Spring-loaded claw

[Anubuss]

Does any body know of a way to create a spring-loaded claw so that it will always remain in a set position unless a servo pulls (or pushes) it back? I'm working on a claw wih this divice in it, but I can't think of a way to do it. Can anyone help?

[westfalia]

Last year I made something like that in order to latch onto a goal automatically when driving up to it, then a servo spun JUST enough to push the opposite end of a lever down in order to let it loose. The way it stayed in the desired position was by a spring. I think if you're looking for advice, one of the most difficult things to do and think about is how to design a device that won't put excessive strain on the nylon gears in the servo motor. But, if you get it working and make it reliable it's very nice. I'll see what i can do in terms of getting a pic of it, but since this thing never got onto the robot (at least my version) it might just as quickly have been destroyed. The thing weighed a TON! Any specific questions?

[Anubuss]

it wieghted a lot? more so then if a motor like the fisferprice gearbox and all? I've been told i CAN use a motor instead of the servo/spring combo, but my team was afraid it'd weigh too much. Plus, they want the extra motors for the drive train.

Is there a way i could make a spring-loaded pin intangent with a spring-loaded arm? Does a servo have the ability to pull said pin back?

[sanddrag]

Something attatched to a worm gear will stay in position until the worm is driven, in most cases. The worm gear in the Van Door motor is an exception, it can be backdriven.

[russell]

Use pneumatics with a latching solenoid. Thats what I would do anyway.

[Anubuss]

Originally Posted by russell

Use pneumatics with a latching solenoid. Thats what I would do anyway.

I'd like to use pneumatics, but, if I'm only using it for the claw, all that weight from the air compressor is kind of going to waste isn't it?

[sanddrag]

Originally Posted by Anubuss

all that weight from the air compressor is kind of going to waste isn't it?

You don't have to use the compressor if the tank(s) can give you enough air.

[Anubuss]

Originally Posted by sanddrag

You don't have to use the compressor if the tank(s) can give you enough air.

with what I would do with it, the tanks couldn't supply enough pressure for the pneumatics to do what I want, for the number of time I'd want it to do it.

Has anyone created a spring loaded corkscrew that a servo could reset?

[Anubuss]

Originally Posted by Anubuss

Has anyone created a spring loaded corkscrew that a servo could reset?

I guess not, and if ne ones been working on this problem like me, you might as well just give up. It's do able but it's to sensative. The slightest touch triggers it so, it's not reliagble enough, plus, after so long, the servo starts to give out. Trust me, i nearly fried a servo from a few years ago in testing it.