Simple Arduino Tank

thingiverse

This is a fully controllable 3D printed base vehicle that's perfect for DIY enthusiasts who want a high-quality, customizable tank without breaking the bank. Frustrated with other low-quality projects available online, I created this beast from scratch with ease of modification and expansion in mind. With duel stepper motors onboard, this tank turns on a dime and responds smoothly to every command. To see it in action, check out the accompanying YouTube video (http://youtu.be/C18eJW3MO5c). Get started by gathering the necessary components: * 1 Arduino of your choice * 2 Stepper Motor Drivers (I recommend the Adafruit Motor Shield with two drivers built-in) * 2 Stepper Motors * 4 Stepper motor Screws, 5-8 mm in length Optional items include: * The Adafruit Bluefruit shield for wireless control * A Lipo 3s 11.1 V battery for extended playtime Assembly is a breeze with just four screws required to secure the tank. Use 1.75 mm filament to create the tracks, gently tapping them into place as needed due to smaller outer holes. Here's what you need to print: * 12-spoke gears: 2 units @ 1h * 8-spoke gears: 2 units @ 1h * Main body tank: 1 unit @ 2.5h * Tank treads: 54 units @ 5h * Rivets (20mm x 1.75 mm filament): 54 units I've made the original FreeCAD drawings available for you to use, modify or share as you see fit. If you need to create additional gears or change the sizes, follow these simple steps: 1. Launch FreeCAD and navigate to Macro > C:/Program Files (x86)/FreeCAD0.13/Mod/PartDesign/Scripts 2. Run the Gear.py script 3. Input the following parameters: * Number of Teeth: 12 (adjust as needed) * Circular Pitch: 16 * Pressure Angle: 4 * Tooth Height Factor: .5 * Tooth Clearance: .01 * Tooth Lateral Clearance: 1 * Gear Width: 6.0 Note that large gear designs may take a while to complete, so be patient and work one gear at a time. The Arduino code is contained within the zip file and README document. It utilizes serial inputs to control the tank's movement, separately controlling both tracks with ease.