Picture Archive

The latest is the acquisition of some mesh for the radar disc like ears, although I think it's a bit coarse.

And some potential handles.

I like the hexagonal mesh, but wouldn't be to K9 spec, so may try ordering some finer mesh.

I've also found the tail gaitor which I'd bough years ago

modelling K9 in preparation for making a mould for a fibreglass bodyshell

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 A 3D tracked platform to test bluetooth control as a possible K9 controller

Whilst watching some of the special features I did notice that K9 has a straight section tube coming out of his head to join the flexible neck tube too.

 

So I decided to stop prevaricating about the bush and get into the garage and make a start.

I have a rasp and I'm not afraid to use it

K9 Stash

here's the current state of play

 

A few more bits glued into place,the next bit on the list is the curved top. I think I may need to add a couple of supporting ribs.

 

Here's the latest state of play with my build, the bendy MDF has finally been glued on top. Featuring the return of the table lamp, it's just the right heigh

 

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I now have 4 different potential radar dish / ears meshes

 

Still sanding and filling, although rain stopped play for a while.

Filling and sanding proceeding

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Not much K9 progress today. we dropped off the Pangolin at the museum, sadly not as animated as I had hoped, but maybe for next year.

Just a little progress today, one intermediate shaft fitted along with the 3/8th chain.

The second wheel intermediate shaft fitted today, but I’ve had some issues with chain tension,

so I’ve had to modify the bearing carrier so that there is more range in adjustment.

I wired up the motors /controllers, and dug out some old NiCads, which used to power Chompalot, sadly they are well passed their best,
but good enough to hold a little charge to test out the motorised base.

I also borrowed the receiver from the practice bot, I built for Debs to practice driving fro the Iron Maidens tounament. These days it gets more use at the young roboteers.


During testing, all was going well, I even stood on it to see if would take a load, being in the kitchen it wasn’t a definitive test just a few feet, but seemed fine.
but I was in danger of falling off so I discontinued that line of testing.

Using the inbuilt mixer was odd as you couldn't steer without using the forward or reverse as well, so maybe I will use an alternative mixing method.

Then it died and there was a burning smell, it looks like the BEC circuit which supplies 5V to the motor control has died so not a problem.
It's more of a problem that I have to provide 5V for the motor controller and it doesn't do it for itself'

So, this is the preliminary idea for the ear mech. I was considering printing gears with angled faces to mesh but then though it might be fun to have independent ears.

Today I had a go at some ears, not very succesfully, but as a first attempt I guess there are not so bad. I bought some coat hangers and bent into shape,

then cut the mesh with tin snips. I then attemtped to silver solder the two together, with varying amount of success.

Now the sun has come out, I’ve managed to get back into the garage to do a bit more on the body shell.

I'm just adding some strips around the bottom to contain the base board depth. Once these are attached there will be another layer for the bottom of the fibreglass mould
and then after adding a few radii and a bit of filling and sanding, it will be primer coat time.

The supplies have arrived! Hopefully I've bought everything I need, if not it's tough, and I'll just have to make do.

After the debacle, I decided to mix some more primer and apply by brush

I realise that it's going to mean a lo more sanding, but progress needed to be made.

More 3D printing, this time a prototype nose laser extending mechanism

A little work on mounting the Raspberry Pi and associated boards and the screen, now all mounted in a 3D printed chassis ready to mount in the bodyshell.

and from the frontish