This Guide demonstrates how to create a part using TinkerCAD. The designed part will be used with a Holder for the LIDAR Sensor.
Bracket Part Body
MODI Holder Assembly
MODI Holder Assembly Back
MODI Holder Assembly Front
01_Part Body Features
These shapes will create a cut-out feature in the sides of the Bracket Part body.
Create new sketch for part body
Drag the wedge shape to the plane. With the wedge selected, grab the vertical rotation handle and rotate the wedge 90 degrees. Grab the horizontal rotation handle and rotate the wedge in 45 degree increments until the tip of the triangle is pointing down.
Adding Wedge shape to plane
Select the wedge on the plane then click one of the square handles used to manipulate the shape. Enter 1.552 for the width and 7.482 for the length.
Adding dimensions to wedge shape
Drag the Box shape to the plane. With the Box shape selected, click on one of the square handles used to manipulate the shape. Enter 1.552 for the width and 10.758 for the length.
Adding box shape to plane
Select the two box and wedge shape on the plane. Click the Align button. Select the middle dot in the x-plane and the middle dot in the y-plane to align both objects center..
Aligning the box and wedge shapes
Select the box shape from the two aligned shapes and drag it to the right of the wedge. Enter a value of 5.379 for the horizontal x-plane distance and 0 for the y-plane distance.
Final alignment of box and wedge shape
Select both shapes and click the Group button. With the newly grouped shaped still selected click the Duplicate button then the Mirror button. Click the horizontal arrow for the mirror direction.
Grouping box and wedge shapes
Select one of the shapes and pull it away from the other shape horizontally ensuring that the wedge part of the shapes remain on the left or right between the two shapes. Enter a horizontal x-plane distance value of -14.499 and a y-plane distance value of 0.
The horizontal value (distance between the two shapes) can be positive 14.499 depending on which shape was selected
Separating and aligning shapes
Select both shapes then click the Group button. With the shape still selected click the Duplicate button then the Mirror button. Click the vertical arrow for the Mirror direction. Select one of the shapes and drag it parallel to to the other shape with the wedged sides facing each other.
Combine, duplicate and mirroring shapes
02_Part Body Creation
This section will create the main body for the Bracket along with the side cut-out features. The cut-out features insures proper visibility of the rear LEDs on the MODI.
Bracket part body
Drag a Box shape to the plane in between the existing two shapes. Click one of the square handles used to manipulate the shape. Enter a value of 56.35 for the length, 11.00 for the width and 2.032 for the height.
Adding part body box shape
Select the box shape and one of the wedge shapes. Click the Align button. Click the box shape then click the middle alignment handle from the horizontal x-plane then click the alignment handle from the y-plane closest to the selected wedge shape.
Aligning first wedge shape to part body
Select the wedge that was recently aligned with the box shape. Click the up arrow that controls the vertical movement of the shape and drag the wedge shape down into the box about -4.00.
Placing first wedge shape for grouping
Select the wedge shape that was recently aligned with the box shape. Click the Hole option from the shape dialog. Select both the wedge (now designated as a hole) and the box shape and click the Group button.
Forming fist part body feature
Select the two remaining shapes and click the Align button. Click on the modified box shape from the plane then click the alignment handle in the middle of the longest side of modified box shape. Click the alignment handle closest to the wedge shape on the short side of the modified box shape.
Aligning second wedge shape to modified box shape
Select the wedge shape that was just aligned with the modified box shape. click the up arrow that controls the vertical movement of shape and drag the wedge shape down into the modified box shape about -4.00.
Placing second wedge shape for grouping
Select the wedge shape that was just aligned with the modified box shape. Click the Hole option from the shape dialog. Select both the wedge (now designated as a hole) and the modified box shape then click the Group button.
Forming second part body feature
03_Alignment Pins
These pins are added to the Bracket part body to align the MODI correctly in the Holder.
Bracket with alignment pins
Drag a Cylinder shape to the plane. Click on one of the square handles used to manipulate the shape and enter a value of 3.71 for both length and width. Click on the square handle at the top of the Cylinder shape and enter a value of 3.00.
Creating Alignment pin cylinder
Select the newly added cylinder and click the Duplicate button. Drag the duplicated cylinder away from the original cylinder.
Duplicating pin
Select one of the cylinders. Click the Cruise button. Grab the dot inside the shape and drag it to the top of the part body shape already on the plane.
Placing first pin on part body shape
Select the part body shape along with the pin recently placed on top. Click the Align button then click on the part body shape. Click the alignment handle in the middle on the longest side of the part body shape. Click the alignment handle in the middle on the short side of the part body shape.
Aligning first pin to part body shape
Click on the pin recently aligned to the part body shape and drag it horizontally to the left of the part body shape. Enter a distance value of 13.411 and 0 for the distance in the y-direction on the plane.
Final placement of first pin on part body shape
Select the part body shape along with the recently aligned pin then click the Group button.
Grouping first pin to part body shape
Click on the remaining cylinder and click the Cruise button. Click on the dot inside the cylinder and drag it to the top of the part body shape. Select both shapes and click the Align button. Click on the part body shape and select the alignment handle in the middle of the long and short side of the part body shape.
