PodRacer Automata
Introduction: PodRacer Automata
Hello again everyone.. I'm back after a long hiatus with a new/upgrade automata from my X-wing automata i did a few months ago.. i have been getting feedback from you guys to add lights.. and here we are with a new weaving automata of the famous podracing scene from Star Wars Episode I on tatooine..
I've gotten these flexible LED filaments for a while now but i haven't gotten any ideas on what to do with them until i saw a youtuber made a podracer using the same kind of LED filaments.. and i thought it would be a good idea to incorporate it to my weaving automata..
I've also wanted to upgrade the automata to use an internal powerbank that can be charged using USB.. As always, everything was design using Tinkercad and 3D printed..
You can find more of my 3d printing stuff at https://www.instagram.com/fay3dlab/ or https://www.myminifactory.com/users/Fay3DLabs
Difficulty level:
1. 3D printing - Easy (almost all parts printed without support)
2. Assembly - Easy
3. Wiring - Intermediate (wiring needs to be done in sequence)
4. Painting - Easy
P.S. if you have a large hands like mine.. this project just leveled up to a intermediate difficulty.. ahahahaa.. i used the tweezers a lot..
So lets get started..
Supplies
1. N20 dc motors - 25-50rpm (depend on how fast you want it to weave)
2. Electrical Connector Block
3. TP4056, DC-DC buck converter - USB to lithium battery with protection
4. Lithium battery 18650 3.7v
5. Lithium battery 18650 1 cell holder
6. Wires - AWG24
7. Rocker switch 2pins - 15x10mm
8. M3 screw - 6mm, 8mm, 10mm, 25mm
9. 3mm brass tube - 20cm long x 2
10. Lubricant - grease
11. LED flexible filaments - 30cm long x 3
12. 949
Single LED from 5v LED strip
13. Duponts connectors
14. Glue & glue gun
15. Soldering iron (to connect the LED & PCB to the wires)
And of course a 3d printer to print all the parts.. all part will be able to fit into a 200x200mm printer.. you will need transparents filaments for the lights to emit from..
If you do not own a 3d printer.. I'm also selling the 3d printed parts as well as the electronics on my ETSY page..
Step 1: Modelled Everything With Tinkercad
The modelling is divided into 3 parts:
1. Base
2. Engine
3. Cockpit
Base
The base was modified from my original X-wing automata with a few upgrades. The new base still uses the same gears and motor except i have split the motor mounting and the holder gear separately. I also extended the original base to fit in a 18650 battery holder. I also added wire holders around the box for easy wire routing.
Since we're doing the podracing from tatooine.. I design the base case with cliff and canyon design to hide the base.
Engine
The engine was design based on a lightsaber.. i use the lightsaber as an inspiration for the engine design and added a few touches to make it look like a podracer engine.. At first i thought the power coupling LED was enough but looking at the engine design.. there was a few places that i could make it glow with the LEDs..
In my original design.. i wanted to add a motor inside the engine to make the fan spins on the front.. the flickering lights would add to the illusion of the engine moving but after i made some calculations.. i didnt have enough power from the powerbank to power 3 motors.. so i had to scrap the motor ideas on the engine.. but the design for the motor mount and fan is still in the engine..
When i brought the flexible LED filament it came in packs of 10pcs so i might as well use them in the engine too.. i modelled an internal light holder that will hold the LED and connect all the wires together..
Cockpit
The cockpit design was slap together using a few beveled boxes and cones in tinkercad.. i did not have any ideas on the design of the cockpit except that i wanted lights in cockpit.. The cockpit and the engine was joined together using a brass tube where i can add wires in the tube for the cockpit led light.. 997