So the idea of using servos as the joint itself is a really cool idea! But my question is…how much better it is to make a joint and just use the servo to power the joint? Removing the stress of the robots weight off the servo vs’ using the servo as the joint? Is it just a slight difference? Or considerably better? I’m planning to make a quadrapedal bot and am curious. Thx for any imput!
P.S. Seen alot of cool bots on here. You guys doing a great job!
I don’t think the added weight justifies it. I was thinking the same thing when I built my SCOUT but the way they have the links attached actually does take a lot of load off the servo output shaft anyway. I race RC cars on a competitive level and use the same servos in those, so I know they can really take a beating without sustaining any damage. From a mechanical standpoint I’d say it’s fine.
One piece of advice though, get digital servos. Analog servos don’t seem to like being stalled very much, and when the bot is standing still that’s exactly what they are doing. I went with Hitec 5645’s in mine.
That sounds like bad design.
Not really. With anything that has a bent knee, you have to have that condition, no way around it. Plus I don’t think it makes a huge difference, but I wouldn’t want to leave it standing still for hours on end. Digital servos have been around long enough now that it’s really not much more to go with them anyway.
I’m only running my 5645’s at 5 volts while I set it all up and I can push down on it fairly hard without moving it.
