On the bench

Built here. Still getting better.

A small record of the robots, printed mechanisms and experiments made or tested inside Makerhood. We show the wiring, measurements and rebuilds because that is where the learning lives.

Bring your own project Prototype with us

Colourful articulated objects printed inside the Makerhood studio — Print studies · joints and movementSadulpur / Rajasthan

4 bench records

The unfinished work counts too.

A working prototype is rarely born tidy. Each record starts with the question and shows the current answer.

P-01 · Robotics
Four-wheel sensor rover
- ESP32
- Sensors
- Motion
The question
Make a moving platform sense what is in front of it and respond instead of driving blind.
The current build
A four-wheel rover with an ESP32, motor drivers, battery power, a servo and an ultrasonic sensor mounted on a printed bracket.
How it is tested
The current test checks whether the rover can detect an obstacle, stop and change direction without losing stable motor control.
What the bench revealed
Sensor placement, power distribution and cable routing affect behaviour as much as the control code.
Next honest milestone
Tune repeated obstacle runs and document the final wiring and control states.
P-02 · Mechanisms
Printed servo gripper
- 3D printing
- Gears
- Servo
The question
Turn the rotation of one small motor into a controlled opening and closing grip.
The current build
A compact geared claw assembled from printed parts, fasteners and a servo, then tested on the electronics bench.
How it is tested
The mechanism is opened and closed repeatedly while checking alignment, gear movement and usable grip.
What the bench revealed
Printed tolerances and servo position limits have to be designed together; either one can bind the mechanism.
Next honest milestone
Measure repeatability with different objects and revise the contact surfaces.
P-03 · 3D printing
Articulated print studies
- FDM
- Moving joints
- Iteration
The question
Learn how clearances, joints and print orientation change whether a moving part works straight off the printer.
The current build
A series of print-in-place figures, linked mechanisms and small objects used to compare movement, finish and reliability.
How it is tested
The prints compare joint clearance, orientation and first-movement reliability across several geometries.
What the bench revealed
A model that looks correct on screen can still fuse, sag or move poorly after printing.
Next honest milestone
Turn the most reliable clearances into a reusable studio reference.
P-04 · Prototyping
Rover rebuild and measurement
- Measurement
- Electronics
- Rebuild
The question
Make room for batteries, control electronics and sensors without guessing whether the revised layout will fit.
The current build
The rover was opened, measured and rewired before new mounts and the next body arrangement were designed.
How it is tested
Critical gaps and mounting points are measured before committing to revised printed parts.
What the bench revealed
Opening and measuring an existing build prevents avoidable reprints and exposes wiring constraints early.
Next honest milestone
Validate the revised component layout with a fitted mount and a complete drive test.