Robot+Parts

Telescoping Arms https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rTUJtGfqWzY https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GdJ7_kP6xHs

Extrusion for Home Depot telescoping arms would cost $20.28 (I almost have a giant prototype built of wood and metal. Friction may render this prototype non-functional.)

We could put 16 inch pieces of C-channel back to back and connect them with wood, fiberglass-resin or 3D printed parts. We would need 12pieces at 16 inches each. (Another piece of channel could be needed to experiment on?) We would need 16 feet of channel costing $20.28 (I would like to find some nylon-bushing-material to reduce friction like the 80/20 bearings.)

[]

First issue is connecting the channel back to back: We could glue them. I think J-B Weld or 5200 adhesive would work. We could also drill and tap the channel and connect them with really short 6/32 screws.

Second issue is making sliders to hold the channels together yet letting one side slide. We could start with wood and epoxy to explore a solution. We could try molding resin with fiberglass fibers into a functional shape for a quick solution. Saran wrap the channel and form square plugs connected by a bridge. We could 3D print pieces if we have time to design them. (Plastic or fiberglass-resin may slide better than wood in the channels.)

80/20 Extrusion and slide information: Arms would cost $212.48 http://www.amazon.com/s?me=A1H481IPHNMK5K

Hex extrusion hole can be tapped to 1/4-20 http://www.andymark.com/product-p/am-churro.htm

80/20 Parts catalog http://download.8020.net/2012_Product_Catalog/Metric_Section_9_8020_Catalog_18.pdf http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/showthread.php?t=115223

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Everbilt-1-2-in-W-x-1-2-in-H-x-96-in-L-Aluminum-C-Channel-with-1-16-in-Thick-802657/204273938