Rick and Morty Butter Bot

thingiverse

I built a replica of the Butter Bot from Rick and Morty, as screen-accurate in size and detail as I could manage. It was machined from aluminum to perfection, with all joints designed for posability so it can be displayed or even used in stop motion animation. To create this replica, I employed various techniques to learn, but most parts (the arms, hands, head, and body) can easily be fabricated using a CNC router like the Carvey and bent on a vice or brake. The treads were 3D printed from ninjaflex filament, while the wheels, shoulders, and eye were turned on a lathe. If you don't have access to a lathe, these parts could easily be printed or created from stacked (and glued, brazed, or welded) layers of CNC routed aluminum. I uploaded all necessary plans as individual bits and pieces, but don't have a single assembly file for the project. The "rough model" file was my work document to figure out global sizing, so it's not very accurate to my final build. All other CAD files exist for either CAM and CNC routing, 3D printing, or as direct reference for hand-machining. I made this before Fusion 360 implemented sheet metal fabrication, so all of the sheet metal parts (1/16" Al) are described in a separate Illustrator document. I also included a few sketches used while working on the lathe, but have since replaced those with accurate models for the wheels and shoulders in their own files. If you want to build one of these: Good luck and have fun! I loved this project and learned a lot about many aspects of working with aluminum - it's surprisingly intensive. I detailed the build in this YouTube video: https://youtu.be/3PpORrycZG8, and had some fun teaching myself stop motion animation while making this clip: https://youtu.be/MByi1te9L8U. --------- Parts I Used -------- *Online Metals* .063" 5052-H32 ALUMINUM SHEET (Body, head) 0.5" x 2" Extruded 6061-T6 Aluminum Rectangle Bar (base) Aluminum Sheet 6061 O Bare 0.125" (arms, hands, face) 1.5" OD X 0.25" 6061-T6 Bare Extruded Aluminum Tube (eye socket – turned down) 0.625" Dia. Extruded 6061-T6 Aluminum Round Rod (wheels, shoulders – turned down) *McMaster Carr* 6655K13 - thrust bearings for neck/shoulder joints 90630A110 - nylocks for neck/shoulder joints 95446A470 - shoulder screws for wheel axles 92949A550 - screw that holds the entire head together 92949A145 - elbow/wrist fasteners 92949A149 - shoulder fasteners *other* Ninjaflex filament – treads India ink – treads (could also just have black ninjaflex) Fisheye door viewer / peephole – eye Wire and LED (glued on top of the head for show)