Many of us grew up with dreams of piloting a forklift one day. Sadly, most warehouses take a dim view of horseplay with these machines, so few of us get to live out those fantasies. Playing with this desk-sized RC model from [ProfessorBoots] is probably a safer way to get those kicks instead. You can check it out in the video below.
The 3D-printed body of the forklift is the first thing you see. It’s great quality, and it instantly puts you in mind of the real thing. The build is true to the dynamics of a real forklift, too, with proper rear steering. Inside, there’s a custom circuit board hosting an ESP32 that serves as the brain of the operation. Its onboard wireless hardware allows remote control of the forklift via a smartphone app, PS4 controller, or many other options. It controls the drive motors and steering servo, along with another motor driving a threaded rod to move the forks up and down. The whole thing is powered by two Fenix 16340 batteries—small lithium-ion cells that can be recharged with an integral micro USB port.
The project video is very thorough about the design and build. It’s worth watching just to understand the specifics of how forklifts actually raise their forks up and down. It’s good stuff.
This forklift is just the latest RC build from [ProfessorBoots]. He’s done great work in this space before, like this charming skid steer and incredibly complex crane.
Fabulous!
Can it lift klein bottles?
Nope, no camera…
bit of a cuckoo’s egg then?
Maybe eine kleine Klein bottle
B^)
Next, make a 3D-printed Klaus, with detachable limbs (and head).
“Sadly, most warehouses take a dim view of horseplay with these machines…”
Ah, wasn’t always so. When I was in high school (a LONG time ago), I worked part time in an industrial area where governors were removed and they were raced in the streets, company vs. company. I myself operated (but didn’t race) one, with all of five minutes of instructions – when I was 17!
The kits are crap. I purchased the kits for my kids and the 3D print tolerances were awful, making a lot of the screws not fit, and support has been unresponsive after getting a kit that didn’t contain the custom “professor boots” PC board that the esp32 plugs into.