Talking Claptrap (CL4P-TP)

CL4P-TP, better known as Claptrap from the game series Borderlands!

ARTICLE & TUTORIAL:
https://blog.prusaprinters.org/how-to-build-a-talking-robot-with-animated-leds_37072/

I modified the wonderful design by Chaos Core Tech to make it easier to print and to have space for electronics. Mainly, the eye lens, LED holder, front vent cover, main body and top cover are modified/new.

Video tutorial:

List of features

• A programmable LED eye
• Blinks when Claptrap talks
• Can be set to any color, can be animated
• An audio player and a speaker
• SD card slot for audio storage

Claptrap sounds:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1InYd2nECkhOr428Xd9kt82k5U9lfm3We/view?usp=sharing

Soundboard
https://www.101soundboards.com/boards/22561-claptrap-soundboard

Print instructions

The majority of the model was painted, so the color of the filament didn't matter too much. However, there are some exceptions – for example, to print the wheel, we picked our Prusament Galaxy Black and we left it partially unpainted. We printed most parts from PLA. It’s easy to print with, has great detail and especially for the big body piece, it’s really nice that the material doesn’t warp. The arms are quite thin, so we picked PETG instead to increase their durability (but you could print them with PLA too). The LED holder was also printed from PETG.

The main body piece, wheel with stand and arms need supports. But they'll be pretty easy to remove.

Printing the lens, though, that can be quite tricky! Following the steps in our 3D printed lenses and other cool transparent objects article, we printed the lens from ABS, sanded it and polished it. We don’t really use ABS anymore these days (there are better alternatives/successors, like ASA), but for transparent objects, it works quite well. If you have access to an SLA printer, using it for the lens would be even better.

We scaled the whole model up, but it can still be printed even on the Original Prusa MINI. Feel free to change the scale of the model, just keep in mind that the smaller the model, the more challenging it will be to fit in the electronics.