Marblevator, Pick and Place
Introduction: Marblevator, Pick and Place
"Marblevator, Pick and Place" is the latest in my Marblevator series of mechanisms. This Marblevator incorporates a "pick and place" mechanism to move the marble (ball bearing) from the end of the track to the start of the track.
Pick and place mechanisms were more common before the introduction of robotics to manufacturing assembly lines. This mechanism utilizes a rhombus that is rotated, expanded and contracted by control links. The orange and purple links form the rhombus, and the blue, yellow, green and silver links form the control links that rotate, expand and contract the rhombus. The design is based on conceptual models by "Arglin Kampling [Third Gen]" and "thang010146", albeit with numerous changes.
As usual, I probably forgot a file or two or who knows what else, so if you have any questions, please do not hesitate to ask as I do make plenty of mistakes.
Designed using Autodesk Fusion 360, sliced using Cura 4.12.1, and 3D printed in PLA on Ultimaker S5s.
Supplies
Soldering Iron and Solder.
Double sided tape.
Thick cyanoacrylate glue.
Step 1: Parts.
I acquired the following parts:
* One N20 30RPM 6VDC gear motor.
* One four AAA cell battery pack with switch.
* Four AAA batteries.
* Three 6mm diameter by 2.75mm thick neodymium disk magnets.
* One 4mm by 4mm by 4mm neodymium cube magnet.
* Two 10mm diameter ball bearings.
I 3D printed the following parts at .15mm layer height, 20% infill and no supports:
* One "Axle, Link, Long.stl".
* One "Axle, Link, Medium.stl".
* Ten "Axle, Link, Short.stl".
* One "Base.stl".
* Six "Bolt.stl".
* One "Gear, Drive.stl".
* One "Gear, Idler.stl".
* One "Gear, Motor.stl".
* One "Holder, Magnet.stl".
* One "Link 1.stl".
* One "Link 2.stl".
* One "Link 3.stl".
* Two "Link 4.stl" (the second is the fifth link, but is identical).
* Two "Link 6.stl" (the second is the seventh link, but is identical).
* One "Link 8.stl".
* One "Link 9.stl".
* One "Mount, Motor.stl".
* One "Track.stl".
This is a high precision print and assembly model using at times very small parts and in very tight spaces. 654
Prior to assembly, test fit and trim, file, sand, etc. all parts as necessary for smooth movement of moving surfaces, and tight fit for non moving surfaces. Depending on you printer, your printer settings and the colors you chose, more or less trimming, filing and/or sanding may be required. Carefully file all edges that contacted the build plate to make absolutely certain that all build plate "ooze" is removed and that all edges are smooth. I used small jewelers files and plenty of patience to perform this step.
The model also uses threaded assembly thus an M8 by 1.25 tap and die will assist with thread cleaning if necessary.
Step 2: Base Assembly.
To assemble the base, I performed the following steps:
* Attached "Link 1.stl" to "Base.stl" using "Gear, Drive.stl", threaded cup standoff away from the base.
* Attached "Link 2.stl" to link 1 using one "Axle, Link, Short.stl".
* Attached "Link 3.stl" to the base assembly using one "Axle, Link, Short.stl".
* Attached "Gear, Idler.stl" to the base assembly using one "Axle, Link, Short.stl", noting the position of the idler gear in relation to the link 3 gear.
* Attached link 3 and two "Link 6.stl" to link 2 using one "Axle, Link, Long.stl" stacked as shown.
* Attached two "Link 4".stl" to the base assembly using one "Axle, Link, Medium.stl" stacked as shown.
* Attached the free end of the upper link 6 to the upper link 4 using one "Axle, Link, Short.stl". 784