Embedded Files
Background Knowledge
Background Knowledge
Big Picture: The Cardboard Hydraulic Arm serves as a way to lift objects running solely on water. This project covers the concept of hydraulics, pressure, and construction. With the fundamental concepts of mechanical advantage, the Hydraulic Arm will be maneuvered via pressure-based controllers that mobilize the arm in two different directions at different heights. Demonstrators use hand-eye coordination to utilize the arm in action.
Principles/concepts: Mechanical advantage (ratio of the force produced to the force applied)
Keywords and units: Hydraulics, Pressure, Construction, Robotics
Materials
Materials
Cardboard - Single Corrugated 24 in x 8 in
5mL Syringes (x4)
10mL Syringes (x4)
Masking Tape
Scissors
Utility Knife OR Box Cutter
10 ft. Polymer Tubing (ID: 3/16" & OD: 5/16")
Ruler
Pencil
Pen with a removal cap
Toothpicks
Zip Ties (aka Cable ties)
Electrical Tape
Food coloring (4 different colors)
Rubber Slipper (x1)
Drill
Safety
Safety
Wear protective gloves as necessary when using the box cutter/utility knife
Utilize any goggles or outer protective eyewear
Take precaution wen using the hot glue, be careful not to burn your skin
When drilling, be aware of the drill bit, and as much as possible ask an adult supervisor for help.
Be aware of spills and electrical appliances coming in contact.
Procedure
Procedure
!Warning: Read ALL instructions before proceeding to make the arm.
1. Cut out the shapes of the system using an online template is provided
make sure to have all the files in the same scale to prevent any misfits
start with roughly cutting out the pieces then make repeated cuts deeper to make a clean shape
the template makes multiple copies of the same shape so be sure to follow it correctly
toothpick holes are included (use the drill later to poke out the holes)
2. Apply masking tape at the edges of the pieces
you will begin to notice tears and rips on the ends of the pieces which will weaken the structure
3. With all the pieces cut out, assemble a dry fit of the hydraulic system
a dry fit allows you to grasp where each piece goes
gently place the pieces together to avoid any tears on the cardboard
Make sure all the holes are exactly across from each other. Refer to image on the right for guidance.
4. Take four 5mL syringes. Extend the plunger of the syringe all the way out, mark 1cm below the top of the syringe and drill holes on top of the markings. After drilling holes, trim parts of the plunger (as shown) so it becomes a oblong shape.
ask an adult for help
be sure to secure the syringe from moving (use masking tape if necessary) to easily drill holes
Use the box cutter to cut the plastic plunger
5. Take out the big base piece and estimate the placement of the pen cap to where it will be centered. Seal the pen cap in place with hot glue.
6. Grab the "Rotating base" piece and hot glue the identical pieces together. Then attach the rotating base onto the big base by inserting the hole of the rotating base into the pen cap.
7. Attach the bottom syringe piece on top of the rotating base just as shown below. Then attach the bottom syringe spacers on top and centered of the previous piece. Stick a toothpick and attach a 5mL syringe through the hole. Lastly, poke the remaining bottom syringe piece into the tooth before sealing all pieces with hot glue
attach all the pieces by hot gluing them together
8. Take the dry fit of the arm and attach just as shown on the right.
OPTIONAL: Place small cardboard rectangles in between the supporting platforms to prevent it from moving.
don't forget to add the small spacers that are placed at the ends.
9. Grab two zip ties and create a "figure of eight" shape
to make a figure of eight shape
do not tighten the two zip ties; instead, loose interloop the two zip ties
10. Attach one of the zip ties to all 5mL syringes and the other to another toothpick. Then, pay attention to the syringe attached to the rotating base and stick the toothpick onto the rotating base.
11. Cut out a rectangular shape from cardboard and trim a thin length. This will act as a "stopper" for the bottom syringe. Align the piece on the rotating base and the syringe. The Stopper should be in placed as shown on the picture. Apply hot glue.
the hot glue application should be thick and applied repeatedly, not all at once to prevent burning the cardboard.
12. Attach all syringes onto the arm. Hot glue the ends of the toothpicks to prevent it from moving out of place.
if the syringes are sliding out of the zip ties, apply masking tape on top of the zip ties and syringe OR carefully hot glue the two parts together.
13. Find the gripper body, gripper (x2) parts, copper wire and the remaining small spacers. Curve the copper wires into a "candy-cane" shape and poke the grippers into the wires as shown.
utilize pliers to easily bend the wires.
the grippers should lie at an angle when it is completely attached to the arm
14. Attach the gripper onto the arm as shown. Then bend the other side of the copper wire to fit the syringe.
you will notice that the gripper arms will start to angle in opposite directions.
15. Cut out squares from the rubber slipper. Then tear one layer of the corrugated cardboard. Fold the corrugated portion into thirds and glue the rubber slipper squares on the middle section.
16. Set aside 4 cups of water and fill them with food coloring, each with a different color.
it is okay to have one colorless, if there is a limited amount of food coloring
Then fill the syringes with water.
17. Attach the tubes on one syringe attached to the arm and the other end with a syringe filled with water
refer to the picture to see the specified connections
18. Make sure everything is completely dry and sealed tightly.
Have fun testing out this robotic arm!!
Data Table
Data Table
Final Product & Action Video
Final Product & Action Video
Pictures:
Video:
Hydraulic Arm Video.mp4Essential Understanding
Essential Understanding
This project reflects the systems of a hydraulic system. During the process of the project, I came to the understanding that the arm rises when you press on the plunger of the movable syringe and descends when you pull on the plunger. The plunger is used to apply pressure to the water in the movable syringe. However, this won't work with syringes that have the same volume. One end of the system needs to have a larger volume capacity.
There is also a limit to how much the robotic arm can withstand whatever it lifts. The added material on the gripper did help with traction and held the objects in pace, however, the material of the cardboard created a restriction for its maximum capacity load.
Real Life Connections
Real Life Connections
In the real world, the robotic hydraulic arm system is an example of a structure inside a more complicated network of system. This applied how a real-life example would include automobile braking systems. Brake systems in cars and vehicle repair equipment are hydraulic powered. Learning about the individual part(this project), narrowing it down into a simpler model allowed a better understanding of how the arm moved in relation to the controls (syringes).
Investigation Questions
Investigation Questions
How does the different volume syringes affect how the arm moved?
What is the maximum weight capacity the arm can carry?
Secondary Investigation Questions:
Does the weight of the object being lifted affect the structure consistency?
Does the toothpicks that stabilize the syringes in place affect the movement of the arm?
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