Science Buddies: "Ask an Expert"

Can anybody give me any helpful advice on building a mechanical arm? The device needs to be able to lift a pencil from the floor at a distance of one meter.
I need to use simple materials such as-sticks,poles,rope,string,styrofoam,glue,tape,etc.
Any help would be greatly appreciated!
Thank you!!!

These sites should get you started in thinking how to build an arm.

http://www.school-for-champions.com/sci ... chines.htm

http://www.engineering.usu.edu/jrestate ... chines.php

http://www.engineering.usu.edu/jrestate ... chines.php

http://www.smpp.northwestern.edu/~smpp_ ... r_2000.htm


Matt Mulanax

well if i were you i would go and play one of those crane games check out the cranes design, then look at those stcks this animals on the end where if you pull the "trigger" the mouth opens and closes.

use the crane design, and use a pulley with something to bring the string up and down, use maybe a straw or omething with 2 strings running through it and have some sot of clamp at the end which you can manualy open and close with a lever or button


idk just a general idea that sounded cool

Pencils are pretty light. I suspect the adhesive on tape would work pretty well for picking it up, which is good because clamps are tricky to make.

First prove you can pick up a pencil with whatever sticky thing you have (example, wrap a stick in tape, and see if you can use it to pick up the pencil, just by touching the stick to the tape)

I'd focus on how to make an arm that I can manipulate with a sticky end.

can u tell me what you did i might use some of your ideas but i wont take the whole project



thank you,
~matty~

ya we need to do the same thing. what did you end up doing?

[pradeeppalCan anybody give me any helpful advice on building a mechanical arm? The device needs to be able to lift a pencil from the floor at a distance of one meter.
I need to use simple materials such as-sticks,poles,rope,string,styrofoam,glue,tape,etc.
Any help would be greatly appreciated!
Thank you!!![/quote]