RadioShack ARMATRON

[WhereEaglesDare]

I found a broken RadioShack ARMATRON... and fixed it... and I'm going to make it better.

This BYOAC hobby has really gotten me back in touch with the stuff I had when I was a kid and I now I have a good job and the skills to make these things better.  I love it!

http://puttheglasseson.com/projects/armatron/

What you think?

[SavannahLion]

Just a word of advice.

If you're going to do write ups, you might want to lean a little more in a more detailed explanation.

I can tell the claw is not working, but you don't exactly explain what was wrong with it. It's like the claw was broken then it "magically" fixed itself in the next photo. In the photo it looks like the plastic is broken necessitating a replacement or reconstruction but in the next photo, it's put back together. What was wrong? A broken pin? You found another ARMATRON for parts? What?

You have just enough content there to wet the tongue but not enough to satiate any thirst.

[drventure]

Great project! I used to love that thing way back when. It'd be fun to mount that to a cab and PC control it so it'd put quarters in when you pressed the COIN button. Silly and pointless, but fun!

[danny_galaga]

If the gears are plastic, I recommend Tamiya Ceramic grease. It's designed exactly for plastic gears, in this case in their R/C car gearboxes etc. Most hobby shops will have it, and some toy shops too. I've started using this stuff for N64 thumbsticks.

Cool toy by the way! I don't recall having seen one back in the day...

[WhereEaglesDare]

Here is a video I found of it in action.  This thing is awesome.

[Ed_McCarron]

Great project! I used to love that thing way back when. It'd be fun to mount that to a cab and PC control it so it'd put quarters in when you pressed the COIN button. Silly and pointless, but fun!

The Armatron only had one motor; the entire thing was driven by a totally cool gear mechanism.

I remember reading an old electronics magazine where they slotted the side, and added 6 motors with shafts that tied in to the internals to computer control it.

Way cool.

[WhereEaglesDare]

Im thinking of replacing the control panel with two Happ Comp sticks and 4 buttons to control the claw.

[Vigo]

I had an Armatron growing up. In fact, I still have it and I tried it out just a week ago. The thing still works great (which is pretty surprising). Those two little hoses like to slip out of place though.

Good job with the fix! It's actually a really cool toy, its good to see one brought back from the grave!

[WhereEaglesDare]

Yea those hoses never like to stay on there..  You'd think they'd be a high-loss item, but mine as a kid was second hand and had them, this new one does, and yours seems to...  I think I will pull them out and run wire in their place to power the LEDs going to the arm

[Vigo]

Well, it sounds like you have some pretty sweet mods in mid. I would love to see it when you finish!

[RayB]

You have just enough content there to wet the tongue but not enough to satiate any thirst.

He learned that from Rupert Murdoch. He just hasn't put up the subscription link yet to read the entire article. 


I used to want an Armatron SO BAD. I think my mom was afraid I'd end up working in heavy construction rather than the foofy art she did encourage. 

[Ed_McCarron]

Im thinking of replacing the control panel with two Happ Comp sticks and 4 buttons to control the claw.

See above.  You can't control an armatron electrically without adding motors or some -really- creative solenoid usage.  Theres no linkage from electrical to mechanical.

Armatron 2 -- the one with the wheeled base, is a different story.  Wired controls by default on that one.

[WhereEaglesDare]

ahh, yea, I guess that makes sense.  back to the drawing board.

[Ed_McCarron]

ahh, yea, I guess that makes sense.  back to the drawing board.

http://www.amazon.com/OWI-OWI-007-Robotic-Arm-Trainer/dp/B00005BTMG ?

USB Controller available.