A home CNC Built Droid

[wthierry]

Not exactly a Humanoid, but home built with a hobby cnc machine. I started a blog with all the files tutorials necessary to scratch build a full sized r2-d2 and even will eventually add tutorials for the electronics. http://westhierry.net/wordpress

[PaulL]

That's quite a bit of work there!!! Nice CNC router there, btw - hadn't seen those before. For others interested in CNC, there is www.cnczone.com , they are the largest CNC community I am aware of.

I hope you don't mind, but I couldn't help but think when reading your blog (yes, I read all of it), why not use that large work area of the CNC machine to build molds, and thermoform the bulk of the shell out of sheet ABS?

How far do you intend to go regarding simulating capabilities of the original? Camera, projector, 2 legged mode, etc? Why not make the power couplings functional? Hmm, for 2-legged mode, maybe something like a segway-type mechanism? You could move his batteries to alter center of gravity, etc. Lots of possibilities...

Interesting project, a link I will share with my kids.

Thanks and Good Luck!
Paul

[wthierry]

Hi Paul,

All of the things you suggested exist over at r2builders. The idea of the blog is to make 1 for yourself, of course you can adapt any of it to your own building preferences... And I encourage that. Thanks for looking!

wes

[wthierry]

also, this will be a 3 legged RC build, if you want a two leg statue, then just mount your legs differently. As far as 2 to 3 legged mode, well you might want to check out r2builders group... they have many ideas on how to do that.

[wthierry]

Anyway, my blog is getting a lot of traffic from Robosavvy.... please post your thoughts!!!

[wthierry]

the tutorials are coming along, probably just a few weeks until a complete droid.