Today was, for the most part, rather usual. Aron and I are working out some kinks in the drive-train, and I am transitioning over to full time integration. The best thing that happened (in my opinion) is that my new work station arrived! I now have a bleeding edge (albeit a couple generations old), extremely CAD-capable mobile HP workstation so that I can devote my life at home, at school, in the car, on the toilet... Every minute of my life I am now able to work on CAD. As soon as I get SWX installed (waiting for a code from a teammate), then I will be ready to rock.
I had a quick intellectual pow-wow with Mr. Reif on Project ÜberTank and, while I do not think it will be a part of this year's robot, I still plan on pursuing the project personally with the possibility of selling out, or developing the system specifically for FRC teams.
We also had a great end of meeting discussion about team commitment and power-build-mode which the team has yet to enable this year. In the morning we are going to have a PRE-BUILD pep-talk/rally instead of the usual POST finger-wagging in the hopes that we are able to get the adrenaline flowing properly and get everyone filing something all day like it is the last 2 days of build.
11.2.12
10.2.12
9.2.12 Thursday
Today was a relatively uneventful, however productive meeting. Drive-train, in it's roughest, least elegant form, is finished. However many "bandaids" (as Mr. Reif calls post-design fixes) are holding it all together, it is finished and works. There are improvements/issues to be addressed, such as increasing the inside friction of the tread, improving/spring-loading tread tensioners, re-machining an updated design of the drive plates... However in its current configuration the drive-train is drivable.
I worked on bumper design, and came up with an overall layout for the bumpers. The plan is one wrap-around end-piece in the back extending all the way across the back, and 8" on either side towards the front. Then each of the front two corners will have individual 8"x8" angle bumpers. The one wrap-around piece in the back will make it an easy one-piece solution, as well as increase structural integrity in the back (where this is minimal frame support for the bumper), while the minimalist approach along the sides and front will keep the bumpers easy to build, leave plenty of frame space for the robot build, and show off the sexy sides of the robot.
Provided I can finish updating the CAD files and acquire material, a team alum and mentor may be able to machine new drive plates on an NC mill at his old school and possibly powder coat them making aforementioned sides eversomuch sexier.
From now on I guess I am all integration (until we start a second bot; IF we start a second bot). With luck my new CAD workstation purchased on ebay will arrive tomorrow, and I will be up to my ears in SWX all day long.
I would also like to revisit the Project ÜberTank BoM, however modify it for a single roller design instead of double. After considering it, I think good stability and traction will still be easily attainable for possibly a significant amount less. Mr. Reif also laser-etched a key fob for me that says ÜberTread 2012 on one side, and bevel your junk on the other. Very awesome.
I worked on bumper design, and came up with an overall layout for the bumpers. The plan is one wrap-around end-piece in the back extending all the way across the back, and 8" on either side towards the front. Then each of the front two corners will have individual 8"x8" angle bumpers. The one wrap-around piece in the back will make it an easy one-piece solution, as well as increase structural integrity in the back (where this is minimal frame support for the bumper), while the minimalist approach along the sides and front will keep the bumpers easy to build, leave plenty of frame space for the robot build, and show off the sexy sides of the robot.
Provided I can finish updating the CAD files and acquire material, a team alum and mentor may be able to machine new drive plates on an NC mill at his old school and possibly powder coat them making aforementioned sides eversomuch sexier.
From now on I guess I am all integration (until we start a second bot; IF we start a second bot). With luck my new CAD workstation purchased on ebay will arrive tomorrow, and I will be up to my ears in SWX all day long.
I would also like to revisit the Project ÜberTank BoM, however modify it for a single roller design instead of double. After considering it, I think good stability and traction will still be easily attainable for possibly a significant amount less. Mr. Reif also laser-etched a key fob for me that says ÜberTread 2012 on one side, and bevel your junk on the other. Very awesome.
7.2.12
6.2.12 Monday
We drove the robot! Or rather, twitched the robot. Because programming has also been twitching due to the fact that they have no robot to test/break/make mechanical fix, I decided to give them SOMETHING on Monday. When Aron Linker was done with putting chain on the drive-train, I asked Geir Lindborg (original creator and captain of team, current electronics guru among other things) to throw the electronics development board on the chassis "quick 'n dirty like" so we could let programming drive it. Dev (yes, we have a programmer who's actual name is Dev) uploaded code and (the second time) it worked. We only had one tank tread, due to the fact that we originally did not order enough (when it was ordered it was for wheels not treads) and are waiting for the rest. Nevertheless, the robot did move.
It's alIIIIIIIve!!!!!!
It's alIIIIIIIve!!!!!!
6.2.12
Update: Picture
Here's a picture of the robot Saturday night after our full day of build. It is, of course, a ways from completion. This is simply a mock-up of each subsystem placed on the robot.
5.2.12
2-4.2.12
Well things are finally coming together. Thursday and Friday were relatively typical meetings, in neither of which was I particularly useful. Saturday I was able to put (some) real time in and get a few things done. Mostly thinking, but the fact is that must happen just as much as the making. After an integration disaster in which subsystems were not planned to be compatible (the elevator was designed and built to go exactly where the inner frame assembly is) was worked through with grinding gears and high-revs, the team got into let's-build-a-robot mode and got some good work done. In one day we went from a pile of aluminum scraps to several sub-assemblies fitted together. There is still a good amount of work that has to happen, but this season's baby is beginning to take shape.
Over the past couple of days I have developed a plan I will execute to the best of my ability and discover where it takes me. Oak Ridge High School has a manufacturing lab with (literally) millions of dollars worth of machinery. I am going to visit on Tuesday and talk to Mr. Wilson (manufacturing teacher there) about 2 things. I would like to ask permission to machine some parts for the robot, and discuss the possibility of my becoming on intern. If I am an intern, I will be able to spend All Tuesday and Thursday working on fabrication et cetera, as well as get academic credit for my work. If all this works out, then I would like to machine new, lighter, stiffer, prettier drive plates (the original design had some major flaws that have since been dealt with, however none of the solutions are elegant) and possibly even anodize them. It is my understanding that the lab has an anodizing tank, however I am not sure what size a part it is able to accommodate or if there is a cost for replenishing supplies. In addition to robotics parts, I have a variety of projects that I would love to continue with the use of a CNC mill and/or 3d printer.
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