Team MeltDown Build Diary

[Coolspeedbot]

Yep. I use Maya for all my thinking/testing ideas before I make CAD files with proper dimensions in Inventor. Its just so much faster to make stuff and try out things.

I use it too but I don't have inventor to make a model using actual measurements, I even did a animation in Maya of my ant weight robot once.

Screen Shot 2016-05-27 at 06.58.54.png

[Giles]

It's okay. It's certainly not the best for designing robots though haha, just easy to use for me as its what I use at work each day. If you need a CAD program I think fusion 360 and 123D are all free and good enough for most uses.

[Coolspeedbot]

oh ok, I was going to just make model out of card board to get the scale

[Giles]

A bit more design work on this.



Moving the motor to a horizontal position on top of the grabber. This will hopefully allow for a bit more rotation compared to the back mounted one in my printed prototype. I'm also planning to use a custom gearbox instead of a Saturn for the lifting arm, as I need something like 200:1 ratio for it to be effective.

[Giles]

Finally got around to doing some proper CAD. Going to get this cut from plywood so I can test it out properly.

[Giles]

Full scale grabber prototype! This weekend I will try to 3D print mockups of the rest of the assembly to do some tests. Fits into Fissure's chassis via the spinner axle, so will use that as a test bed.

grabber.jpggrabber2.jpg

[Albear]

Sweet! Love the design

[Andy]

that looks really cool

[Giles]

Ok, with a new contest coming up next month, its time to get this thing built!

Here is my current cad file, complete with 100% stupid big claw thing. Will aim to finish up the cad side this week and then its onto sorting out hardox flatpack goodness.

Whole frame and claw is set to be 4mm hardox 500 at the moment. With a Ranglebox Neptune running the upper claw, a fat high geared motor running the lower claw, and a pair of Saturns running the drive.

ESC's will be TZ85's, reflashed, and moved into a custom made nylon case with a nice chunky heatsink and bus bar.

GOGOGO!

[Eventorizon]

Damn! Can't wait to see that in the flesh? Steel? Anyway... looking awesome! I'd also like the post but it seems the button has vanished :P

[Giles]

Still working on motor arrangements. Weapon actuation seems nice though:

[Andy]

So cool and unique, love it

[R9000]

It does look really amazing... I really hope that gear system doesn't get attacked. Unless you were gonna guard it somehow?

[Graw]

Looks awesome, love seeing well engineered designs like this

[Giles]

Well engineered?! HA! I have no clue what I'm doing, it just looks cool If it doesn't face plant instantly when lifting a proper load then I will be impressed.

@R9000 - Sprocket guards coming soon!