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NXT SimpleBot


Contents

  1. 1 Step 1:  Building the Base
  2. 2 Step 2 - More on the Base
  3. 3 Step 3:  Building the Arms
  4. 4 Step 4:  Lather, Rinse, Repeat!
  5. 5 Step 5:  Adding a Free Wheel
  6. 6 Step 6:  Adding the Front Wheels
  7. 7 (Last Step!!) Step 7:  Securing the Programming Brick
Let's begin by building a simple robot.  Now is a good time to get familiar with the types of parts that you have to use and what they're called; it might come in handy when we're building new robots for now.  You'll notice that the tubs are sorted out by types of parts, so if you know what type of part you're looking for, it'll make it easier to find.

Anyways, here is the step-by-step guide for building your very first robot!  This guide is a modified version of the Simple NXT Bot by Tom Bickford and Maine Robotics.  So you know, the first picture in each step is to let you know what parts you need for that step.

Step 1:  Building the Base

 Here's what you need (left-to-right):

(7) long friction pins
(5) 5-beam
(2) Motors

Why is it called a 5-beam?  Beams are named by the number of holes in them.  So, count them up and you will know the name of the beam!  The number of holes in a beam will always be an odd number, so if you get an even number... you might want to count again.

Also, if there aren't enough 5-beam, a 7-beam will work too.



First, you will want insert the long friction pins into the 5-beams in a pattern like the picture on the left.  Then, connect them all together like the picture in the middle.  Finally, connect your two motors with the beams like the picture on the right.  You now have the base of your robot.


Step 2 - More on the Base

Here's what you need:

(4) friction pins (not long friction pins.  Long friction pins are blue, regular friction pins are black).

(1) 11-beam






Insert the friction pins into the 11-beam like the picture on the left.  Then, attach the beam to your base like the picture on the right.


Step 3:  Building the Arms

Here's what you need:
(1) Axle pin
(4) Friction pins
(3) Long friction pins with stop bushings
(1) 7-Beam
(1) 11.5 Double Bent Beam
(1) 3-Beam

Before you begin, take a look at the friction pins and the axle pin.  What is the difference between the two?






Connect two friction pins and an axle pin to the 11.5 Double Bent Beam, like in the picture on the left.  Then, Connect the other two friction pins to the 7-Beam like in the picture on the right.


Now, connect the 11.5 Double Bent Beam and the 3-Beam to the 7-Beam.


Flip the arm over.  Insert the 3 long friction pins with stop bushings into the arm.


Step 4:  Lather, Rinse, Repeat!

Repeat step 3, but flip the 11.5 Double Bent beam over before attaching the other two beams and bushings.  You should have two arms that look like this:


Then, attach the arms to your base.  The bulbs on the ends of the bushings should be pointing out, like this:


Step 5:  Adding a Free Wheel

What you need:

(2) Hole-hole-axle perpendicular cross blocks
(1) Axle-hole-axle perpendicular cross blocks
(1) 6-Axle
(1) 8-Axle
(5) Full bushings
(2) Half bushings
(2) Axle pins
(2) Friction pins
(1) 5-Beam (or 7-beam if you need to)
(1) Small Wheel

Before we begin:  6-Axle?  8-Axle?  How do we get those numbers?  The number comes from the length of the axle in centimeters.  Black axles are measured in even number centimeters from 4 cm up to 12 cm, and grey axles are measured in odd number centimeters from 3 cm to 5 cm.

Connect your 8-Axle, your 5 full bushings, your 5-beam, and your axle-hole-axle cross block together, like this:

Then, connect your remaining pieces together to enclose the wheel, like this:


When you have these two parts done, connect the 5-beam to the two axle-hole-hole blocks to create a free wheel, like this:


Then, connect to the back of your base.


Step 6:  Adding the Front Wheels

Here's what you need:
(2) wheels
(2) 6-axles
(4) Full bushings












Connect your wheels to the axles.  Put 1 full bushing on each side of the wheel.  They should look like this:


Then, attach to your base.


(Last Step!!) Step 7:  Securing the Programming Brick

What you need:
(1) NXT Programming Bricks
(2) Wires












All that is left to do now is to connect the NXT programming brick to the base, and to connect the motors to the programming brick.  For the first part (picture on the left), you will use the long pins with stop bushings from the arms you built earlier to secure the NXT programming brick into place.  Second (picture on the right), you will turn the robot around so that the front of the programming brick is turned away from you.  Connect the motors to the programming brick by attaching the motor on your left to port C (the ports are marked at the top), and the motor on your right to port B.


And that's it!  You now have your very own robot!  As we continue on in our robotics program we will be building attachments, adding sensors, and programming it to complete various challenges.  Make sure you let Mr. Cyr know that you finished and he'll get you started on the next challenge!