

If you're just tinkering with small robots, then you probably don't need to spend a lot of money on motors for actuation. Low-cost servos, steppers, and DC motors will get the job done when paired

If you're just tinkering with small robots, then you probably don't need to spend a lot of money on motors for actuation. Low-cost servos, steppers, and DC motors will get the job done when paired with standard drivers. But when you begin to venture into the world of serious robotics, high-performance motors become a serious expense. They need to be precise and accurate, with a lot of power in a compact package. The robot dogs you've seen from companies like Boston Dynamics can contain thousands of dollars worth of motors. If you're on a budget, you should check out the 3D-printable OpenQDD V1 robotic actuator.

OpenQDD V1 is a complete package, with the motor, driver, and gearbox all wrapped up in a single unit. Its designer, Aaed Musa, doesn't provide complete performance details, but it has a powerful Eaglepower 8308 pancake-style 90Kv brushless DC motor with a planetary gearbox that provides a 9:1 gear reduction. That is enough to exert 16.36Nm of torque. The actuator body and the gearbox are 3D-printable using standard PLA filament, and any more torque than that would probably require stronger gears.

An ODrive S1 controls the brushless DC motor. That is a closed-feedback controller that uses a magnetic encoder to position the shaft. Unlike an ESC (electronic speed control) module that is intended to control constant rotation, the ODrive S1 can rotate by small, precise amounts. It also provides nifty features, such as CAN and USB control.

The total cost to build one OpenQDD V1 is about $247. The vast majority of that cost ($149) is the ODrive S1 and it may be possible to save some money with a less expensive controller that has fewer features. Most of the rest of the cost ($61) is the motor. That is, of course, quite a bit of money. But it is affordable when compared to commercial alternatives on the market.