Pivot, Grip, and Explore Range of Motion with Hydraulics

Building the TeacherGeek Basic Hydraulic Arm provides the opportunity to understand and apply basic fluid hydraulic and simple machine concepts. The downloadable guide is detailed, informative and provokes thinking making design, construction and revision simple.

The arm pivots at two points and the gripper opens and closes. With additional innovative parts you can re-engineer parts, change range of motion, prepare for a new function, etc. You will find the Basic Hydraulic Arm Guide (a free downloadable document) is easy to follow, fun and informative.

Possible Engineering Challenges
•Design and draw the arm in CAD, then build it.
•Design and build an arm that rotates at the base.
•Design and build a better end effecter (gripper).
•Design and build an arm to move the most weight the furthest distance.
•Design and prototype retail packaging for the arm.
•Design and build a practical mechanism/method to measure the weight of the object the arm is lifting.
•Design and prototype a new component for the Easy Engineering System. Demonstrate its function on a hydraulic arm.
•Design a hydraulic arm to move as many beans from a common tray into the team's tray as possible. Two or three arms can compete at once in this competition.
•Design a hydraulic arm to work in an assembly line with other arms. Parts can move in front of the arms by pulling a "belt."

Innovation Components
Innovation components allow for greater alternative and innovative designs. They are not required, but are suggested to bring more engineering and innovation to the activity. Only a few innovation components are usually needed to create alternative designs, so your supply of innovation components can be used for many hydraulic arms and other TeacherGeek activities. Here are our recommendations:

•Connector Strips
•Syringes with Clips & Mounts
•Vinyl Tubing
•4-Way Valves
•Barbed Tees
•5mm Dowels
•Perpendicular Blocks
•Chip Board
•#10 x 1" Machine Screws
•#10 Washers
•#10 Square Nuts
•Rubber Bands
•Pulleys
•Galvanized Colored Wire
•Anything else you can think of--raid the recycling bin, wood, metal, plastic, broken toys, etc.

What Else Do I Need?
•Easy Engineering Tools (includes Reamer, Easy Cutter, #2 Phillips Screwdriver and Slip-Joint Pliers)
•Slider Block

Note: If you are an existing TeacherGeek customer, the TeacherGeek part number for this activity is: 7503.

• Easy to connect parts
• Reusable pieces
• Hands on way to investigate the design process
• A true STEM experience

Building the TeacherGeek Basic Hydraulic Arm provides the opportunity to understand and apply basic fluid hydraulic and simple machine concepts. The downloadable guide is detailed, informative and provokes thinking making design, construction and revision simple.

The arm pivots at two points and the gripper opens and closes. With additional innovative parts you can re-engineer parts, change range of motion, prepare for a new function, etc. You will find the Basic Hydraulic Arm Guide (a free downloadable document) is easy to follow, fun and informative.

Possible Engineering Challenges
Design and draw the arm in CAD, then build it.
Design and build an arm that rotates at the base.
Design and build a better end effecter (gripper).
Design and build an arm to move the most weight the furthest distance.
Design and prototype retail packaging for the arm.
Design and build a practical mechanism/method to measure the weight of the object the arm is lifting.
Design and prototype a new component for the Easy Engineering System. Demonstrate its function on a hydraulic arm.
Design a hydraulic arm to move as many beans from a common tray into the team's tray as possible. Two or three arms can compete at once in this competition.
Design a hydraulic arm to work in an assembly line with other arms. Parts can move in front of the arms by pulling a ""belt.""

Innovation Components
Innovation components allow for greater alternative and innovative designs. They are not required, but are suggested to bring more engineering and innovation to the activity. Only a few innovation components are usually needed to create alternative designs, so your supply of innovation components can be used for many hydraulic arms and other TeacherGeek activities. Here are our recommendations: