MAKE: Blog: The chimney claw

The chimney claw

Linus Åkesson made this amazing robot to clean out his kitchen chimney. In the end, the chimney was clean, and the kitchen fan worked once again.

The claw hangs from a long cable, providing power and a control signal to the servo. At the other end of the cable is a plastic box with a power switch and a knob (actually a cog-wheel) on it. By turning the knob, you make the claw open and close. Inside the plastic box are batteries and a programmable micro controller, whose job it was to continuously figure out what position the knob was in, and report this down the line to the servo.

More about the Chimney claw project.

Related:

Comments

Oldest comments listed first.

Posted by: on April 3, 2008 at 6:42 AM

This looks like an amusement park "claw machine" -- good for picking up stuffed animals!

Subscribe to MAKE Magazine!

Subscribe today, save 42% and get web access to MAKE free. MAKE Digital Edition is available only to subscribers.

$34.95 / 1 year
(4 Quarterly Issues)

Subscribe now

Void your warranty, violate a user agreement, fry a circuit, blow a fuse, poke an eye out... Welcome to the Make Blog!

Features and more @ MAKE!

Add MAKE to iGoogle - GoogleGoogle.
Add MAKE to your RSS reader - Real simple.
Add MAKE on Twitter.
Add MAKE on FriendFeed & the MAKE room.

Why advertise on MAKE?
Read what folks are saying about us!

Click here to advertise on MAKE!

Phillip Torrone
Senior Editor
Tel: 707-827-7311

Gareth Branwyn
Robot Maker

Kip Kay
Video Maker

Jonah Brucker-Cohen
Artist / Researcher

Suggest a Site!

Natalie Zee Drieu
Senior Editor
CRAFT

Becky Stern
Culture jammer

Collin Cunningham
Sound Maker

Marc de Vinck
CNC Maker

Current Podcast

Weekend Project: Ultimate LED Fan Sign Here is the ultimate sports fan item, a portable Flashing LED Sign.To download Ultimate Fan Sign MP4 click here or subscribe in iTunes.... More...

Get the Make blog sent via email

Enter your email to receive the Make blog each day:

WOW! Thanks to everyone involved with Maker Faire Bay Area: attendees, makers, exhibitors, sponsors, volunteers, and crew...it was AMAZING! Over 400 Makers and 60,000+ attendees! Be sure to check out the photos @ Flickr, and our Maker Faire posts for all the action! The next scheduled Maker Faire is Austin: Oct. 18th & 19th, 2008 - Travis County Expo Center!