Rock-climbing mini Mars rover: 3D printed rocker-bogie suspension parts
White 3D printed parts for a rock-climbing mini Mars rover with a rocker-bogie mechanism: truss-pattern rocker and bogie arms, spoked spur gears, larger gears and gear racks.
- Completed
- TypeRover suspension parts (rocker-bogie)
- ProcessFDM 3D printing
- Printed partsRocker and bogie arms with truss pattern, spoked spur gears, larger gears, gear racks
- ColourWhite
These parts were printed for a rock-climbing mini Mars rover built around a rocker-bogie mechanism, the suspension layout that lets a six-wheeled rover keep its wheels on rough ground.
What was printed
- Bent rocker and bogie arms with a triangulated truss pattern, in matching sets
- Small spoked spur gears and larger solid gears
- Straight gear racks
The truss pattern keeps the long arms stiff while saving material and weight, which matters on a small rover that has to climb. Each arm ends in a clean pivot hole, so the joints can turn on their pins.
Why print it
A rocker-bogie has many near-identical parts that must match. Printing them from one CAD file gives the same geometry on every arm, so both sides of the rover behave the same. The photos show the parts flat and square, with the thin truss webs intact.
Working on a rover, robot chassis or competition build? Upload your STL or 3MF file for a price, or ask us for help with the CAD.