Pinwalker Penguin

"Pinwalker Penguin" is a "pin walking" style walking penguin. After finishing "Penguin At The Pole", I (well, the grandkids) desired to create a pin walking penguin by scaling the penguin from that model up enough to add an internal pin walking mechanism with an easy access front panel. Thus "Pinwalker Penguin" was born!

Like me, he's a little old and slow, but we'll make it!

As usual, I probably forgot a file or two or who knows what else, so if you have any questions, please do not hesitate to ask as I do make plenty of mistakes.

Designed using Autodesk Fusion 360, sliced using Ultimaker Cura 4.12.1, and 3D printed in PLA on Ultimaker S5s and an Ultimaker 3e.

Soldering iron and solder.

Thick double sided tape.

Thick cyanoacrylate glue.

I acquired the following parts:

• One N20 6VDC 100RPM gear motor.
• One 3.7VDC 160MA lithium polymer battery with charger and suitable wired connector.
• One SPDT slide switch (uxcell SS12D00G3).
• Two 6mm diameter by 2mm thick neodymium magnets.

I 3D printed the following parts at .15mm layer height, 20% infill and no support unless noted otherwise:

• Two "Axle, Leg.stl".
• One "Axle.stl".
• Two "Cam.stl".
• One "Gear, Crown, Axle.stl".
• One "Gear, Crown, Motor.stl".
• Two "Leg.stl".
• One "Penguin Feet.stl".
• One "Penguin Beak.stl".
• One "Penguin Body Black.stl".
• One "Penguin Body White.stl".
• One "Penguin Head Left.3mf" .6mm layer height.
• One "Penguin Head Right.3mf" .6mm layer height.
• One "Penguin Wing Left.stl".
• One "Penguin Wing Right.stl".

I've also include the individual .stl files required to print the penguin head if you do not have access to a dual extrusion 3D printer. You may need to reduce the width and depth of each of these components prior to 3D printing in order for the components to fit together.

This is a high precision 3D print and assembly model using at times very small precision parts in very tight spaces. Prior to assembly, test fit and trim, file, sand, polish, etc. all parts as necessary for smooth movement of moving surfaces, and tight fit for non moving surfaces. Depending on you printer, your printer settings and the colors you chose, more or less trimming, filing, sanding and/or polishing may be required. Carefully file all edges that contacted the build plate to make absolutely certain that all build plate "ooze" is removed and that all edges are smooth. I used small jewelers files and plenty of patience to perform this step.

The model also uses threaded assembly thus an M6 by 1 tap and die will assist with thread cleaning as necessary.

To assemble the head, I performed the following steps:

• Glued "Penguin Beak.stl" to Penguin Head Left.3mf".
• Glued "Penguin Head Right.3mf" to the head assembly.

To assemble the body, I performed the following steps:

• Glued "Penguin Wing Left.stl" to "Penguin Body Black.stl" (the wing in the left side of the photograph).
• Glued "Penguin Wing Right.stl to the body assembly (the wing in the right side of the photograph).
• Glued "Penguin Feet.stl" to the body assembly such that the rectangular slots in the feet aligned with the rectangular slots in the body assembly.
• Pressed one neodymium magnet into the body assembly.
• Pressed the remaining magnet into "Penguin Body White.stl" matching the polarity of the body assembly magnet.
• Glued the head assembly to the body assembly.

To assemble the gear box, I performed the following steps:

• Soldered the wired connector to the gear motor such that with power applied the motor shaft rotated counter clockwise when viewed from the motor shaft end of the gear motor.
• Slid the wired connector into the body assembly then pressed the gear motor into position.
• Cut the wired connector black wire then stripped and tinned the ends.
• Pressed the slide switch into the body assembly and held it in place using small dots of glue.
• Soldered the black wires to the switch, one to the center terminal, and the remaining to an outer terminal.
• Pressed "Gear, Crown, Motor.stl" onto the motor shaft.
• Positioned "Gear, Crown, Axle.stl" in the gear box.
• Slid the long hexagonal end of"Axle.stl" into the gear box then pressed it through the axle gear.
• Pressed one "Cam.stl" onto the axle.
• Pressed the remaining "Cam.stl" onto the remaining end of the axle 180 degrees from the first cam.
• Positioned one "Leg.stl" onto a cam, then secured the leg to the gear box using one "Axle, Leg.stl".
• Repeated the previous step for the remaining leg and leg axle.

For final assembly, I performed the following steps:

• Secured the battery to the gear box using thick double sided tape.
• With the slide switch off, connected the wired connector to the battery connector.
• Carefully tucked the wires into the body assembly.
• Magnetically attached the body white assembly to the assembly.

And that is how I 3D printed and assembled "Pinwalker Penguin".

I hope you enjoyed it!