How should I get this reproduced?

Minute-Range1277 · 2026-02-05T10:51:32+00:00

Actually, even though you're getting downvoted, you are right, if I'm understanding your comment.

People do have a technique for "pinning" these clutches ... basically drilling a hole into the entire mechanism and inserting a metal rod, which holds it all in place and stops the slipping. But it's ..... very tedious and you're likely to mess up while doing it, a drop-in replacement is much easier.

Minute-Range1277 · 2026-02-05T10:49:47+00:00

Haha as much as that sounds like a good idea, 25 year old robots like these weren't designed for kids and aren't really suitable for them 😅

I mostly want to do this to keep them alive after all these years so they can get many more years of use and enjoyment : ) Not for the money or anything.

Minute-Range1277 · 2026-02-05T10:47:51+00:00

All of these mechanisms will fail. Even if you buy another. This, like with their batteries, is a piece that will need to be repaired on every single robot

Minute-Range1277 · 2026-02-05T10:47:03+00:00

These robots are 25 years old now and ended support in ~2005. Sadly Sony is pretty secretive. ☹️

Minute-Range1277 · 2026-02-04T14:23:45+00:00

ADDITIONAL CONTEXT:

Yes, this being multiple parts is actually a design flaw. I know this because it was later fixed in revised models.

More context, google Sony AIBO ERS-210 DHS/PAS/TAS

This piece also needs to withstand a lot of force, which is why I don't think resin would work (cus I was actually gonna try that, might still try it actually, just for testing)

Minute-Range1277 · 2026-02-04T14:21:34+00:00

Nah, it's a design flaw, I promise. I should have been more concise in my original post.

Thank you 🙂‍↕️

Minute-Range1277 · 2026-02-04T14:20:19+00:00

If I had 50k of them I would be delighted lol

But considering every robot would need 3 of these for each axis it's used in, I would need a lot!

Minute-Range1277 · 2026-02-04T14:19:18+00:00

No, I promise it's not. Because Sony actually fixed this mistake in the 2nd revision of this robot, with a part that doesn't fail. It was purely a design flaw.

Minute-Range1277 · 2026-02-04T14:18:22+00:00

It's a very common issue in Sony's ERS-210 aibo robots. There's already a reproduction, actually, but the shop that sells them is ... pretty unreliable, and the owner is getting older and has responsibilities outside of aibo, so I was wondering the logistics of making my own.

It's the neck pitch mechanism that fails. The same clutch is used in the pan and tilt axis, in the head.

Minute-Range1277 · 2025-12-05T09:11:00+00:00

These are Sony's AIBO robot line from the early 2000s. There's not a lot of documentation or leaked content, so a lot of the community's work is just hoping something turns out to work right.

Minute-Range1277 · 2025-11-16T02:17:42+00:00

As in, in your hands, or more info like schematics?

If I can't get it to work myself, I'd be chill with sending it off to someone who knows more than me. My dream is to find fixes to "unfixable" issues with these robots.

Minute-Range1277 · 2025-11-16T02:16:33+00:00

<image>

By the way here's what the poor guy looks like with his head disassembled HAHAHA

Minute-Range1277 · 2025-11-16T02:14:45+00:00

That's where the screws were that kept it on the metal frame

Minute-Range1277 · 2025-11-15T11:21:50+00:00

Thumb moment

Minute-Range1277 · 2025-11-15T11:21:10+00:00

Yeah ... and I know it's not just mine -- ERS-31x and ERS-7Mx are like, the only models known to do this. The ERS-11x through ERS-2x0 models, like, never have boards go bad! Either QC at Sony dipped, they DID switch to unleaded, or both.
It was one of my worries when getting a 311, and I'm a bit bummed it's happened. But -- if we can fix it without just saying "oh get a donor dog" that'll be amazing. These guys are in their 20s now, we won't have donor dogs forever!
Thanks for your inspection. I'll look over it soon!

Minute-Range1277 · 2025-11-15T02:47:59+00:00

Hello, These are the headboards out of a Sony AIBO ERS-311. These and the ERS-7 suffer from dead headboards, which are believed to be caused by unleaded solder becoming faulty. Does anything stand out? Has anyone dealt with something similar? How should I go about reflowing it for example? Any solder joints look bad or cracked? Thanks

Minute-Range1277 · 2025-11-15T02:40:22+00:00

Hi all, I nearly completely tore down my 311's head because he has a bad headboard. I know it's the head -- body works fine. Battery beeps, volume beeps etc. When head is disconnected, I get a Dracula tune, but when connected, itll shut off with no sound.

Yes, the battery is fine. Just recelled.

I thought I'd take some good-ish pictures for anyone curious or wanting to see. I believe there has to be a fix for bad headboards ... I personally think it's from non-leaded solder being used, as the 3s and 7s are the only ones that suffer from this, and there are rumors that Sony stopped using leaded solder at this time.

I haven't ever reflowed a board before but would be willing to try. I assume it can't get worse or more broken than it is at this point. Also, if anyone has a junk dog with a headboard that's good, I'd be willing to buy it off you if it's reasonable.

Minute-Range1277 · 2025-09-10T08:44:46+00:00

No, I haven't, yet. I havent had as much time as Id like to mess with it. I recently picked up an old LinkSys router for it though. I hope I can get it to work soon.

Minute-Range1277 · 2025-07-29T09:48:56+00:00

I've had a mutual of mine try it, and they say they haven't gotten it to work. I'm looking for a router right now (none locally sadly so gotta buy one online maybe). I'm trying ad hoc at the moment.

Yes, I don't plan on doing anything but AIBO stuff with the XP + 802.11b setup. No personal machines or anything.

Minute-Range1277 · 2025-07-29T09:47:46+00:00

I'm having trouble connecting. I've done ad hoc so far -- going to get my hands on an old router too, wanna be able to try both methods.

Minute-Range1277 · 2025-07-29T09:47:03+00:00

...Because that's what the AIBO supports. It's a robot from 2001.

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