looking for a robotic arm that fits this description:

I am interested in a robotic arm (6-7 DOF) that can be both controlled by a computer, and be moved manually (with ease)
I want to be able to take the end of the arm, move it to a position, and I will write software that records the exact path taken by the manual motion, and have a computer repeat it.
Anyone have any robotic arm recommendations that fit this description?
Also, it needs to be able to hold a few pounds (I would assume almost any could do this), and it needs to be fairly large. It would probably need a range of a few feet.
Thanks,
-Nate

Hi
If you want to build your own, then see the books, Build Your Own Humanoid Robots by K Williams; PIC Robotics by J Iovine. I just got these books, and the first one has a really cool robot arm that can be controlled by software ( VB ), and VOICE!, the The second book has a robot arm that can be controlled by a series of toggle switches ( there is also a website by this author that sells a kit of this arm, and there is a programm for free too that I think you will find helpful ). The programs are written in PICBASIC Pro, but I guess you can adapt them if you like to. The first arm looks like a better idea mechanically, but I guess you can get some good ideas.
Have fun.
Cheers
Dale
face=Arial size=2>...</FONT></DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>&gt; I am interested in a robotic arm (6-7 DOF) that can be both controlled<BR>&gt; by a computer, and be moved manually (with ease)<BR>&gt; <BR>&gt; I want to be able to take the end of the arm, move it to a position,<BR>&gt; and I will write software that records the exact path taken by the<BR>&gt; manual motion, and have a computer repeat it.<BR>&gt; <BR>&gt; Anyone have any robotic arm recommendations that fit this description?<BR>&gt; <BR>&gt; Also, it needs to be able to hold a few pounds (I would assume almost<BR>&gt; any could do this), and it needs to be fairly large.&nbsp; It would probably<BR>&gt; need a range of a few feet.<BR>&gt; <BR>&gt; Thanks,<BR>&gt; <BR>&gt; -Nate<BR>&gt; </FONT></BODY></HTML>
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I would rather not have to build my own, but so far I havn't been able to find one that fits my needs. The best I have found so far is one that lets you physically move it in 3 DOF, while the other 3 DOF remain braked.

    --I'd start looking for something like an old robotic welding arm; it's the only thing that comes to mind with that many degrees of freedom.

I don't think anything exists that fits all of your requirements and vague specs.
For example, what do you mean by "with ease", what is your repeatability requirements (I'm thinking of reading encoder counts as you move the arm), end of arm mass exactly (not "a few pounds"), work volume exactly (not "fairly large")? There's lots of work to be done here. The issue with 6-axis arms is the gravity thing: individual axes must be braked so as to not allow the arm to drop due to it's own weight. One can move an arm via teach pendant or maybe even manually, but it's just not as simple as grabbing the tool flange and moving the links as if it had zero mass. Otherwise we would all be using FARO-type portable CMM arms to do robot path work. And what do you mean when you say "exact path": axis-by-axis motion or fully coordinated motion with path planning?
And the biggest question: are you a hobbyist, academic, or do you really have some serious money to spend for this device? Yep, lots of work to be done. Or maybe re-think your requirements.
You may consider developing your robot path through CAD data. One company I have seen for this type of solution:
http://www.robotworks-eu.com
Or ou may consider this device:
http://www.robotworks-eu.com/products/CCabout.htm
It's a rig that allows a user to record 6DOF points in space by manually moving a hand-held device. The points can then be converted to robot 6DOF robot locations in most robot's native language format.
Good luck, you'll need it.
I'm_Feeling_Curly_Today
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