Experimental Wave Drive

Ad: JLCPCB 3D printing from $1, Get $54 new user coupon from Free online Gerber Viewer from I recently built an eight wheeled snake bike, and that was based on a smaller version I built some time ago. And before that I built a worm robot which moves by expanding and contracting. This is known as a system of Peristalsis, which from Wikipedia, is defined as a radially symmetrical contraction and relaxation of muscles that propagates in a wave down a tube. While I was researching these projects, I came across another experimental robot which uses a wave motion, with the wave running down its body, to propel it forwards. This is a bit like how snakes actually move, Well, the ones without wheels or legs of course. My original plan for this project was to make a surf board you can ride on the land, but using a mechanical wave like this to propel me along, and use a large set of mountain board wheels for steering. However, I thought I’d try to make a smaller version of this mechanism first so see where the potential problems could be. It looks like the mechanical wave is formed by a thing that looks a bit like a giant corkscrew, which simply rotates inside a flexible track, so I 3D printed a former which I used to try to bend some wire around. I wanted this to be quite stiff though because in my version it has to support the whole weight of the machine, so I used 4mm diameter stainless steel rod. This was pretty hard to bend into shape by hand, and my resulting screw shape doesn’t quite match the former or the original CAD design, but we’ll see what problems that causes later. CAD & Code: You can support me on Patreon or buy my Merchandise: *************************** Patreon: Merchandise: *************************** Affiliate links - I will get some money of you use them to sign up or buy something: *************************** Matterhackers 3D printing supplies: ?aff=7500 Music for your YouTube videos: *************************** Other socials: *************************** Instagram: Facebook: Twitter: *************************** CAD and Code for my projects: Huge thanks to my Patrons, without whom my standard of living would drastically decline. Like, inside out-Farm Foods bag decline. Plus a very special shoutout to Lulzbot, Inc who keep me in LulzBot 3D printers and support me via Patreon. HARDWARE/SOFTWARE Below you can also find a lot of the typical tools, equipment and supplies used in my projects: Filament from: Lulzbot 3D Printers: Bearings from: Lincoln Electric Welder: CNC Router: Ryobi Tools: Axminster Micro Lathe: 3D Printer Filament: Soldering Iron: Vectric CNC Software: Why not join my community, who are mostly made up of actual geniuses. There’s a Facebook group and everything: XROBOTS Former toy designer, current YouTube maker and general robotics, electrical and mechanical engineer, I’m a fan of doing it yourself and innovation by trial and error. My channel is where I share some of my useful and not-so-useful inventions, designs and maker advice. Iron Man is my go-to cosplay, and 3D printing can solve most issues - broken bolts, missing parts, world hunger, you name it. XRobots is the community around my content where you can get in touch, share tips and advice, and more build FAQs, schematics and designs are also available.