3D Printed Rc Tank

I'm currently a 12th grade student attending West Leyden High School District 212. And I recently got interested in gears and gear ratios. I wanted to be able to design and print my my own custom gears that I can incorporate into real life. I found a add-on in Fusion 360 that allows you to generate spur gears, and I had two brushed 550 motors with metal pinion gears on them. After a bit of measuring of the pinion gears I was able to create a replica gear in Fusion 360. So I make one that was 32 tooth, that would make it a 5/1 gear ratio to the motor and integrated it into this tank i've been wanting to design and build for a while now.

(Just a note, a lot of these prints are going to need support when printing.)

Supplies

3d Printer - (I have the Prusa MINI+) https://www.prusa3d.com/category/original-prusa-mi...

12v battery (Any 12v battery would work)- https://www.amazon.com/Mighty-Max-Battery-12V-YTX4...

Transmitter - https://www.amazon.com/FLYSKY-Transmitter-Controll...

2pcs Motors - https://www.amazon.com/40000RPM-Electric-Accessori...

Steel rod for tracks - https://www.harborfreight.com/332-in-aws-er70s-2-t...

40pcs M3 20mm Screws - https://www.amazon.com/50pcs-Socket-Knurling-DIN91...

8pcs M3 70mm Screws - https://www.amazon.com/Machine-Screws-Assortment-P...

2pcs Brushed ESCs - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B099N31V13?psc=1&ref=ppx...

16pcs bearings for wheels - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08YN6WQXR?psc=1&ref=ppx...

4pcs M3 6mm screws for motors - https://www.amazon.com/iExcell-Stainless-Socket-Sc...

Step 1: Left Side

Go ahead and print:

- Left front motor mount

- Left rear motor mount

Using 4 M3 20mm screws, screw the two mounts together.

Step 2: Mounting the Motor

- Press fit the motor into the housing

- use 2pcs M3 6mm screws to clamp the motor in

- make sure to grease the gears (Any grease is fine)

Step 3: Wheels

- You are going to need to print 8pcs of these wheels

- Press the bearings into each side of each wheel, I recommend using a small hammer and a piece of cloth between the hammer and bearing to knock them in.

Step 4:

Print the Left Front wheel support, and the Left Rear wheel support as well as 4pcs clamps for it.

Using 8pcs M3 20mm screws, clamp down the supports.

Step 5: Tracks

Your going to need 32 tracks per side of the tank.

I recommend using the steel welding rods and bending them to connect each track, it will make a very strong connection (you can use M3 35mm screws as well to connect each track).

Step 6: Assembly of Left Side of Tank

- Using M3 70mm screws, screw them into each axle (4 per each side).

- Slide the wheels on and using 4 nuts tighten the wheel support (as seen in the picture).

Step 7: Skid Plates

Print:

- Rear middle skid plate

- Center skid plate

- Front skid plate

- Top mounts

All of the pieces will snap together and into the motor mounts, you will see screw holes. Using 10pcs M3 20mm Screws, screw together the skid plates to the motor mounts.

Step 8: Right Side

Go ahead and print the front right, and rear right motor mounts, and repeat what you did for the left side of the tank. As simple as that. (The right side is just a mirrored version of the left).

Step 9: Wiring

This part isn't difficult at all.

- You just need 1 esc for each motor.

- For one of the esc's make sure you cut off the power wires for the receiver as seen in the pictures.

- For power connect both of the esc's together to go straight to the battery (Red on red and black on black).

- For wiring the motors just wire 1 esc for each motor like in the pictures.

- Make sure you plug in boths esc's into the channel 1 and channel 2 slots into the receiver.

You also have to mix the transmitter, for the one that I used I made a video:

- Just copy exactly what I have on my screen for mix1 and mix2 then you'll be able to control the tank with just one stick