Cicatrix Build Diary

[Anttazz]

Re: Cicatrix Build Diary

Yup, it will be, probably not possible actually. It'll work fine without one though so isn't too big of an issue.

[Anttazz]

Re: Cicatrix Build Diary

Well, that didn't go so well.

Eric Jr didn't even make it to the start line after the battery died as did the battery connector on the bot, so that'll all need re-soldered and a new battery. The ants were killed by the Royal Mail so they didn't make it, also the deadline was really just too tight to get them all properly built in time, especially when I didn't really know what to do when I got them. Got one of them kind of working but not really what I was looking for

So it was left to Cicatrix to do the demo, and after about 10 seconds one of the motor terminals managed to break off leaving him only able to go round in circles. Also, the floor wasn't quite flat enough and he got beached regularly.

Ah well, a lot to learn from for next time!

[RogueTwoRobots]

Re: Cicatrix Build Diary

Ah the joys of taking your robots out for a spin at a public event swiftly followed by the embarrassment of having them break down/not work/generally fail almost immediately. Been there, done that, got the red face.

Like you said though, it's a good learning experience and the thing is that the robots don't even need to be moving to generate interest so people will no doubt still have enjoyed it. Was there a good range of costumes in the tennis tourney?

[Anttazz]

Re: Cicatrix Build Diary

Yeah it was well attended, more than last year even with me on the sidelines. Had all sorts from Zombies to Surgeons and I think there was even someone dressed as a pint of Guinness. Lots of great costumes and good fun all round, can;t ask for more than that.

Cicatrix ripped a lot of paint from the floor of the room it was in too, hope no one notices that . They worked up until a point where the interest was already generated and I just deactivated them for people to look at, so it wasn't a total failure. Next year we'll have Eric to bring along though and he will have unimpeachable reliability :wink:

[Anttazz]

Re: Cicatrix Build Diary

Got a lot of messages regarding my molasses rust fix I used on Scar so will post a bit about it on here.

I basically just made a solution roughly 1:10 of molasses sugar and water and let it soak in there for a couple of weeks then blasted it with a jet washer/gave it a clean when I took it out, worked really well and cost me 88p from Asda*. The hardest thing was finding a container big enough. Also, make sure you do something with it after you've taken it out/cleaned it etc as it begins to corrode again surprisingly quickly!


* http://www.mysupermarket.co.uk/asda-com ... _500g.html

[Anttazz]

Re: Cicatrix Build Diary

Early Christmas for the robots this year:

Heavyweight ESC


Featherweight Spinner Motor


Also in the process of getting the drum designs completed. Jamie has yet again, legendarily, offered to amend the drum designs to suit the robot as it is in practise which we will get made and hopefully get it ready for a Robochallenge event next year. Which is good, because after only 2 events I was getting pretty bored of running a rambot...

Still can't really work on the heavies with this funny ankle, but hoping to fix the problems with Cicatrix before starting work on the drum pod when the drum design is finalised. Eric Jr needs new batteries....will do that sometime too....

[Anttazz]

Re: Cicatrix Build Diary

For anyone who hasn't seen these speed controllers in the past, before I send them off to their new owner, I thought i'd take a photo to illustrate the size issues we were having that made me change from 4QD's to a Roboteq.

[jonny]

Re: Cicatrix Build Diary

Tony do you still want the hydraulic tanks ?

[Anttazz]

Re: Cicatrix Build Diary

I reckon so Jonny.

[Anttazz]

Re: Cicatrix Build Diary

Right, haven't written anything of note in this for months now. So, I will upload my pictures of the refit of Rover later this evening and also some information about how the Gimson Robotics wheels are working. Got most of it running at the moment, just need to fit a BEC then we're all finished.

Here it how it looked when I got hold of it on sunday:


More pictures to come in about 3 hours or so

[Anttazz]

Re: Cicatrix Build Diary

New motors wired up and all the other wiring plugged back in including radio gear:



12mm holes drilled in the Gimson Robotics wheels to allow them to sit a lot closer to the gearbox of a drill:



Tried to get a photo, but its so close its hard to see that there is even a shaft on the motor at all:

[Anttazz]

Re: Cicatrix Build Diary

Waiting for the batteries to charge before I do anything else, so heres some photos I took earlier.

All kitted out (with the exception of the SBEC) and motors and wheels fitted:



Another photo attempting to show how close the wheels now fit to the drill motors and why they ned to be so close:

[RogueTwoRobots]

Re: Cicatrix Build Diary

Waiting for the batteries to charge before I do anything else

Bugger! Knew there was something I meant to do but completely forgot about

Also, if you won't be needing an RX switch, could be worth moving the link into the middle. It is quite fiddly where it is, as well as being close to the front wheel. Up to you though

[Anttazz]

Re: Cicatrix Build Diary

Haha not to worry man, I just plugged in the link (that you also forgot ) earlier and could hear the batteries slowly dying.

It is quite tough to get the link in even with all of the shell off so I might well move it eventually. Going to get it going properly first and then tackle other problems like that.

I found a video of it from Jamie's old channel, only one I could find though there may be more. Not sure if it was very broken or if Jamie's dad was driving

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4d3JS...hhhAmmmD8Ppr8s

[RogueTwoRobots]

Re: Cicatrix Build Diary

Would've been my dad driving, if you can call it that! Back when it was Bullseye.
It always seemed to work fine on the bench, but he could never get it to go in a straight line. Was underweight and underpowered too, so not exactly a contender by any stretch of the imagination. It has since had a new chassis and the diagonal wheels will make it a little more controllable (well, as controllable as you can get with bang-bang control)