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Lab 11 - Grabber

Improve the Grabber's Design

Think about your experience using the Grabber.
Review each of these techniques for building a better Grabber.
As you review each, consider whether your Grabber would be better if you used the engineering technique described to change your build.

  • Technique: Doubled-up

  • Explanation: Beams are at least doubled so that the Grabber is more rigid and will not bend when picking up heavy objects.

  • Changes to current Grabber:

    • Shorter in length and fewer pivot points

    • All beams are doubled and connected to each other with pins

    • Collared shafts and rubber shaft collars are used as pivot points (Red arrows show where)

  • Parts added:

    • 1x8 Beam (Quantity: 2)

    • 2x Wide 2x2 Corner Connector (Quantity: 1)

    • 3x Pitch Plastic Capped Shaft (Quantity: 3)

    • 4x Pitch Plastic Capped Shaft (Quantity: 1)

    • Rubber Shaft Collar (Quantity: 4)

    • 1x2 Connector Pin (Quantity: 4)

  • Parts removed or replaced:

    • 2x Wide 1x2 Offset Corner Connector (Quantity: 1)

    • 1x1 Connector Pin (Quantity: 1)

  • Technique: Offset-center

  • Explanation: The pivot points are positioned where they don't make the Grabber open too much or too little.

  • Changes to current Grabber:

    • Shorter in length and fewer pivot points

    • Pivot points away from center to a location where they work best (Red arrows show where)

  • Parts added:

    • 2x Wide 2x2 Corner Connector (Quantity: 1)

  • Parts removed or replaced:

    • 1x6 Beam (Quantity: 2)

    • 1x12 Beam (Quantity: 2)

    • 2x Wide 1x2 Offset Corner Connector (Quantity: 1)

    • 1x1 Connector Pin (Quantity: 7)

  • Technique: Cross-support

  • Explanation: Pivot points are reinforced so that they are stronger, which makes the Grabber more rigid, stable, and strong.

  • Changes to current Grabber:

    • Shorter in length and fewer pivot points

    • The beams with center pivot points are reinforced using another beam of the same size and standoffs (Red arrows show standoffs)

    • Added beams require longer pins

  • Parts added:

    • 2x Wide 2x2 Corner Connector (Quantity: 1)

    • 1x12 Beam (Quantity: 2)

    • 1x2 Connector Pin (Quantity: 6)

    • 1/2x Pitch Standoff (Quantity: 4)

  • Parts removed or replaced:

    • 1x6 Beam (Quantity: 2)

    • 1x8 Beam (Quantity: 2)

    • 2x Wide 1x2 Offset Corner Connector (Quantity: 1)

    • 1x1 Connector Pin (Quantity: 13)

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