Cyberbrick Skid Steer

Boost MeI just want to say thank you so much to everybody who boosted me on my gravity knife! It is only because of that that I was able to get into cyber bricks, so I really appreciate your support.

Important Note! 

You can build the whole setup with the beginner hardware kit, but having a second 360-degree servo makes everything smoother. The “beginner hardware kit” includes one 360-degree servo, which you’ll need for the arms, and one 180-degree servo, so I highly recommend buying an additional one or two 360-degree servos depending on if you want the grab bucket.

The 180-degree servo can work for the bucket, but isn’t recommended because it always returns to its zero position, making it awkward to use. With forks, it’s nearly impossible to keep them level while lifting a pallet. With the bucket, it’s workable—you just mount the bucket at the angle you’ll use most often and only tip it when needed.

If you want to run the grab bucket, you’ll also want another 360-degree servo. A 180-degree servo can technically do the job, but it’s inconvenient, though not quite as inconvenient as using it for bucket tipping.

 

 

I was really excited to get my first cyber brick hardware kit, and I had a lot of fun making the forklift and the little truck, but my favorite tractor is a skid steer, and I wasn't happy with what was out there. I decided to design my own this little skid steer that can lift and lower the bucket, and tip it back and forth, and has been designed with most of the weight at the back like a real skid steer.This increases lift capability in the front, and it also has a nice side effect of doing a wheelie if you lift the bucket and accelerate full speed.

 

I've tried very hard to match the dimensions of the official forklift wheel/tracks and the forks, so it would be compatible with any upgrades (let me know if you find anything that it doesn't work with).

 

Warning!

This should be straightforward to print and assemble, but be warned, it is quite difficult to get the circuit board to fit in and to route all the wires. If that's something that concerns you, please avoid this model instead of attempting it and giving me a bad rating later! 

 

Please read:

If you're looking at getting the hardware, either get the beginner hardware kit and add a 360-degree servo or two, or the Ultimate Hardware Kit with an additional one or two 360-degree servos and find a remote. I would recommend the remote I specifically designed with both the skid-steer controls layout embossed on it "CyberBrick Construction remote", or going to BamBam Design who has designed several very nice remotes “Simple Remote for Cyberbrick”  

 

 

Update: Added Chassis_v2, which has two extra nubs that prevent the gear from clicking at maximum boom extension. Instead of clicking, it stalls the motor when you try to lift the arm too high.

 

Control Configuration

There are two main control configuration files. The two-stick variant gives finer control, but it is more difficult to operate and is not recommended for young kids; however, it is more common in older skid steers. The other version, the one-stick variant, operates much more similarly to the forklift, with the added benefit of extra bucket controls. Special thanks to @eusor for helping me figure out some of the coding and for coming up with the three-speed driving function, which is very useful. When you're picking up pallets and similar items, you can slow down for finer control.

 

 

If you're a designer and want to create accessories or mods that work with this project.

 let me know so I can feature your work in the description and help direct people to your upgrades. I’d love to see this grow into a full ecosystem.
Special thanks to Duerksen Modelers, who designed a snow blade and a larger bucket. 

Mods and Upgrades Collection.

https://makerworld.com/en/collections/23751201-skid-steer-and-add-ons

 

Added a brand-new grab bucket upgrade. Be sure to check the files and documentation. 

 

Special thanks to @Fneul for allowing me to include his forestry door STL. You can find it on the second plate in the grab bucket print profile, or in the STLs section. I feel it goes really well with the grab bucket. It is a friction fit and just shoves into place, and you can add a little dab of glue to hold it in place if you want it permanently mounted.