# DIY Delta Robot Kit **URL:** \ **Category:** Projects\ **Created:** [November 19, 2013, 7:14am UTC](https://community.sparkfun.com/t/diy-delta-robot-kit/27812 "2013-11-19T07:14:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![spetku](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/839c29/32.png) [@spetku](https://community.sparkfun.com/u/spetku)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2013, 7:14am UTC](https://community.sparkfun.com/t/diy-delta-robot-kit/27812/1 "2013-11-19T07:14:30Z")
![](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/sparkfun/original/2X/f/fb8f4e9ca5e72890ec53e82065f56dec6c93eaf1.jpeg)[http://lightplay.zoness.com/images/projectPicSMALL.jpg](https://community.sparkfun.com/uploads/short-url/zToSvbz4KyPikUNcgcpI5hyEyml.jpeg) I’m making an interactive light installation that involves building A LOT of delta robots. To gain exposure and gather the funds I need to take production to the next level, I’m kickstarting my design as a kit. I figure now is as good a time as any to start posting in this forum and ask for some feedback. What is everyones interest level in making their own delta robot- and is anyone in the maker community willing to support a massive art-tech project? Any thoughts are appreciated! If you’re interested in making one of these, or want to know more about my mind controlled army of robots, check out the project’s site here for more details : [http://lightplay.zoness.com](http://lightplay.zoness.com) Thanks! -Sarah ![](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/sparkfun/original/2X/2/2f611b6150cbaa20170314b1e4d374ef539685b4.jpeg)[http://lightplay.zoness.com/images/deltaFamily.jpg](https://community.sparkfun.com/uploads/short-url/6L8uutFof1EXLgFmBYJhB9h3yzq.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![lyndon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7993a0/32.png) [@lyndon](https://community.sparkfun.com/u/lyndon)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2013, 6:20pm UTC](https://community.sparkfun.com/t/diy-delta-robot-kit/27812/2 "2013-11-19T18:20:56Z")
Yes. Post when the Kickstarter launches. Now off to waste the rest of my day googling delta robot kinematics 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Ross\_Robotics](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/cc9497/32.png) [@Ross\_Robotics](https://community.sparkfun.com/u/Ross_Robotics)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2013, 7:49pm UTC](https://community.sparkfun.com/t/diy-delta-robot-kit/27812/3 "2013-11-19T19:49:56Z")
Pretty neat idea. So what exactly is the purpose of this robot? ---
**Author:** ![lyndon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7993a0/32.png) [@lyndon](https://community.sparkfun.com/u/lyndon)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2013, 11:20pm UTC](https://community.sparkfun.com/t/diy-delta-robot-kit/27812/4 "2013-11-19T23:20:42Z")
Check out her site. Some pretty cool and simple delta platforms. ---
**Author:** ![spetku](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/839c29/32.png) [@spetku](https://community.sparkfun.com/u/spetku)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2013, 12:33am UTC](https://community.sparkfun.com/t/diy-delta-robot-kit/27812/5 "2013-11-20T00:33:17Z")
My robot is a more basic, hobby friendly version of the kind that would normally be operating on assembly lines and the like. I am a dork about making smaller and simpler versions of the delta robot because they look and move in a very cool way. I’ve made many out of scrap plastic and have since design my parts to 3D print (like on my site). There really isn’t any reason to make a miniature delta robot other than to learn how they work and move… and maybe try and come up with some completely new application for them like I’m doing with the light installation. But I encourage people to use what i’ve done as a point of departure. The kit is a way for me to gather funds for my project and make building a delta robot more accessible for those doing it for the first time. I guess I’m exchanging all the time I’ve spent researching and developing them for help making my army a reality. =] I will keep everyone updated on my progress…! Thank you! -Sarah ---
**Author:** ![Ross\_Robotics](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/cc9497/32.png) [@Ross\_Robotics](https://community.sparkfun.com/u/Ross_Robotics)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2013, 5:39pm UTC](https://community.sparkfun.com/t/diy-delta-robot-kit/27812/6 "2013-11-20T17:39:28Z")
> lyndon: > Check out her site. Some pretty cool and simple delta platforms. Yes sir, I already have. The vids she has on her site was of them just moving around randomly. Was curious how she was going to use them or implement them in another project. > There really isn’t any reason to make a miniature delta robot other than to learn how they work and move… and maybe try and come up with some completely new application for them like I’m doing with the light installation. But I encourage people to use what I’ve done as a point of departure. Funny you should say that. I am interested in your project for a project I am building. A life size humanoid robot. I have been brainstorming on the best way to design and construct a neck mechanism that moves similar to a human’s. I have tried many different ways, but never satisfied with the result. > I will keep everyone updated on my progress…! Thank you! Please do. Post a link up if and when you start a kickstarter campaign. ---
