MarcDuino to Teece - Success

So one project I worked on briefly last year was trying to write code to allow the MarcDuino  and Teeces systems to work together.  I hadn't figured out how to use the Serial monitor so I couldn't troubleshoot the issues I ran into effectively and wound up setting the project aside for a while.  Today I was browsing the Astromech forums and luckily decided to re-look at the MarcDuino thread and found that Marc had written the code himself since last I looked at the thread.  I just had to try it out and after setting everything up and loading the new sketch onto the Teeces I found it works very well.  I just need to solder a wire to the RX1 pin on the Arduino Pro Mini board so it can connect to the MarcDuino PC0 pin and then I gotta figure out a mount setup inside the dome.  With this working I'm going to want another MP3 trigger to layer the sounds from both systems.  YAY!

Once I have everything mounted in the dome I'll post pics/video of it.

R2's Voicebox

So I order an MP3 Trigger from SparkFun and it arrived today.  I gotta mount it to the circuit board and wire it u.  Then and I should be able to start making sounds using the PS2 controller.  It'll be cool to finally get the Padawan system to finally do something external.

GS PS2 controller

New GameStop PS2 controller arrived this weekend and today I was able to hook it up and communicate to the Uno, YAY!   Ordered a spare one just incase.

PS2 controller (bunk)

So turns out the Ps2 controller I bought on eBay doesn't work with our setup.  I tried it in George's working system and confirmed it wasn't getting connected to the Padawan sketch.  Just bought another controller on eBay that is a mad catz controller that lots of builders are using so it should work.

2014 KC Makers Faire

Had a great time at the KC Makers Faire this year.  Being inside made it much better than last year.  Here is the photo taken by the group.  George's R2-A7 is off somewhere, probably with George and a mob of people.  Mine is the all white body and dome with the purple painters tape.

ROTOPOD Persicope light kit

So my buddy Mike asked me to help him with putting this RotoPod Periscope light kit together.  I figure I owe him for the free Syren10 he gave me and he's promised to help my fix up my Radar Eye this weekend at Makers Faire so I figure its a fair trade.  There was both more and less  to putting this together than I originally thought.  I thought there would be more soldering and wiring to do but there wasn't a whole lot.  The actual assembly wasn't too difficult except for the tight work space getting the front red LEDs put in.  The real challenge was squeezing  everything into the periscope itself.  I've done it a couple times now and its just as hard as the first time around, but its done now, even if I do say so myself, it looks great.

So I only have 2 real complaints:

1.  the Center LEDs are a little to right for my tastes, but that can be fixed with a code update.
2.  I don't have one of these kits for my R2.

Padawan test setup

 I decided to go with the Padawan control system since it flexible, already works with the teeces lights I have, and readily available.  With the PS2 controller and the Arduino Uno I already have I started building my control system.  I have the sabertooth as well but without motors there is no point hooking it up yet.  I'm using some Cat V cable to wire it up with a RJ45 jack for easy disconnect.  I think I want to run as much of the wiring as I can using the same setup.  I won't be running the heavy amps over it though to the foot and dome motors.

Mo' orders arrived

Yesterday and Today saw the delivery of the resin parts and wireless PS2 controller I ordered last week.

Progress update

Thought I'd piece together most of the bits and pieces I've managed to assemble to this point.

Here's R2 next to my "model".  Had to tape on the radar eye I have though I am waiting on a new one.

Realized I could put his dome panels on for a better visual.

Mo' orders Mo' orders

So ordered some more parts today. 
1) PS2 wireless controller
1) Set of Under Shoulder Details (4)
1) coin slots
1) set of Shoulder Hydraulics (2)
1) Radar Eye

Hopefully those will arrive in the next week or two.  I've decided to go ahead and order a second Radar eye because of 1) the huge air bubbles  found in my first one when trying to sand it to the fit the dome, and 2) some mistakes I made trying to clean up the slot under the eye lens.

Skirt update

Got the skirt skinned today.  I still need to file downs some edges and fill in some gaps.  I have the external ribs put together and filed smooth so the are dry to attach.      You can see them behind and to the left of the skirt.  Also my inprogress frame is in the background.

Sabertooth 2x24

Bought a Sabertooth 2x24 for foot motor control from local builder Mike Gruhala as he had an extra one.  Been reading the product docs today.

