Building the Magician Robot Chassis

Building the Magician Robot Chassis Tutorial

Like building flat pack furniture, instructions for putting things together are sometimes lacking or specifications change but the instructions don't. Putting the Magician chassis together is pretty easy, and here is our take on it.

First of all, ditch the rubbish screwdriver that comes with the kit and get your own out. The one supplied is not very good and doesn't fit the screws well

Start by attaching the two motor units using the four motor mounts. There is no obvious correct way up for the motors so we mounted them with the red wires uppermost and the little plastic stud on the side facing outwards. The mounting screw holes are quite a tight fit so care must be taken not to force them because if you break one of the mounting plates there are no spares.

The Speed motor holders need to line up with the cutouts in the bottom of the board as they sit slightly into the hole.

Push the wheels on. You might need to use a flat blade screwdriver to prise them back slightly otherwise they will foul the chassis.

Next mount the rear castor (onmi wheel). Use the end two of the four holes in a line.

The battery box in the supplied instructions has only 3 battery compartments, whereas the one supplied is larger, having four compartments. The two holes that are pre-drilled in the battery box don't really align with anything useful so i drilled a central hole so it could be mounted using one screw as shown. Countersink the hole so that the batteries sit in the holder properly.

Add the pillars that hold the upper chassis plate on

Add the upper chassis plate and feed the motor wires through for neatness.

Bottom view of completed chassis.

There are a couple of things to note

1. With the battery holder in its intended position, it is not easy to be able to change the batteries. Personally, it took mine off and mounted it on the top plate for easier access.
2. Watch the Sparkfun Magician drop test video below and dont do the same to yours

{{VIDEO:http://www.youtube.com/v/16e6RtOBTCc}}