not so HIGHLY, but a simple technical robotics build project

[oneofusjustin]

ok guys here are the basics, at work we have a machine that requires a button be pressed. this is a physical button with no computer or anything like that involved so you cant make some sort of auto clicker app. This button has NOTHING to do with safety or anything like that so we aren't doing anything dangerous just trying to improve efficiency by having a small device that just goes up and down all day maybe once every 2 seconds and presses this button. Ill add that it is a very sensitive button i was testing it today and a VERY light touch will activate it.

so basically what are the "parts" called that i would need to build a robot like this? are there any hobby style robot shop sites where i can get this stuff? im sure this is SOO basic for someone who knows ANYTHING about engineering so forgive me.

help me out and ill post pics of my progress and let you guys know hoe it works!

here is an "idea" of what i need this to do im sure these parts are basic and probably in most children's toys but i just have zero experience here.

 

[Biftheunderstudy]

Stepper motor and a cam?

 

[SpatiallyAware]

What about using one of those programmable lego sets? Maybe a fixed arm attached to a small spinning gear?

 

[oneofusjustin]

Stepper motor and a cam?

could u make me a basic MS PAINT diagram of how this would go together?

 

[w0ss]

Any reason you can't unplug the button and wire it direct to something else?

 

[PottedMeat]

Any reason you can't unplug the button and wire it direct to something else?

yeah just pop it out, maybe put a 555 circuit with some ~2 second interval and a relay where it was.

 

[uclabachelor]

ok guys here are the basics, at work we have a machine that requires a button be pressed. this is a physical button with no computer or anything like that involved so you cant make some sort of auto clicker app. This button has NOTHING to do with safety or anything like that so we aren't doing anything dangerous just trying to improve efficiency by having a small device that just goes up and down all day maybe once every 2 seconds and presses this button. Ill add that it is a very sensitive button i was testing it today and a VERY light touch will activate it.

so basically what are the "parts" called that i would need to build a robot like this? are there any hobby style robot shop sites where i can get this stuff? im sure this is SOO basic for someone who knows ANYTHING about engineering so forgive me.

help me out and ill post pics of my progress and let you guys know hoe it works!

here is an "idea" of what i need this to do im sure these parts are basic and probably in most children's toys but i just have zero experience here.

Does the button have to be mechanical?

If not, use electronics to perform the job of the mechanical button, which is usually used to ground or pull up a signal. Some buttons have high current running through them. In that case, you would have use a relay or a more sophisticated approach if the current is extreme.


If you take the electrical approach, you will need a multimeter and have to use it to determine:

1) What's the voltage on the button when it is pressed and unpressed.

2) How much current is passing through the button when it is "on".

From #1 and #2, you can determine if you can use a simple timer such as the 555, or if you need to feed the output of the 555 to a relay, or if you need a more sophisticated solution altogether.

 

[Colt45]

If it has to be mechanical, just have a 555 drive a solenoid... could set it up for 1/2Hz and <10&#37; duty or something, so it just gives it a short tap every two seconds. That would be rather nasty hack though, better to do it electrically if possible.

 

[WildW]

At the risk of violating a patent owned by Homer Simpson. . .

 

[William Gaatjes]

yeah just pop it out, maybe put a 555 circuit with some ~2 second interval and a relay where it was.

In this case it may not have any beneficial effects, but perhaps use a 7555 instead. IIRC it does not suffer from current spikes because of cross conduction in the output stage during output switching. Also the 7555 consumes far less power, is faster and runs on very low voltages. Might be beneficial when powered with batteries. Texas Instruments and Intersil (and many others) have 555 replacements. Or use some 4093 nand design. To be honest, any inverting buffer with schmittrigger inputs will do.

 

[AeroEngy]

I would go with something like this wired into the button contact.

ATC 422 Flip-Flop repeat cycle time relay

You can set the On and Off time independantly in 1-10 sec/min/or hours. The relay contacts are rated up to 10A. If you need more then add an additional realy or buy a more robust timer. It comes with a universal power supply so it excepts 24 to 240 VAC (50 or 60Hz) or 24 VDC. It cost about $89 and it rated for 10,000,000 cycles (no load) or 100,000 at 10A load.

It is all bundled up in one neat little package so you don't have to mess with 555 timer and connecting relays etc.