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.
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