MakerBot Botmobile Assembly Instructions

 

Welcome to the instructions for building your MakerBot Botmobile! This set of instructions will take approximately one hour, and you will need all the printed parts from the Botmobile Thingiverse item (link) and all the items in the purchased kit (store link). You can definitely start printing before the kit arrives.

Setup

Printed Parts

Start by laying out all your printed parts on your workspace – you should have 26 pieces.

Kit Parts

Lay out all the parts from the kit on your workspace.

Tips and Checklist

Pay attention to the images under each instruction. Some instructions have multiple images – take a look at all of them.
Make sure all moving parts move freely. If not you can twist a drill bit of appropriate size through the hole to widen it just enough until the part moves freely.

PART 1: The Steering Assembly

Here are the parts you will need:

The servo
The smallest screw
the smallest servo horn

1. Swing Arms

Attach swing arms to control arm.

2. Steering Base

Attach previous assembly to steering base.

3. Top to Steering Base

Attach steering top to steering base.

4. Servo

Press servo into Steering assembly – the servo should slide and snap easily into place.

5. Retainer clip

Snap retainer clip in place in front of Servo.

6. Servo Horn

Press servo horn into steering linkage.

7. Connect To Servo

Press steering linkage onto servo so that the it engages with it.

8. Servo Screw

Screw the so horn in place – locking the entire attached linkage to the servo.

9. Check Your Work

Your finished Steering Assembly should look like this:

Part II: Gear Box & Rear Axle

Pictured below are all the parts you’ll need for this section of the instructions. In addition to the printed parts from gearbox stl (link) you’ll need the following items from the kit:

The two small white gears
The two small metal pins
The two ball bearings
The DC motor

1. Metal Pins

position the gear box flat on your work surface with the semi-circle pointed towards you. Place the two metal pins into the appropriate holes of the gear box. each pin size is a different size so they only really fit in their own holes.

2. Gear Placement

Slide gears onto the pins. Since they match the pin sizes, each gear will only fit on its own pin. Put the finer tooth gear in first, in the position furthest away from you.

3. Center Gear Box

Lock into place the center piece of the gear box center on top of your assembly. Ensure that the gears spin freely after placement.

4. Top of the gearbox

Press gearbox left into assembly.

5.Check your gearbox work

Take a moment to look over your work – using your thumb, rotate the gears, making sure they spin freely.

6. Motor

Press motor into place – if motor fits loosely wrap a bit of masking tape around it until you have a snug fit.

7. Bearings

Slide bearings onto axles.

8. Drive gear

Press axles into drive gear.

9. Axle to Gear Box

Place the entire axle on the gear box – adjust position of bearings so they sit aligned in their cradles and drive gear is properly engaged by the small white gears.

10. Bearing Retainers

Snap bearing retainers into place.

11. Check your work

Make sure when you rotate the axle all the gears move smoothly – including the motor shaft.

Part III: Building the Car

From the kit you will need:

The battery holder
The four tires
The electronics controller

1. Foam for Tires

Press foam insert into rubber tires.

2.Tires on Hubs

Stretch and place the rubber tire around hub.

3.Repeat For All Tires

Repeat the above for all rest of the tires and hubs ( 4 times total).

4. Interior to Rear Body

Press interior into rear body. Make sure the quarter circle pins on the body line up with the half circle holes on the interior piece.

5. Interior to Front of Body

Push front of interior into the front of the body – and then press down on the interior so the front body snaps into place.

6. Radio Receiver

Secure the radio receiver into the bottom of the body of car using the small clip.

7. On/Off Switch

Push the on/off switch through the bottom of the interior through passenger seat and slide it into the central console. This is Michael’s favorite thing on the Botmobile.

8. Electronics Board

Place the electronics board between the pillars in the back of the car. Then plug the control wire (black-white-red) into the receiver as shown. The black cable is oriented towards the front of the car.

9. Battery Box

Slide the battery box into place – run power cord under battery box and plug its cord into the only female connector on the electronics board.

10.Attaching The GearBox

Supporting the back of the botmobile in the palm of your hand, grip the gearbox firmly, and press the snaps into the holes of the botmobile. Go through the pictures below before you do this. It’s a snap fit operation, so it will require some force.

11. Check Your Work

12. Motor Connection

Connect the motor cable to the male connector on the electronics board. You can wrap any extra wire around the gearbox.

13. Steering Placement

Wrap wire over the servo as shown. Snap the steering into front of botmobile. Make sure both the front and back snaps are engaged properly.

14. Steering Cable

Plug the servo cable into the radio receiver. The brown wire should be oriented towards the servo / front of car. Zip tie excess cable to the steering axle.

15. Attach Front Tires

Press the 2 front tires on. The hexagon should be pointed outwards. Make sure the wheels spin freely.

16. Attach Rear Wheels

Press the two rear wheels on. This time the hexagons face inwards – and they will engage with the ends of the axle. They should spin with the axle when you rotate them.

17. Windshield

Snap windshield into place.

18. Lights & Steering Wheel

Glue dune lights and steering wheel into place. The Botmobile is commonwealth friendly – you may place the steering wheel on either side.

19.Batteries And You’re Done!

Install 4 AA batteries in the Botmobile, 8 AAs in the radio controller – and drive it off the lot. Happy trails!