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How to make the 3d printed Strandbeest

Tutorial and Design made by Gavin Pringle, Kellan Karch, and Zack Jorquera

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Print it out

You can open the .thing files or use the .stl files to import into the compiling software

If you use the .stl files remember to scale the build down to 75% for the best quality build

Keep in mind we have the makerbot replicator 2 3d printer.

In the zip file you will see:

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How to make the printing file for makerbot

Click on settings

Copy over the settings

Make sure that you have the right device in the bottom left corner

If is not go to Devices -> select type of Device -> [you Device here]

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Open the file

Click ADD FILE

Select what you want

When it first opens Don’t scale to fit it

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Rotate on the x and z until it looks like the image at the bottom right it and click Lay Flat

Scale it to 75%

And move it into position as seen at the bottom right image

When done click

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When exporting

You should see Than here click export now and set the file

location to the sd card you will use to print with

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Print the build

Next steps are for the assembly for:

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While making the strandbeest refer to this page.

What one leg looks like.

These 3 parts (f/c, j, k) will be referred to as the small, medium and large connectors.

Terms:

  • Spacers: are the holes that are used to hold a space on a pin
  • Pins: are used to connect connectors. They come in multiple size, these sizes are determined by how many spacers/connectors in fit around them
  • Triangles: There are two types; The EDB triangle and the GHI triangle. Keep in mind how they are angled in the leg on the left

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To start we will make this first:

This includes:

1 EDB triangle

1 GHI triangle

2 small connector

1 large connector

1 medium connector

3 spacers

2 pins size 2

1 pin size 3

1 pin size 5

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To start make this

Use:

2 spacers

1 large connector

1 pin size 5

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Next

Then add: Like so:

1 Triangle GHI

1 small connector

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When you add both things

Add 1 small connector:

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Next

Add

1 EDB triangle under the two small connectors

Note that you do not put a pin in both holes just the right hole

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To finish

Use: It should look like so:

1 medium connector

1 spacer

1 pin size 3

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Next we will make this:

This includes:

1 EDB triangle

1 GHI triangle

2 small connector

1 large connector

1 medium connector

5 spacers

2 pins size 2

1 pin size 4

1 pin size 5

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To start

get :

1 spacer

1 large connector

1 small connector

1 GHI triangle

1 pin size 4

Put them on it this order:

Large connector

Spacer

Small connector

triangle

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next

Add

1 small connector

2 pins size 2

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Next

Add One EDB triangle underneath the two small connectors with the right connector’s pin.

Note that you do not put a pin in both holes just the left hole

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Finally

Add To get something looking

3 spacers like so.

1 medium connector

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Next take this part

Note that is does not have a dig out things in the middle.

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With that part

Take the first thing we made and place it on that part like so:

Then put a pin size 9 through it like so:

(the biggest pin)

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Do the same for the other side

Use the other size 9 pin like so:

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You should have this

You should have 4 loose connectors they will be labeled at the bottom left, the top left, the bottom right, and the top right connectors.

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Next

Add this piece:

I will call it the axle.

Here using a pin size 2:

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Optional step

Add a spacer to the axle.

This will produce a tighter build.

In the tutorial i use this extra spacer on the axle.

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Take the top right connector and put it on the axle.

The image is bad but you should be able to make it out.

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Next

Add the bottom left connector to the axle

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Next

Add the top left connector to the axle

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Next

Add the bottom right connector to the axle

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Add the second axle part

Here:

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Add this part

Here:

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Finally finish the connections with the pins size 9 like so:

This is just one segment. A tutorial on adding other segments to one full build will come soon.