Casting II

This is the new mold layout, shown on the left. The hub has been redesigned without sharp corners, in addition to eliminating the intensifier end-plate.

On the right, in a typical example of the duct-tape school of engineering, is the ad-hoc degassification chamber. On the right of the image is teh vacuum pump. The tupperware container is, as improbable as it may seem, the chamber itself. As the mold does not require a pure vacuum, merely low pressure, the use of the tupperware was quick & easy. Wooden supports were added to prevent the container collapsing completely.

Casting

Shown here is the previous attempt at gripper wheels. The neodymium rare-earth magnet is embedded inside PVC corrugated sleeves. This was done on the preposition that the urethane would flow around the sleeves, and take on a more corrugated appearance itself.

As it turned out, the effect of this was minimal. In addition, the galvanised steel intensifier plates bit into the urethane and initiated multiple tears in the material. This can be seen in the right-hand photograph.

Recent Manufacture

Recent components made include the drive components for the second drive assembly, (as can be seen in the top section of the added image). The upper components are those salvaged from an electric windshield-wiper motor, the lower ones were manufactured on the CNC.

The lower part of the image shows the tail section having been recently added to the robot chassis. This comprises the testing phase. In the final production model, the tail section will be a separate assembly, giving the robot a more modular appearance.