robots.net blog for Nic

25 Feb 2007

Sun, 25 Feb 2007 06:52:51 GMT

February 24th, 2007

After spending about 8 hours on a calculus take home exam I put the last two motors on the frame. This included drilling, grinding, and welding the motor mounts, bolting the motors on, and then spray painting them with Ace Rust Off.

As usual, I posted a picture. View it here: http://www.teamprodigies.com/?pictures?2007/Feb

24 Feb 2007

Sat, 24 Feb 2007 04:52:01 GMT

February 23rd, 2007

Last couple days I spray painted the new frame, welded nuts for the A-arms, bolted the A-arms up with washers and bearing grease, and cut the metal for the motor mounts.

Pictures at http://www.craterfish.org/teamprodigies/?pictures?2007/Feb

20 Feb 2007

Tue, 20 Feb 2007 06:16:27 GMT

February 19th, 2007

The story of a day in pictures:

http://www.craterfish.org/teamprodigies/?pictures?2007/Feb

19 Feb 2007

Mon, 19 Feb 2007 04:51:21 GMT

February 18th, 2007

I welded the A-arms for the rear of the car. I have no school this week (except for calculus II on Wednesday) because it's mid-winter break, so I should have some time to get some stuff done.

I put up a picture at http://www.teamprodigies.com/?pictures?2007/Feb

11 Feb 2007

Sun, 11 Feb 2007 04:54:49 GMT

February 10th, 2007

A week or so ago I welded the frame of the back of the car, as you can see in the picture (the I-shaped structure next to the identical front of the car). The ends of the "I" - which the A-Arms connect to, had bent inwards when they had been welded to, decreasing the distance by almost a quarter of an inch on each of the four corners. I fixed this in the only way I could think of, pounding them as hard as I could with a monkey wrench. I then ground down the metal that rotates with the A-Arms (and fits between the ends of the I) to fit just right. I also went to Home Depot to get some more tubing for bushings, and some more supplies. I got new pins for the axles, but they did not fit, and neither Home Depot nor NAPA Auto Supplies had the nylon washers or ratchet adapters I needed.

20 Jan 2007

Sat, 20 Jan 2007 05:52:03 GMT

January 19th, 2007

I went to Home Debot and bought some 3/8" round steel bar for the axles of the car. I cut two 7" lengths, put some u- joints on them, drilled them, and put pins through them.

For a picture go to http://www.craterfish.org/teamprodigies?pictures?2007/Jan.

10 Jan 2007

Wed, 10 Jan 2007 01:17:11 GMT

January 8th, 2007

After removing the motors I sprayed the mounts with rust off.

7 Jan 2007

Sun, 7 Jan 2007 19:01:32 GMT

January 6th, 2007

After waking up at 3PM I cut the mounts for the two front motors and welded them onto the frame. I also bought all the carrier bolts, lock washers, and nuts that I need and put them in. I bought Home Depot out of 3/8" nylon washers, and I think I'll have to do so a couple more times before I have enough. I put bearing grease on the bolts/washers that I put in so everything pivots smoothly. I still need to spray the Ace Rust Stop on the new metal.

Go to http://www.craterfish.org/teamprodigies?pictures?2007/Jan to see a picture!

26 Oct 2006

Thu, 26 Oct 2006 23:39:51 GMT

October 26th, 2006

Over the weekend I bought some nylon hosing from Home Depot with a 5/8" outer diameter and a 3/8" inner diameter. This fits perfectly inside the 3/4" tubing, and the 3/8" bolts fit perfectly inside the tubing, so it acts as bushings for the A-Arm pivots. I'll add some bearing greese and I should be good to go.

12 Oct 2006

Thu, 12 Oct 2006 03:15:32 GMT

October 10th, 2006

While in the garage I looked at the month-old frame and noticed that it was already rusting pretty badly. I drove to Ace Hardware, arriving at 8:55. It closed at 9:00. I got some "rust stop" and sandpaper for $5.40. My bank account had $5.68. After getting home again I sanded the frame as well as I could, but it wasn't perfect. After a lot of sanding I gave up on perfection and sprayed the "rust stop" on. It has a nice dark black color to it.

A picture is at http://www.craterfish.org/teamprodigies?pictures?2006/Oct