Linkage Construction Kit - Strandbeast Kit

Special Linkage Construction Kit parts to create a Strandbeast Mechanism! Use these with the parts already available in the main kit.

Oringinal Strandbeast Design by Theo Jansen: strandbeest.com

https://youtu.be/XNc5yY-JzWQ

Parts

• Custom Links - Specially sized links - each link in named for it's length in mm.
• Custom Plate - Raises the mechanism off the build surface and positions the two locked points required for the system to move correctly.

Printing

• Before committing to a long print with lots tiny parts, print only a couple test links and pins to make sure you get a good fit.
• Print all the links with at least 3 perimeters, so the outer wall and the inner wall of each hole merge into a single stronger frame.
• Print all links, bases, and plates at 100% scale. If the parts don’t quite fit, resize just the pins to fit everything else.
• For a smoother pin wall, manually place your print seam on the inner pin wall. If you have any adhesion issues, add a brim.
• Don’t rush the print speed.
• Look out for elephant's foot. Any extra squish on the bottom of a link will stop parts from fitting.

Assembly

• Place links according to the included photos.
• You may want to add M4 bolts and bolt caps where possible to make connections stronger.
• Carefully note link sizes when printing. Some links have very similar sizes. The mechanism will still work if some linkages are mixed, but it will not move optimally.
• Linkages must be placed with different elevations to avoid collisions. This print used a spacer at the tip of the foot so that the strandbeast leg could rest flat on the base.
• Note the use of the white bolt caps to secure linkages from below. The main anchoring pin in inserted below the plate to avoid collisions.

Can I sell copies of this? Sorry, no. This model is under a non-commercial license because it is based directly on existing work by Theo Jansen.