What can be built
The idea is that various cartesian CNC-controlled devices could be quickly assembled from the set, ranging from things like plotter, hot wire cutter and mini-router to experimental contraptions such as novel 3D printer, lab robot, assembly or manufacturing robot. Below are some of the actual working devices (contraptions) that have been built from the set.
A quick way to build something from the set without physically making it is with Sketchup and 3D model of the set. Existing contraptions can be downloaded from the source repository: http://contraptor.svn.sourceforge.net/viewvc/contraptor/trunk/contraptions/
 XY Plotter Simple contraption that can draw Gcode doodles |
 Mini-router Uses Dremel to cut soft sheet materials |
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XY Plotter
Plotter is a simple contraption to test the belt drive capabilities of theContraptor set. It is basically a 2-axis Cartesian. It can draw, though only in a continuous line - it needs a smarter head with pen up/down mechanism to actually be a plotter. Other heads can be used, like a vinyl/paper cutter - which is the plan for the Paper Prototyper. Maybe a fine point Sharpie can be used to draw tracks on PCBs for etching.
The plotter in the video is the older version built with the old design of linear motion components. The latest version is in the source - with new linear motion components and bigger work area (17" by 11" vs old 13" by 10"). The top speed is 300 IPM, however at this speed, the curves or diagonal lines consisting of small movements get wiggly. At 50 IPM is everything looks fine though.
It uses Arduino with Gcode interpreter firmware and little Python script which sends Gcode .NC files to Arduino over USB/Serial.
G-code from text was generated with shareware TTFtoDXF and Gcode2000 apps.
Most recent update on this: /tags/plotter
Source Files
http://contraptor.svn.sourceforge.net/viewvc/contraptor/trunk/contraptions/xy-plotter/
Mini-router
Mini-router is a small CNC robot that uses Dremel as a tool. It is also a test to see whether Contraptor offers sufficient stiffness to do hobby-level CNC work. A satisfactory criteria would be the ability to mill soft sheet materials (plywood, MDF, HDPE, acrylic) with 0.01" accuracy.
A test mini-router was built using the old design of linear motion components, and a couple of milling tests were done on plywood and HDPE.
Second version has been assembled, it does work but the movement speeds do not exceed 20IPM, in other words it's pretty slow. The video on the right is sped up 16 times.
A belt driven design is in progress.
Most recent updates on this: http://www.garagefab.cc/tags/router
Source Files
http://contraptor.svn.sourceforge.net/viewvc/contraptor/trunk/contraptio...
The firmware used in this contraption is Arduino GCode Interpreter(written by Mike Ellery, adapted by Zach Hoeken), with modifications byChris Meighan: http://forums.reprap.org/read.php?12,19155
Perforaptor
Perforaptor is a semi-manual robot which was designed to make accurate perforated angle for the Contraptor set. When design changed from 3/16" to 1/4" holes, perforated angle no longer had to be accurate, and this contraption was abandoned. Maybe it will be revisited in the context of producing perforated angle for the set.
Perforaptor is basically a light duty, stepper-driven drill press built with asingle purpose to bore holes in the center of aluminum angle stock,movable along one axis. It uses a cheap $20 corded drill (Power Glide VSR from Ace Hardware), and about $130 worth of Contraptor materials, not counting electronics.
The design of Perforaptor uses old linear motion components (leadscrew in the corner of sliding element). The design was never completely documented. See attached Sketchup file and project history.