Robot Building for Beginners, Third Edition

(Marvins-Underground-K-12) #1

CHAPTER 24 ■ BODY BUILDING


Creating the Motor Tube


Because each heavy motor is attached on only one side with two screws, the motors droop down on the
unsupported side. It isn’t a huge deal, although it causes the bottom of the wheels to tilt a bit outward
(negative camber). You can overcome this by adding a center tube to support the mass across the entire
motor’s body, which keeps the motors straight and level.


Obtaining the Motor Tube


This is by far the most delicious part in the whole book.



  1. Purchase a mini M&M’s candy tube. Not the short package, but the “mega”
    variety, 55 g (see top of Figure 24-13).


Figure 24-13. Unopened mini M&M’s candy mega tube (top) and finished tube (bottom)


There are a wide variety of M&M’s candy tube colors to choose from: red, pink, orange, yellow, green,
and blue. Select the color you prefer.



  1. Consume all of the candy eagerly.

  2. Rip off the plastic label.


Cutting the Motor Tube



  1. With a hacksaw or rotary tool cut-off wheel accessory, cut off the lid and rim (see
    Figure 24-14).

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