Tormenta 2 - Build Diary

[Revsmin]

Out of pure curiosity, will we be seeing Tormenta 2 back for 2014, or a new T3?

[Ellis]

Pleased to hear someone is curious! Yes, we're going to git 'er going again for 2014, which basically involves adding as much hardox as the weight limit allows, haha.

There will be no Tormenta 3 for the next champs, my dad has had to spend lots of time in the UK (and will continue to) which means we won't have the time for a complete joint build. As a result, I am making a solo machine, provisionally called Rango. Once I get going on that I'll make a build diary. In any case, we'll definitely have one machine there!

[harry hills]

Dude you totally misspelled the name, I thought we named her Nemo :'<

[Ellis]

Yeah, but... Nemo. That carries as much weight as a... a weak thing!

And hey I did say provisionally.

[Revsmin]

Hardox doesn't weight that much more than mild steel TBH, and about the same as stainless. Good to know about T2, I knew there was still life in her! I greatly look forward to throwing you out the arena at the champs

[Ellis]

I greatly look forward to doing the same! Came close to putting Ricochet out, I'll have you remember.

And if I build it at all right, Rango shouldn't have to work too hard to put a few out too!

[Revsmin]

You don't know what your up against yet
Anyway, what's the plan for Rango? Or is it a secret?

[Ellis]

In a sentence, Rango will be a 4WD machine with a drumette up front. I'll put up some CAD designs and details when I make a build thread. What are you putting together? Have to tell me now!

[Revsmin]

Mmm, drummmm. I can't wait to see what you'll do with it. Don't rush the build, you've gotta make this robot perfect!

[Ellis]

Been a while, damn! Biggish post incoming.

T2 never got any major work done ahead of the '14 champs as with Rango's last minute problems it had to be set aside. With the whole front end getting mashed so badly in 2013 - cue visual aid*:


*5mm steel top bars and 3.5mm steel scoop, much of the damage done across 2 fights against Inertia XL.

It needed a substantial rebuild or be left to die. Ahead of the '14 champs I relieved it of the mangled lifter and was left with:



From there, after opening up the ancient-feeling CAD (and some of the cardboard variety), I came up with a plan to replace the front end and move to a timing belt for the weapon. The original 6mm chain snapped constantly and the gearbox sprocket was completely sheared in a blow from the house bot at Maidstone in '13. With a lighter but stronger weapon shaft (tube), much spindlier top-bars (they bend regardless so might as well be easier to bend back and be much lighter!), the front could be hardox. As I can't weld I had Mario make the wedge I designed. He did a nice job in little time.

Then came Rango's major wobbler and T2 left for the UK with a rough and partially assembled weapon. We had to make some parts at Yeovil to get it to do anything, and it did, until the weapon gearbox's torque limiter gave up life and it couldn't lift anything.

I've spent some time giving it TLC and a partial rebuild. The complete wedge after I fitted the pulley (25mm wide HTD5, aw yiss) and flanges + little storks for the top bars:


I decided the best way to fix the torque limiter issue was to completely lock it up and set the belt tension so it can slip under extreme shock. Locking it up ended up being very simple, a particular plumbing spacer (in white) fit the task perfectly. Modifying and fitting the timing pulley was something I got done in April.



Today I finished rebuilding the front end which now has a deadshaft, on which the wedge floats so it's self leveling. Minus top bars (will be made in the UK, can't source the material soon enough here) it's now pretty much there, dad joined in this afternoon for the final reassembly. It's odd working on T2, it's very different to recent projects (in terms of tolerances) which is both frustrating and liberating.




The armour in front of the front wheels looks a bit odd just hanging, but somehow reattaching it to the main bulkheads is more trouble than its worth at the moment. Makes little difference in the long run, this robot could have been retired almost 18 months ago. :P

Quick test drive tonight was good. This thing still drives like it's angry at the world. Good fun. Roll on MMM.