Rymo
Sr Member
After seeing some other BB-8 builds online using modified Sphero robots, I thought I'd try to make my own. I'm going to build mine using a Sphero 1.0.
The other builds I've seen use a magnet inside the Sphero, a magnet inside the BB-8 head, and a small felt pad in between to allow the Sphero ball to rotate freely underneath the head. My concept will still use magnets to keep the head in place, but instead of a felt pad, I am going to try using some small spring-loaded rollers to allow the body to rotate underneath the head.
For the head, I am going to use a 1.5" Styrofoam ball cut in half.
For the rollers, I am going to use the scroll-ball mechanism scavenged from an Apple Mighty Mouse. I am going to use three of them. The scroll-ball mechanisms are about 7/16" square.
The magnets I am going to use are 8mm circular magnets. Here is a dry fit on a rough cut Styrofoam ball to show the placement of the rollers and magnet.
And here is a side view showing the rollers extending beneath the bottom of the head. The roller mechanisms are spring-loaded, so they will be able to move up and down as the Sphero body rotates underneath them.
My next step will be to disassemble the Sphero and install the internal magnet. The real test will be whether or not just one magnet in the head will be enough to keep the head in place when the body rotates. The magnets I'm using seem to be pretty strong. They're the strongest ones I could find at my local craft store. I can always add more if need be.
The other builds I've seen use a magnet inside the Sphero, a magnet inside the BB-8 head, and a small felt pad in between to allow the Sphero ball to rotate freely underneath the head. My concept will still use magnets to keep the head in place, but instead of a felt pad, I am going to try using some small spring-loaded rollers to allow the body to rotate underneath the head.
For the head, I am going to use a 1.5" Styrofoam ball cut in half.
For the rollers, I am going to use the scroll-ball mechanism scavenged from an Apple Mighty Mouse. I am going to use three of them. The scroll-ball mechanisms are about 7/16" square.
The magnets I am going to use are 8mm circular magnets. Here is a dry fit on a rough cut Styrofoam ball to show the placement of the rollers and magnet.
And here is a side view showing the rollers extending beneath the bottom of the head. The roller mechanisms are spring-loaded, so they will be able to move up and down as the Sphero body rotates underneath them.
My next step will be to disassemble the Sphero and install the internal magnet. The real test will be whether or not just one magnet in the head will be enough to keep the head in place when the body rotates. The magnets I'm using seem to be pretty strong. They're the strongest ones I could find at my local craft store. I can always add more if need be.
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