Sunday update-After last weeks painting session I thought I would
take a few pictures while the Robot was on it's wheels and I'm very pleased
with the look considering it's very much an undercoat and the final coat will
be applied a week before our first event to allow time to dry.
Adam was unavailable this week so I set to on my own.
I picked up a seedling planter from a rubbish pile and thought it may be quite
effective set into the air intake vents/wheel gaurds on either side of the Robot-
so I cut it to shape with the grinder and inserted a piece at one side, I may
run with the idea, but the other side would have to be a half section due to
removable link being located at that side.
I told Adam I would check out the temporary relay system to see how it coped
with with driving the motors at 24 volts via 2 gell batteries (static test).
This worked really well and even when the wheel was suddenly reversed there
was no arc on the relay and the chain did not break-so we may be able to have a
run around with this set up if we conciousley be kind to the circuit and don't suddenly
reverse the Robot like in the static test.
We are still unsure what to do about a permament speed controller after getting
our fingers burnt with the last one and it may be the batteries we have may not
suit all speed controller types-it would be a shame to spoil all the good work by
not having a control system as least as good as the competition has.
After testing the relay I worked on the external return spring for the jaws
and although this meant grinding off a little paint to weld, it was interesting to
see how well it scrubbed back and I was pleased that it was almost like grinding
on old bodywork.
Lastly I painted over any bare metal with a primer.
DSCN2011.jpgDSCN2017.jpgDSCN2015.jpgDSCN2013.jpgDSCN2012.jpg
We have stuck with the agricultural/industrial paint scheme and overhall look and
I think the Robot woulden't look out of place in a country agriculture showroom
even if it leaves you perplexed about it's application