Arduino and Vex Spiral Graph by Ben and Darin

This Instructable will give you step by step instructions on how to make a spiral graph from Vex parts using an Arduino to control the motors. Steps on assembling the vex parts and the code for the Arduino with line comments will be provided.

1. Arduino Uno

2. Computer with the Arduino IDE installed

3. Assorted wires

4. Bread Board

5. 3 Vex motors

6. Vex parts available in VEX Classroom kit

Connect two base pieces together using screws and nuts. After you connect the base add the corner 4, 35 x 3 pieces and connect them on the shorter side with two 25 x 5 pieces. Use 2 nuts and bolts to connect each corner piece and use 4 nuts and bolts to connect the cross pieces ( 2 each side, 1 top 1 bottom).

Step 1: Create the running boards using the guide piece and gear piece, use 2 screws to attach each gear piece using two screws, one at each end. Do this twice to make two.

Step 2: Attach L pieces to the the cross pieces so you can attach the running boards, the L pieces are 2 x 20 each.

Step 3: Attach the running boards to the main frame at the edges of the L pieces that were just installed, you will have to take out and put back in some of the screws use to attach the gear pieces to the main frame.

Step 4: Two small flat pieces between the two running boards to stop the drawing apparatus from running off the side.

Take a flat piece and add two L pieces on the side for durability then add two longer L pieces with sides to attach the motors and axels. To attach the motors use the holes closest to the flat piece that they will fit in. The motors should be diagonally apart and the axels should be directly across from the motors. The axels are connected using two axel guides each and axel lockers in between to stop the gear and axel from moving out of place. Lastly add two U pieces one on each side to be used to attach the lower hanging parts.

The next step is to add the hangers. on each side add L pieces so that it hangs down to about 4 inch clearance from the base. On one of the L pieces attach a motor like previously and on the other attach an axle like earlier. Add a gear to both axles and connect the two with a chain. To attach a pencil or pen just use a piece of tape to hold it in place.

Above is the basic code for the machine to draw a straight line, add and adapt to make it more complex as you like.