Mixing plastic epoxy.

The mobile tool effector permits easy change-out of tools on the end effector. The following require the mobile tool effector:

  • Cylindrical tool mount holds small cylindrical tools and is the simplest of the tool holders, having limited uses.
  • Sprung tool mount holds cylindrical tools in a sprung mount for pen plotting and vinyl cutting, for example.
  • Microscope holder holds USB microscopes, turning Athena into a quite good 3-axis microscope stage.

Files[edit | edit source]

Download the OpenSCAD library from https://github.com/phidiasllc/tool_effector. Please read the instructions on that page!

There is also a folder containing stl models of common tools at that location.

Materials and Tools[edit | edit source]

  • 1 Printed tool effector
  • 12 3/8" countersunk ring magnets
  • Plastic epoxy

Tools[edit | edit source]

  • Precision knife
  • Small flat bladed screwdriver
  • Paper towel
  • Stirring stick
  • Epoxy mixing pallet

Assembly[edit | edit source]

There are two styles of tool effector, a small and a large tool effector. The small tool effector holds the print, sprung mount and small cylindrical tool mount. The large tool effector holds the microscope tool.

  1. Print the desired tool effector. These instructions show assembly of the small tool effector. Assembly of the large tool effector is identical.
  2. Clean up the print with a small flat screw driver and precision mount. DO NOT over dress the magnet pockets - magnets should fit snugly, if they are loose, reprint the part.
  3. Test fit the magnets in each of their pockets - they should fit snugly and all should fit flatly against the bottom of their pockets. Use the stack of magnets to insert and remove the end magnet during testing fitting. Do not let the magnets slam together!
  4. After ensuring the magnets fit properly in their pockets, remove them all from the pockets, keeping polarity in mind. Mix enough two part plastic epoxy to coat all the pockets in both end effector and carriages.
  5. Coat the interiors of all the magnet pockets with a thin layer of epoxy.
  6. Press the magnets into their pockets keeping in mind that the large diameter opening in the magnet points outward and the nearest neighbor magnets should attract each other in the end effector.
  7. Press the magnets all the way into the pockets using a non-magnetic tool or fingers (the aluminum handle of the precision knife works nicely).
  8. With a paper towel, wipe excess epoxy from the magnets' faces and holes ensuring that they are completely clean. After curing, excess epoxy that remains on the face of the magnets can be removed with a sharp knife, but cleaning uncured epoxy is easier.
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Authors Jerry Anzalone
License CC-BY-SA-3.0
Language English (en)
Related 0 subpages, 25 pages link here
Impact 581 page views
Created May 5, 2016 by Jerry Anzalone
Modified November 8, 2022 by Irene Delgado
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