**Author:** ![spetku](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/839c29/32.png) [@spetku](https://community.sparkfun.com/u/spetku)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2013, 6:39pm UTC](https://community.sparkfun.com/t/diy-delta-robot-kit/27812/7 "2013-11-20T18:39:41Z")
In the beginning I used a processing sketch I found somewhere to manually moved the robots around in order to test whether or not they’d completely destroy themselves when I did. I didn’t understand how to get the robot working mechanically in sync with the math driving them- it was still guess work. Now they are individually addressed and told what points to go to through i2c. I have an example of my babies doing a bit less random movement here (not sure if this link stands out enough on my site) : [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JrjK\_CHtSck](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JrjK_CHtSck) Also, I’m curious about the neck mechanism you’re building. What other mechanical things have you tried to pull this off? Delta robots are great because they are relatively simple and have a good range of motion, however I’m not sure how heavy a load the end effector could carry (if that load happen to be a robot head). ---
**Author:** ![Ross\_Robotics](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/cc9497/32.png) [@Ross\_Robotics](https://community.sparkfun.com/u/Ross_Robotics)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2013, 8:51pm UTC](https://community.sparkfun.com/t/diy-delta-robot-kit/27812/8 "2013-11-20T20:51:58Z")
No, I didn’t see that video… I love the “Mother Brain” statement. lol The most elabrate design was based off of this, [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v\_fLjdi8zcU](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v_fLjdi8zcU). I couldn’t get the movement right though. I had come to believe that it was the weight of the head that was causing problems. I do have a 3D printer and I am going to experiment with your design and see how far I can go with it. I just don’t want to use a pan and tilt design. ---
**Author:** ![Mee\_n\_Mac](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/aeb1de/32.png) [@Mee\_n\_Mac](https://community.sparkfun.com/u/Mee_n_Mac)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2013, 9:02pm UTC](https://community.sparkfun.com/t/diy-delta-robot-kit/27812/9 "2013-11-20T21:02:01Z")
Turn this upside down ? [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ZF35JUNaDg](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ZF35JUNaDg) ---
**Author:** ![spetku](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/839c29/32.png) [@spetku](https://community.sparkfun.com/u/spetku)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2013, 10:16pm UTC](https://community.sparkfun.com/t/diy-delta-robot-kit/27812/10 "2013-11-20T22:16:57Z")
> codlink: > No, I didn’t see that video… I love the “Mother Brain” statement. lol > > The most elabrate design was based off of this, [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v\_fLjdi8zcU](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v_fLjdi8zcU). I couldn’t get the movement right though. I had come to believe that it was the weight of the head that was causing problems. I do have a 3D printer and I am going to experiment with your design and see how far I can go with it. I just don’t want to use a pan and tilt design. Haha! I did something a lot like that once before… even looks the same but I never got mine to work so smoothly. I made a robotic “flower” that has a spine sort of like what you made. Mine was vertical and I had issues with it bending over from the weight at the top so I can see where you might run into some problems using it as a neck. I was originally going to do my installation with something more like what you see in this link but switched to the delta robot type about a year ago : [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=POl\_4uVDJwM](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=POl_4uVDJwM) Let me know if the delta robot design works out. ---
**Author:** ![Ross\_Robotics](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/cc9497/32.png) [@Ross\_Robotics](https://community.sparkfun.com/u/Ross_Robotics)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2013, 4:52am UTC](https://community.sparkfun.com/t/diy-delta-robot-kit/27812/11 "2013-11-21T04:52:41Z")
I am going to try and scale down your design. It seems like it would hold some weight. I never weighed my robot head, but I figure it weighs the same as a human head, around 9-10lbs. A smaller design should hold more weight than a larger one. We will see… ---
**Author:** ![lyndon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7993a0/32.png) [@lyndon](https://community.sparkfun.com/u/lyndon)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2013, 1:33pm UTC](https://community.sparkfun.com/t/diy-delta-robot-kit/27812/12 "2013-11-21T13:33:46Z")
Ha. I saw on your blog that you want a KUKA robot as a pet. I have one of ![](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/sparkfun/original/2X/2/29871df4e7b1d99ccfdc31a83b0617011b401a52.jpeg)[http://www.digital-circuitry.com/IMAGES … m\_002C.jpg](https://community.sparkfun.com/uploads/short-url/5Vn3UNWxdCmE77mx9l0hL7IHX6G.jpeg) these sitting around and I’ve yet to find the time do anything with it. ---
**Author:** ![spetku](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/839c29/32.png) [@spetku](https://community.sparkfun.com/u/spetku)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2013, 5:25pm UTC](https://community.sparkfun.com/t/diy-delta-robot-kit/27812/13 "2013-11-21T17:25:55Z")
=D ah!!! Love it!! Where did you get him form? I get to visit the ones at Blueman here in town, but I’d love to build my own scaled down version once day. You should teach it to make coffee - or put a single cube of sugar in your tea. ---
**Author:** ![spetku](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/839c29/32.png) [@spetku](https://community.sparkfun.com/u/spetku)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2013, 9:15pm UTC](https://community.sparkfun.com/t/diy-delta-robot-kit/27812/14 "2013-12-12T21:15:24Z")
So we’ve got the robots working with input from the Kinect now. We’re developing a demo with hand tracking and next will move onto mapping the skeleton to control the deltas. It’s been fun… =] [http://youtu.be/zExLxtCRaSk](http://youtu.be/zExLxtCRaSk) Check out my blog for details- we’e done a lot since I posted this thread a month ago : [http://roboticarts.wordpress.com](http://roboticarts.wordpress.com)