Learn How to Make a 3D Printed RC Tank From Scratch!!!
by aaditya03 in Workshop > 3D Printing
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Learn How to Make a 3D Printed RC Tank From Scratch!!!
In this project we would learn how to build a 3D printed RC tank using tinkercad . I would take you through the process of 3D modelling tank, after this tutorial I believe you would be able to design your own projects in tinkercad. This is a very fun project and the tank is quite powerful. you can even add a bat grip onto tracks for more grip. It is a very cheap project too and only basic parts are needed
Supplies
You are going to need the following tools:
- Laptop/Desktop with a tinkercad account
- 3D Printer
- Plier
Following Supplies Would be needed:
- BO Motors(yellow Geared Motors) x4
- Wires
- 3D Printing Filament
- Superglue
- 2.5 mm iron nails
- 3D printed Parts which we will design:
- Inner chassis x4
- Outer chassis x4
- Mid Connector x2
- Body Assembly x2
- Track Gear x4
- Track unit x55
IMPORTANT: use medium to high quality with 75% infill when 3D Printing for best results
Inner Chassis
Steps:
- Add round roof and cube from basic shapes to work plane
- align them together such that round roofs rectangular face touches with cubes face as shown in figure
- merge them to form one shape
- adjust dimensions as shown in figure
- adjust height
- Duplicate the shape we created we would use it to subtract portion of 3d object
- adjust dimensions of duplicated shape as shown
- now select duplicate figure as hole
- place it on original shape as to create the cavity
- you can see a cavity has been created
- import 3D model of motor from electronics tab in shapes as to create a cavity to fit motor
- add 20x20 cylinder to shaft of motor as to create whole for motor shaft and track gear
- place it inside cavity such that motor just fits in the cavity and select motor as hole and group cavity and motor
- now we can see motor cavity in our shape
- now create a 4x4x20 cubical rod to create hole which will later be used to fasten other 3d printed parts
- we have created a hole as you can see in fig
- repeat same on the other side of inner chasis to create other hole
Outer Chassis
Steps:
- Load the 3d model created in step3 of earlier part to the workplane
- now adjust its height to 4mm
- now add a 20x20mm cylinder
- adjust its height to 4mm
- our base is ready now
- add 2 4x4x4 cubes place them at
- distance of 4mm from edges and they should be perfectly aligned
- now group them
- I added some holes for ventilation u can skip that step if u want to
Body Assembly
Steps:
- Import inner chassis
- import cube as a hole
- now adjust length width and height as shown in figure
- now place edited hole as shown
- now extend cube to bottom of model
- group them to create u shape and extend them to 70mm
- add U shape we created on top of previously created model with dimension 55x30x10mm on both sides as shown
- body of tank is ready
Mid Connector
Steps:
- import cube and adjust dimensions as shown in figure
- load a cylinder from basic shapes
- adjust dimensions as shown in image
- select cylinder as a hole and place it such that longer diameter meets edge of cuboid do same on opposite edge
- group them
- add 4x4x4 cubes 4 mm from nearest edges as shown in figure
- add 4x4x4 grooves below the cubes(see figure)
Track Gear
steps:
- import a cylinder from basic shapes
- set it to 50x50 and height to 10mm and select 24 sides
- add a 20x20 cylinder and center it with the other cylinder
- now select 20x20 cylinder as a hole and group them
- now add 1more 20x20 with 5mm height cylinder centering its axis with previously created shape
- group them
- search for geared motor(yellow one) in electronics
- add it to workplane
- center its shaft with cylinders axis
- make motor a hole
- group them and obtain the hole(motor model in tinkercad is similar to real life geared motor)
- import a 5x5 mm cylinder and select it as a hole
- now u would be able to distinguish 24 sides we created as edges if you look closely
- place cylinder and group the to create a groove
- create grooves on alternate sides to obtain the gear
Track Unit
Steps:
- Add a cube and adjust it according to dimensions shown in figure
- now duplicate the same object and make its width and length 4 and 10 mm respectively and place them as shown in figure
- place 1 more at tthe back
- now make back cuboid a hole and place it inside as shown in figure and group them
- adda 5x5 mm cylinder and add a hole in it using 2.5x2.5 mm cylinder
- group them to create a hole
- place cylinder as shown
- "
- "
- group them
- add side walls by 45x50x100 cuboids on inner side of tube as shown
- repeat same for other tube
- Track unit is ready
- You can add bevel for more cleanliness by manipulating cube as shown in figure
Assembling All the Parts
Steps:
- 3D print 2 body assembly and super glue them together as shown
- place motor in inner chassis
- make sure motor is firmly pressed inside the chasis
- repeat above step one more time
- connect both of them with mid connector
- add gears to motor
- add gear to other motor
- now add inner chassis push it till it clicks into place
- repeat same for other motor (repeat steps 1 to 9 one more time to create one more track assembly)
- now connect both track assemblies to the body
- body of tank is ready
- place to tank units as shown
- insert nail or any other metal rod in the hole as shown repeat this to connect 26 tracks for 1 track assembly
- now wind track around the track assembly as shown in figure
Important: wire motors of rail assembly in parallel and make sure both motors move in same direction
Tank is ready!!!!
Making It RC(optional)
Supplies:
- Arduino
- IR sensor with remote
- breadboard
- wires
- tank we created in earlier steps
- battery
Follow the Schematic below and wire out the motor driver ,motor and ir sensor