Aligning second pin to part body shape
Click on the pin recently aligned to the part body shape and drag it to the right of the part body shape. Enter a horizontal distance of -13.411 and a distance on 0 for the y-plane.
Final placement of the second pin on the part body shape
Select the part body shape and the newly aligned pin and click the Group button.
Grouping the second pin to the part body shape
04_Mounting Holes
Holes are added to the Bracket so it can be fastened to the MODI holder.
Bracket part body with mounting holes
Drag the Cylinder Hole shape to the plane. Click the square handles used to manipulate the shape and enter a value of 3.05 for the length and width.
Creating a mounting hole
Click on the Hole cylinder on the plane and click the Duplicate button. Drag the cylinders apart.
Duplicating the mounting hole
Select the Part Body shape along with one of the hole cylinders. Click the Align button. Click on the Part Body shape then the middle alignment handle on each side of the Part body shape.
Aligning first hole to the part body shape
Click on the cylinder hole shape aligned to the part body shape and drag it to the left of the part body shape. Enter a horizontal distance in the x-plane of 24.803 and a distance of 0 for the y-plane.
Final placement of first hole on the part body shape
Select the cylinder hole aligned with the part body. Click the arrow on top of the cylinder used for moving the shape vertically and move the cylinder hole down at least -3.00. Select the aligned cylinder hole and the part body shape and click the Group button.
Group shapes to create first mounting hole
Select the part body shape along with the remaining hole cylinder and click the Align button. Click on the Part Body shape then the middle alignment handle on each side of the Part body shape.
Aligning Final mounting Hole
Click on the cylinder hole aligned to the part body shape. Click the up arrow at the top of the cylinder hole used to move the shape vertically and move the cylinder hole shape down at least -4.00. Drag the cylinder hole to the right of the part body shape and enter a horizontal distance of -24.803 and a y-distance of 0.
Final placement of second mounting hole on the part body shape
Select the aligned cylinder hole shape and the part body shape. Click the Group button.
Group shapes to create second mounting hole
05_Export File
The file must be exported as a ".STL" in order to print.
Export file
Click the Export option from the top of the menu bar and select .STL from the "For 3D Print" section of the dialog. The file will be saved to your downloads folder.
Exporting file
06_MODI ADD-ON
The MODI ADD-ON mount is attached to the Interface Lip assembly using a printed adapter part. Proper use of the MODI add-on will require that the Interface Lip assembly as well as the PCB platform assembly inside of the junction box are re-oriented.
Assembly With Add-on mount
Parts Needed
Assembled Rover
Bracket Part Body
Mount Adapter
Small Screwdriver
Bag#14, 2pcs - 4-40, 1/4" long screw
MODI Add-on mount
Re-orienting The Junction Box Assembly
Remove the junction box lid then the 4 case screws that fastens the Interface Lip assembly to the junction box.
Removing lid
Removing case screws
With the wires still connected, remove and place the interface lip assembly off to the side of the junction box. Remove the PCB platform, rotate it 180º then place it back into the junction box.
Re-orienting the PCB platform
Insert the printed adapter part at an angle in the underside of the interface lip assembly by the rocker switch and power plug with the tabbed portion of the printed adapter part up against the plastic of the Interface Lip assembly. Press firmly on the printed adapter part until its flushed with the interface lip assembly.
Adapter part placed into interface lip assembly at an angle
The printed adapter part should sit flush with the interface lip assembly.
Rotate the interface lip assemble to where the printed adapter part is facing the front of the rover then re-attach it to the top of the junction box using step 9 of 09_Junction Box Assembly from the Printed Instructions section.
Re-attaching interface lip re-oriented
MODI Add-on Assembly
Place the MODI inside of the MODI Add-on mount with the sensor facing the large circular opening and the MODI charge port facing upright.
Inserting the MODI into the MODI Add-on mount
Use 2 of the screws from bag#14 to secure the bracket to the MODI Add-on mount.
Fastening the bracket to the MODI Add-on mount
Bracket pins should align with the holes on the back of the MODI
Attaching The MODI Add-on
Slide the MODI Add-on to the posts on the printed adapter part installed to the Interface Lip assembly.
shape to the plane. With the wedge selected, grab the vertical rotation handle and rotate the wedge 90 degrees. Grab the horizontal rotation handle and rotate the wedge in 45 degree increments until the tip of the triangle is pointing down.
shape to the plane. With the Box shape selected, click on one of the square handles used to manipulate the shape. Enter 1.552 for the width and 10.758 for the length.
button. Select the middle dot in the x-plane and the middle dot in the y-plane to align both objects center..
button. With the newly grouped shaped still selected click the Duplicate 
button then the Mirror 
button. Click the horizontal arrow for the mirror direction.
option from the shape dialog. Select both the wedge (now designated as a hole) and the box shape and click the Group 
shape to the plane. Click on one of the square handles used to manipulate the shape and enter a value of 3.71 for both length and width. Click on the square handle at the top of the Cylinder shape and enter a value of 3.00.
button. Grab the dot inside the shape and drag it to the top of the part body shape already on the plane.
to the plane. Click the square handles used to manipulate the shape and enter a value of 3.05 for the length and width.
