How to Make a Hexapod (Robot Spider)!

This is a hexapod with 18 degrees of freedom that I designed on Onshape, which has 6 legs with 3 degrees of freedom each, all connected to two base plates. I imported a CAD model of an MG996R Servo Motor from GrabCAD (an online platform with thousands of CAD models available freely for use) and designed the spider legs based on the dimensions of the motor. I wanted to make it clear that I did not design the 3D model of the motors, but instead I designed the legs and the base that hold the motors that eventually all combine to create this hexapod. I created this design after being inspired by dozens of hexapod models on YouTube to make my own; I am an engineering student in college and I felt that creating this project would be an excellent opportunity to practice my skills in CAD modeling. Since I do not have access to a 3D printer or the electronic components necessary to make this hexapod remote controlled, I am currently limited to only 3D CAD modeling. Thus, I will attempt to describe how to assemble the hexapod using only the 3D CAD model so that those with access to a 3D printer can print the hexapod parts and create the hexapod for themselves! I am hoping that by hopefully winning a prize from this Autodesk Instructables competition, I will be able to acquire the money necessary to purchase the 3D printed parts of this hexapod, the 18 servo motors, and the necessary electronic components (like a microcontroller and transceiver and wires), and then create the necessary program to add the remote control component to this hexapod, thus bringing this project to life. I have been highly passionate about engineering since high school and hope that creating many other projects like this will help me learn more about the principles of robotics and engineering!

I have chosen to highlight the yellow color throughout my hexapod design since it complements the black MG996R servo motors' color quite well! However, the unique part about this project is that you can 3D print the parts for this project in any color of the rainbow you want and go for a consistent color theme or use all the colors to create this hexapod! Which colors you decide to use are up to you!

To give proper credit, here is the link to the CAD model of then MG996R Servo motor that I used to design the mounts of the hexapod from: https://grabcad.com/library/servo-motor-mg996r-1

Username of creator: MRMS - WORKSHOP

A 3D printer of your choice

Filaments of any color and type (perhaps PLA because its strong and cheap) of your choice

18 MG996R Servo Motors

72 Bolts and Nuts of your choice with a diameter of 4.2mm

80 Bolts and Nuts of your choice with a diameter of 2.54mm

Screwdriver with assorted tips based on the bolts and screws you use

Print 6 sets of all of these parts in any colors of your choice. Each set will be used to create one leg for a total of 6.

Print two copies of the base of hexapod in any color of your choice. These will be used in combination as a base to attach the 6 legs of the hexapod to.

Acquire 2 Servo Motors and Middle Arm Part 1 and Middle Arm Part 2.

I have changed the color of the motors for visibility.

Every servo has 4 screws at the bottom. Unscrew them from both servos and then place the Middle Arm Part 1 at the bottom of both motors. Screw back the 4 screws from the hole on the Middle Arm Part 1 and to the servo motor to connect the part and both servo motors. Two of the holes to put one screw through have both been circled in black; those are the holes that all 8 screws go through to connect the two servos and part 1.

Take part 2 and attach them to both servos from the top. Look at the 4 holes on the part that align with the circular extrusions on each servo motor. Take 8 Nuts and bolts and screw the bolt with the nut at the bottom to connect part 2 and the two servos.

The images show how it should look at the start and then the end.

Acquire 1 servo motor and Connector Part 1 and Connector Part 2.

Remove the 4 screws from the bottom of the new servo motor with a screwdriver

Connect the two connectors to one servo motor while rotating the apparatus from Step 3 to connect the parts from Step 1, another servo motor, and the two connector parts. Do so as shown in the image.

Screw a screw that comes with each servo motor through the Connector Part 1's largest extruding hole to the circular part of the motor with multiple holes. Add another screw that comes with each servo motor to one of the smaller circular holes in Connector Part 1 and a smaller hole of the circular part of the motor to connect the part and motor in two places, making the hexapod leg more secure and ready for movement.

Screw back the 4 screws you initially removed from the bottom of the servo through both holes of both connector pieces and through the servo motor to connect them.

Take four bolts and nuts with a 4.2mm diameter and screw them through the two big holes in both connectors and through the 4 extruding circular parts of the servo motor.

The images show how it should look at the start and then the end.

Acquire Base Connector Part 1 and Base Connector Part 2.

Screw a screw that comes with each servo motor through the Base Connector Part 1's largest extruding hole to the circular part of the motor with multiple holes. Add another screw that comes with each servo motor to one of the smaller circular holes in Connector Part 1 and a smaller hole of the circular part of the motor to connect the part and motor in two places.

Connect the Base Connector Part 2's by putting the hole through the large circular hole that is at the bottom of the motor (which we implemented in Step 4).

Acquire 4 bolts and nuts with a diameter of 2.54mm

Screw the bolt and nut through the 4 connecting circles in Base Connector Part 1 and Part 2 in order to connect both Base Connector Parts and secure them to the servo motor.

The images show how it should look at the start and then the end.

Acquire the End Arm part.

Look at the two blue arrows attached to the part in the Start image. Take those ends of the End Arm part and, without breaking it, slightly bend it in the direction of the blue arrows.

Bring the part up in the direction of the black arrow and connect the end with multiple holes to the part of the motor with the circular part with multiple extrusions from the motor, and the end with a large hole to the part of the motor attachment with the large circle extrusion. This should feel like a snap-into-place type of attachment.

Screw a screw that comes with each servo motor through the End Arm part that has multiple holes (use the largest of those holes to send the screw through) to the circular part of the motor with multiple holes. Add another screw that comes with each servo motor to one of the smaller circular holes in End Arm and a smaller hole of the circular part of the motor to connect the part and motor in two places.

Acquire two bolts and nuts with a diameter of 2.54mm and screw the two bolts through the two holes that are next to each other at the end of the End Arm where the servo motor is connected to it. This will help ensure that the End Arm does not snap off the servo motor and will secure the End Arm in place.

The images show how it should look at the start and then the end.

You now have one leg completed.

Repeat Steps 2 through 5 a total of 5 times to create the other 5 legs so that you now have 6 legs for the hexapod.

Acquire the 6 legs and the two base plates.

Connect one base plate through the top of all 6 legs and one at the bottom of all 6 base plates by acquiring 24 bolts and nuts with a 2.54mm diameter and screwing them through the base plate to the 6 legs. Each leg has 2 holes at the top and 2 at the bottom, through which the two bases with two corresponding holes attach. In the end, the hexapod should look like the end picture.

You now have a hexapod!

There is much work to be done to add a remote control component to this hexapod. Unfortunately, I do not have access to such 3D printed parts or motors or microcontrollers or other components necessary to achieve remote control. Since there are numerous ways to add this remote control component to this hexapod, you can try to add this component on your own as a DIY project! You can choose any microcontrollers, transceivers, motor drivers, and other components to implement into your hexapod, and write your own program to achieve a remote controlled hexapod.

This instructable has left you with a physical hexapod, and now it is up to you to add the remote control component to it! I hope you like this project!

Thank you for your consideration! Have a good day!