Introduction

Techno-Saurus Start page

Please read all the notes below before you begin.

This is the fully assembled device .

INTRO

The Techno-Saurus is a 3D printed model dinosaur kit. It can walk and bite but the user is the brain (so it is a ‘robot’ in the same sense as those on Robot Wars, but it does not have any autonomous control).

It moves by rotating four claws using a hand held skid-steer control device (‘console’). This is achieved using an ‘umbilical’ cable. Power is via a 12V battery.

The design of the Techno-Saurus 3D printed kit has been made with economy in mind. No expensive components have been used. The most expensive item is the battery & charger.

CAD images and photos are shown throughout, including assemblies and exploded views.

Items not shown on the CAD images are:

battery and connectors
wires
electrical tape (only used on the control cable)
cable ties
glue / sealant
heat-shrink tubing

The items depicted are often quite small and so will be fragile (at least until it is all firmly bolted together). Bear this in mind when 3D printing and when cleaning up the parts afterwards (removing support material and so on).

This is quite a complex device with 70+ 3D printed parts (72 designs, 93 in total including multiples) plus motors etc and fasteners. But if you can use a desktop 3D printer and are competent with standard workshop tools and can follow the instructions ok then you should have no problem.

The recommended 3D print material is PLA (polylactic acid). This is quite strong (also biodegradeable and not made from hydrocarbons). It has similar properties to polypropylene or polyethylene (more details here : https://www.theinventionsfactory.co.uk/blog/is-the-plastic-that-you-use-environmentally-friendly).

Every effort has been made to make the instructions easy to follow and understand. Please let us know if you spot any mistakes or if you think anything needs more or better explanation.

Be careful not to over-tighten the nuts and screws.

SAFETY

The information given on this site is free of charge but you elect to use the information at your own risk. Please observe good safety practices at all times.

The Techno-Saurus features rotating and otherwise moving parts (and many which are very small and are thus a choking hazard) and these are in no way suitable for young children to play with. Older children should be supervised at all times by a responsible adult.

Low voltage electric motors are used, powered by a battery (12V). Do not allow short-circuits to occur which may cause fires. Disconnect the battery before storing the assembled device.

NOMENCLATURE:

cable tie = a plastic strap for securing cables together
countersunk = a chamfer cut on the edge of a hole or referring to screws with heads this shape
filament, 3D printing = the raw material fed into fused-filament 3D printers
heat-shrink tubing = plastic tube that shrinks when heated -used for tidying vable and protecting solder joints etc
lug = a protruding part to which something can be fastened
machine screw = a screw used with a non-tapering thread
M2, M3, M4, M5 = metric threads M2 has nominally 2mm outside diameter and so on
PLA = poly-lactic acid
skid steering = steering as used on a tracked vehicle
soldering = for joining metal parts using molten metal (solder) but without melting the parts themselves. Used to join wires to other wires or connectors
washer = a flat ring used between the faces of nuts and bolts or between these and the components they are fastened to

TOOLS NEEDED

This has been designed so that no specialist tools (lathes, milling machines, welders etc) are required besides a standard desktop 3D printer.

There will be no need to cut any threads as almost everything is held together with machine screws and nuts. One or two items require super glue or a little silicone sealant.

The following tools will be needed:

Allen keys for M2.5, M3, M4 & M5 socket screws
one very long Allen key for M3 socket screws
spanners: 6mm, 7mm, 8mm
pointed-nose pliers
hot glue gun
soldering iron
electric drill (cordless preferably)
drill bits: 2.5mm, 3mm, 4mm, 5mm
a sharp modelling knife
a selection of small files

( >>>>>> Add a pic of the tools all together)

THE MATERIALS KIT CONTAINS EVERYTHING EXCEPT THE FOLLOWING:

Solder
hot glue
tools
electrical tape
super glue
silicone sealant

LICENCE & T&Cs

The concepts presented on these pages are patent protected. By purchasing a kit or using the instructions* you are licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License. To view a copy of this license, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/. (*Techno-Saurus’ as depicted on this website).

Purchasing this kit (or parts thereof) means that you are licensed to build and test a prototype Techno-Saurus device on our behalf. This is not a product. Please bear that in mind.

NB we retain the right to change the design as and when required.

METHODOLOGY FOR THE CONSTRUCTION PAGES

The construction starts with the crank assemblies and then moves on to the space frame. Following this is the legs and claws and then the tail neck, head and jaws. Finally the wiring and controller are made.

CAD images of each 3D printed part and the assemblies are shown along with photos.

Each page is divided into three sections: Intro’, Parts & Assembly.

Each 3D printed part is numbered to minimise mix ups and confusion (hopefully).

The parts listed includes all the fasteners. However sometimes a fastener is listed and used on one page but is not tightened until other parts are added on other pages, as shown below.

Hopefully this has been explained clearly on each page.

Some (captive) nuts are included on one page in a recess but may not be used until a subsequent page, for instance with the ‘belly rod’ (#22):

Please advise if anything is missing or unclear.

Labelled line drawings have been included:

Nb, most of the space frame is 4mm diameter and these are hollow (i.e., tubular: 4mm OD, 2mm ID). If one develops a fracture, it is very easy to repair with superglue and a length of suitable wire (such as welding rod). Just cut a 5mm to 10mm length of wire and insert in both ends of the broken tube and bond together with the superglue.

The lugs for screws will generally need to be cleaned up after 3D printing by passing a suitable drill bit through.

HOW THESE CONSTRUCTION PAGES WERE WRITTEN

The basic design ‘evolved’ over a number of years (see the About page). Once it seemed ready a CAD model was created. The parts were then 3D printed and a first assembly was made. Photos were taken as this proceeded and most of the photos shown on these pages were taken at this stage.

In the process of going through the photos and writing the assembly instructions a few issues were encountered and very minor design changes have been made.

I hope you enjoy making your Techno-Saurus and enjoy using it to wreak some kind of havoc!

CONSTRUCTION PAGES

The construction has been divided into pages as shown below.

Building the crank mechanism assemblies:
Building up the space frame around the top crank mechanism
Adding the middle braces and lower crank mechanism
Attaching the two Y-frames (left, right), the central torso brace and the lower crank motor braces
Attaching the two hips (left, right) and the ‘belly rod’. This starts the process of building up the space frame to form the belly construction
Building up the belly space frame
Shoulders, breast bone etc
Front legs, motors & claws
The rear legs and associated components
The Tail, Battery & Wiring
The Neck
The Head and Jaws
The controller
The umbilical cable