Tips for Modifying Servos

OK so here I am making my own tips/instructions for modifying a servo. This is my favorite and the most accurate way.

• To modify the servo replace the pot with two 2.2K precision ( 1% -2% tolerance) resistors

• If precision resistors are not available but you have resistors with the same color-band , get a multimeter and measure which resistors have the closest resistance. Then pick the two resistors that have the closest resistance and use those.

• Be careful when desoldering the potentiometer ( if it has leads connected to the PCB) . If the potentiometer has wires coming out of it and not only leads, solder the resistors to the wires and not directly to the circuit board. ( photo courtesy of Seatlle Robotics Club)

• When you cut the wires off the potentiometer ( if it has wires) , cut it so that the potentiometer can be reused later on, you might need it in one of your projects.
  
• After you have modified the servo circuitwise, try to remove the pot from the inside of the servo. If the potentiometer is hard to remove , DO NOT USE FORCE, and just leave it in there.

• Also, when using servos for locomotion. One servo has to be going clockwise and one has to be going counterclockwise for the vehicle to move forward, right? So on one of the servos , reverse the wires to the motor so that way , both motors will get the same pulse to go forward.
• When you modify the output gear for continuous rotation saw it carefully, making sure not to damage the gear teeth, and use a file to smooth it out.
• Before putting the servo back together , make sure all the gears can move and that nothing is stuck in between the gears
  

• Last tip: Be careful when opening a servo. Open the screws carefully and don't lose gears, as well as do not touch the grease too much.

Line Following, Obstacle Avoiding , and Victim Finding , Oh My!

My tutorial for SocietyofRobots.com is 75% complete!!! Everything except programming and the circuit is described in heavy detail on the tutorial

Check it out at Line Following, Obstacle Avoiding , and Victim Finding , Oh My!

And here is a glimpse of the actual robot

My robotics CAD collection

As many of you know I use google sketchup to make CADs of my robots and other projects. Now usually I make my own parts and sometimes I get lucky and find the parts on Google Warehouse. Today , when making a CAD for one of my robots I was so upset, I could not find a single CAD of the parts besides a servo. This got me very frustrated. So I sent out a couple of emails, posted a thread on SocietyofRobots.com and assembled a collection of robot components. I'm still making more parts myself.

If this collection has helped you , please make a CAD part to add to the collection , or at least leave a comment on this blog expressing your gratitude.

Anyway here is the link to My Robotics Collection

Cheers,
Eric

Servo Mount Template

A lot of people have been needing a CAD drilling template for servos

So the template I made on Google Sketchup is for standard servos and these mounts.

Click here to get the CAD for sketchup, but be sure to read the instructions and description!

Line Follower for Competition

As of now I am in this robotics competition in Robocup Junior rescue. I am working on a tutorial/ article which can be found on the Society of Robots forum.

Here's the link.
Line Following , Obstacle Avoiding , and Victim Finding , Oh My!

When the tutorial is complete i'll post a copy onto this blog .

,Eric

Line Following Robot

Here is version 2 of the line following robot.

Robot Butler Video

Here is a video of Chives


More videos to come!