Hardware and Electronics

Hardware and Electronics

Below I’m describing hardware used to build the PrusaHand.

Arduino UNO

Arduino is an open source platform for easy system developement. You can program the behaviour of the outputs (e.g. LEDs, DC motors, Steppers, Servos etc.) based on the inputs. Arduino UNO Rev3 was used to develop the code and to load the code into Arduino Pro Mini. You can learn more about Arduino platform on https://www.arduino.cc/.

uno

Arduino Pro Mini

Arduino Pro Mini was used for it’s much smaller footprint than Arduino UNO has. Because this board doesn’t have an built-in USB programmer unlike Arduino UNO, Arudino UNO was used to program the Arduino Pro Mini. You can learn how on this website  http://www.kupply.com/program-arduino-pro-mini-with-arduino-uno/

mini

 

MyoWare Muscle sensor

MyoWare Muscle sensor is a board to sense action potential of the muscle from the surface of the skin and adjust this signal so it is usable as an input of the microprocessor. You can learn more on the website of the producer Advanecr Technologies (http://www.advancertechnologies.com/p/myoware.html)

musclesensor

 

Servo

To pull the tendons I have chosen a servo motor. Type used in in the PrusaHand is ES3005 by ESMAX, but you can use any servo with similiar specs. This one is waterproof power on 6 volts with the torque 12 kg/cm. I used three of those – one to rotate thumb, second to pull the tendons of the thumb and the index finger and the third one to pull the tendons of the middle finger, ring thinger and the pinky.

Operating voltage: 4,8 V ~ 6,0 V

Speed @4,8 V: 0,16 sec/60 °

Speed @6.0 V: 0.14 sec/60 °

Torque @4,8 V: 10 kg / cm

Torque @6,0 V: 12 kg / cm

Weight: 42 g

Dimensions: 38,6×18,8×34,9 mm

Connector type:  JR

es3005

Battery 18650

As a power supply Lithium Ion battery 18650 was used. These power cells are commonly used in e-cigarettes, so they are easily obtainable and relatively safe.

Votlage: 3,7 V

Capacity: 2100 mAh

Qty: 2

Connected in series to gain 7,4 V

18650

 

SkyRC BEC

Because We are using two 3,7 V cells in series giving us 7,4 V and the servo can run on voltage from 4,8 V to 6V, We have to drop the voltage somehow. I’ve chosen to use BEC (Battery Eliminator Circuit) commonly used in RC models. This model has a range 6-8,4 V and on the output I’m getting 6 V.

bec

 

All put together