R-64 Pneumatic rotational stepper motor

myminifactory

Thingiverse mirror The R-64 is a robust pneumatic rotational stepper motor that packs a powerful punch. It uses three pistons which engage with a gear featuring 8 or 16 teeth, producing an enormous torque due to the substantial 24 mm x 24 mm piston surface area. A convenient M5 threaded bottom plate is available for use with push-in fittings, making assembly a breeze. I also designed several two-cylinder rotational (and linear) motors, but these are patented and therefore not easily shareable here. On the other hand, the three-cylinder, single-acting motor designs only utilize existing technology and can be freely shared without any issues. The R-64 presented here is my most advanced attempt so far to overcome patent restrictions and maximize torque within given dimensions. Good luck with building this project! July 18, 2018: Axle tolerance changed to 0.2 mm. Notes: The pistons require support due to the floating teeth. The motor can also be printed on low-end printers such as the Da Vinci 1.0 in ABS (20% infill). Additional materials and tools Silicone rubber sheet, 1mm thick Pneumatic tubes, e.g. polyurethane tubes or Lego pneumatic tubes, with an outer diameter of 4mm M3 x 30mm and M3 x 16mm bolts, along with M3 nuts. Longer bolts are perfectly fine. Recommended sealant: blue silicone Optional lubricant: vaseline (petroleum jelly) Something to make 3D printed parts airtight. An impregnating agent like "waterdichtmaken.nl" works well. (Not needed when printing at 100% infill on a good printer, or if small leaks are acceptable.) Recommended tool: Stanley knife with a 9mm blade size 6x push-in fittings M5 to 4mm tubes, which I personally use. If not using push-in fittings: a drill with the correct size (3.8 mm) for tightly fitting 4mm tubes A pressurized air source (compressor, ...) 5/2-way valves, or you can use https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:2932081 Instructions: see PDF