Fast Buzzing Rover

This is the 11th version of the rover. I started doing this project because when I was small I had a little toy one and I have tried to recreate it. This project proved to be as or even more fun and exiting as that store bought one.

I took one of the earlier versions to school and it was well loved (I took it to school and it was played with by some person or another for the whole day).

This is a nice project to help you get into 3D printing and electronics (less of the electronics and more of the printing). Good luck and have fun!

For the Materials you will need:

• PLA filament for the 3D printed body, spinner and nose.
• pieces of 1.75mm PETG filament/wire for the legs
• small DC motor
• single AA battery
• single AA battery box
• solder
• superglue

For the Tools you will need:

• A 3D printer
• A soldering iron
• A knife (for cleaning the print)
• Pliers
• Sandpaper

Firstly you will have to print the parts. Here are the files for all the 3D printed parts that are needed. Here are my Cura settings recommendations:

Resolution: Standard quality - 0.2mm

Infill density for body and nose: 10-20%

Infill density for spinner: 100%

Infill pattern: grid

Shell thickness: 0.8mm-1.2mm

Support type: Tree

Support placement: touching buildplate

So now that you have the parts it is time to set everything out. I find that it is the easiest way to do it is to lay everything out where you can see it.

Now we have to get the 3D printed parts to fit. This is one of my first experiences doing 3D design so some parts might not fit in first try. You will need to get the parts to fit in snugly and not be loose.

Now you basically just have to solder the two wires that come out of the battery box onto the terminals of the motor. We are going use the battery as the switch. One interesting thing about that is that you can easily make the motor spin in the other direction changing the way that the rover acts or responds. It might be a bit like cheating but it works, saves weight and is easier to design in CAD.

Now you have to make the legs. I chose to make them out of bits of PETG filament because of its springy characteristics and strength. Don't use PLA unless you have to (I tried using it and it broke as I was putting it in!).

You should cut six pieces to about 3cm (they have to all be the same size if you want it to go straight). Then push the pieces in with a pair of pliers so that it is bending towards the motor. They also all have to all be facing in the same direction for the best results.

If the legs are too loose then you can use superglue to hold them steady.

You could also make the legs out of electric fencing wire because it would last longer.

Now it if finally time to put the parts together!

First push the spinner onto the motor (it might be a bit tight at first) then push the nose onto the body using the tab and glue it on. Now it is time to insert a charged battery into the battery box and see your creation come to life!

I would also recommend gluing all the parts together.

Now you just have to get it working. If it goes too much to the left then cut the legs on the right down ever so slightly. Don't forget that the more charged the battery is the faster and more fun the rover will be.

Well done, thanks again and happy making!