Design and perfect a childhood toy

Hello AE. In this article, I share about the process of designing and completing a toy. Suddenly one day, I remembered what my first toy was as a child, it was a battery-operated Tank and I broke it after a few hours of playing, when I was 5 years old.. And so I wanted to redraw and make it, it might not be exactly the same as the Tank somewhere over 30 years ago, but it would be a great thing. Review concepts while challenging your design and DIY skills. And now I would like to take AE on a tour of experiences about design - mechanics - electronics - 3D printing technology.

Ideas & Design Process

AEs in the 8x and 9x generations probably remember these two games. It's Metal Slug and Tank

I only vaguely remember these two types of games in my head and then researched and got inspiration to draw the Tank below. A little cute, a little child-friendly...

After many times of editing and perfecting, this is the overall shape of the Tank I want to make, round, cute, not majestic or dangerous. I still use Shapr3D software on my iPad and draw all my DIY projects, big and small.

After completing the exterior, it will be time to draw the interior details. It will be a fully functioning Tank, so there are quite a few internal details that must be designed and tested, such as the chain system, gearbox, gears, barrel rotation and barrel up and down mechanism... The design phase of these things is a bit long and arduous, but for those who love design and meticulousness, it is very fun. Because I can decide for myself what each screw will look like and how each part will work.

This is a dissection drawing of the internal parts. This stage will be called DFA (Design for Assembly). The designer will calculate how to assemble conveniently and optimally in all stages. Next, DFM (Design for Manufacturing) will be the calculation to make your design optimal for processing. Specifically, here I will use an FDM 3D printer to print out the details.

These are the links, printed out and attached together. It's so easy to see, but it's so easy to put together. Doing this style will allow you to adjust the length to your liking. There are many issues and contents in the design phase of the internal structures, but if I were to tell them all, it would be long and not many people would be interested, so I will skip to the next paragraph.

Cyber ​​Brick 3D printed toy development kit

I will use Bambu Lab's Cyber ​​Brick KIT to complete this toy. AE understands that this is a KIT that includes a full set of electronic components such as: programmable remote control circuit, motor, servos, sensors, LED lights, gears... It's like a hardware platform for you to create working toys, and you can program them as you like if you have the skills. Or you can use the available control libraries, it's very simple.

When you buy this Cyber ​​Brick set from Bambu Lab, it is almost complete for you as a foundation to create working toys. The only thing left for you is to design the shell and combine it with it. Just like you already have the engine, it's your job to design the car's design. Anyone who has ever played with Lego's STEM sets in the past will probably know this style.

For example, it already has the Joystick buttons and the TX RX circuit, all that's left for you is to print out the handle cover and assemble it, or design the handle according to your wishes and use it. Bambu Lab's library is very large and has countless designs created and shared by Makers there. AE doesn't need to know design to be able to play.

For those who don't know, Makerworld is a playground for those who love design and 3D printing created by Bambu Lab. Gather Makers on there, make and share for free, anyone who doesn't know how to design can use everything on here. As for me, I only like to make models that I design myself, so I will make them myself.

Testing and perfecting structures

Once you have finished the design, and choose the solution for the electronics and accessories. Next will be the printing and testing of important internal parts such as: gearbox, sprocket, transmission chain, assembly positions...

At this stage, I will print out the parts to assemble and check to see if there are any errors and if it works as expected. In the picture, I printed out the controller and attached the Joysticks and TX circuit. This circuit can be programmed to control 2 motors, 4 servos, and 8 LED lights..

As shown in the picture, I designed the pair of wheels in the middle of the Tank and it has a shock absorber for the purpose of tensioning the chain when running and also rocking when encountering obstacles.

This is the gearbox to transmit the 2 rear sprockets, the internal gears are already provided in the Cyber ​​Brick set. You just need to redesign the outer shell to fit your design.

This is the main body, inside I designed a position to mount the gearbox connected to the outside sprocket, a position to mount the RX, battery and front turn signal light, this light can be turned on or priority or quick signal depending on the settings.

And here is the upper body, controlled by a 180 degree servo motor, so that it can rotate back and forth.

The servos are held in by parts designed from the ground up.

And this is the chain part of the Tank, it is assembled together with joints so it can be as long or short as you like. Usually, the tank should overlap a little so it will run better than being stretched.

Use a 3D printer to print out all the components

After testing the important structures, print out all the remaining parts and reassemble them. Assembling and completing these mechanisms is also very fun. Probably creating things like this is the most fun while making it.

As for 3D printing, I still use Bambu Lab's FDM 3D printers for DIY projects. In this project, I used the Bambu Lab H2D machine. Because the H2D machine can print 2 print heads at the same time and 2 types of plastic at the same time, we can use different materials to support each other. This makes the print look better and is easier to remove. (This part is for those who play 3D printing to refer to, otherwise you can skip it hihi)

Currently, the H2D series is Bambu Lab's most advanced printer model, it can print many complex plastics, is stable, has high speed and has the ability to combine multi-materials flexibly. But you can print this design on any machine, you don't need such a good machine. Machines with 1 print head only take longer.

Here are all the printable files for this toy tank project. AEs should pay attention to details that need to move continuously and withstand force, so they should use plastics with high mechanical properties such as PETG, ASA, PETG GF, for example.

Finish it and play, AE

Next, AE will program its functions, it's called programming but it's simple. Because in this CyberBrick set, everything is just basic commands, deciding which motors go back and forth, which servo rotates how many degrees, how the lights will work, and how each control button will work. And everything is wireless to set up so it's quite easy, I believe you don't need to be too familiar with programming to be able to install it.

The feeling of seeing a product from the moment it is thought up, drawn and completed in real life is always fun and interesting. Like I just read something from Ms. Sen "the journey is more beautiful than the destination" That's it, at this point, attach these decorative accessories and consider it a completed childhood toy. You can assemble it to review technical games from your childhood or play with your children for fun.

I am very happy to share this project with you. Remaking a toy from your childhood, adjusting every screw and detail to make it work as you like. Hopefully this article gives you more inspiration to be more creative, happier, and maybe you'll love similar toys and make your own fun toy. Or you can support my project below hihi.

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