Shoulder Hubs complete

So the shoulder hubs are completely done and ready to mount the the frame ( once the frame is actually done ).  There is a lot of filing to just get all the glue surfaces smooth and ready for the weld-on #3.  

The plans call for bolts that are 2 1/4" but those aren't available locally.  Frank's assembly instructions do provide a link to an online provider, I just was to impatient so I have 2 1/2" bolts.  Frank says you can grind off the extra 1/4" but for now I'm just planning to put a second nut on top.  I think it won't be in the way and should help lock the nuts so they don't loosen over time easily.

(The bolts shown here are actually 2" bolts I mistakenly bought first.  I forgot that the bolt had to go through another styrene plate.  Silly me.)

Once I got the frame bits smoothed and glued with the 2 1/2" bolts inserted I added the styrene skin.  I had planned to use metallic duct tape to cover the styrene skin as recommended by a Frank but local builder Mike Ghrula suggested I use duct flashing instead and WOW do I love it.  I did still use the tape to cover the flashing seam.  The sea will be facing down once attached to the frame so it will not be seen unless someone goes looking for it.

I used a small MDF piece with holes drilled through so I could easily flush the skin edge on one edge and also make wpsure it went on straight.

You can see on the hub in the back that I used some hose clamps to hold the skins while the glue dries.  I learned shortly after this picture was taken that while the clamps work wonders appling pressure all the way around, the clamp screw assembly scratches up the Alu underneath it.  I started using a piece of scrap Alu under the screw assembly afterwards which did the job of keeping the clamp from scratching up the Alu skin.

R2 blue

So I have my own take on the R2 blue and I painted all the dome panels.  Here are a couple in different light.  It's just Dupli-Color MS400 Metal Specks Ocean Blue I found at an automotive parts store.  In the in person In the sun the metal flecks real look nice.

Rocker and MDF ring

So first attempt at the dome MDF ring didn't work out.  In trying to get the out dimensions uniform I made it too small but just a hair.  With the new router table I was able to knock out a new ring in a matter of minutes.  Yay!

The router table let me do a uniform outer dimension and also chamfer (?) the top edge so it fits inside the dome better.  I also cut in grooves to avoid a couple things inside the dome like the PSI holder bracket ( groove shown ) and one HP.

( yup, there in the background is my rocker bearing.)

So I was able to center the holes for rocker bolts to pass through the bottom Rong and MDF by using the little rubber tile placement crosses.  I cut them in half to make little L's and then placed them around between the inside of the  bottom ring and the MDF ring.  This centered the MDF ring nicely so I was just able to drill through them both together.

Getting ready for KC Maker's Faire

Ok so I've been busy and not updating the build log.  Shame on me.  Got the rocker, frame, skirt, arm box, and shoulder hubs in.  Got some work on each of them but the hubs are actually done.  I'll put up individual posts for each so there isn't just one huge post.

I also picked up a router table on the way back from St. Louis a couple months ago.  Very handy for my MDF ring though I wasn't able to get the bottom of my dome inner skin to a uniform height and wound up over doing it so there won't be any gap between the two bottom rings.  Going to really figure out how to use this thing.

Frame, skirt, arm box, and rockler ordered

So I got my federal return this weekend and after looking at everyone elses' frames I decided it was time to order my rockler and frame.  Spent the weekend looking at the Everet and the Egg Crate Frame.  Also looked at what some stuff on the forums and I've decided to get the Egg Frame pre-cut from Frank Pirz.  I placed an order for a frame, skirt, and arm box so I"m on the bottom of the list but I'm on the list  :D

Also ordered my rockler bearing.  I think it is going to be helpful in painting my dome since I can spray and spin it to get an even coat all around instead of painting in sections.  I think its also going to be helpful shaving down the MDF ring to fit into the dome but we'll see.

All told I should have enough to keep my busy for quite a while.

Getting ready for Planet Comicon Part 2

so I have my dome all glue together and all the logic mounts done except for the rear PSI.  I also painted my dome panels all done in time for Planet Comicon.  Sitting at the Con table Friday I finally loaded all the logics into the dome and turned them on.  It looks great except for the PSIs.   The Front PSI works but seems pretty dim behind all the diffusers.  The rear PSI doesn't work at all.  The board is good since it works when I put it on the front chain so it must be the sketch.  Loaded the default sketch and the rear PSI works again.  Its pretty dim too behind the diffusers so I need to try adjusting the intensity setting in the sketch.

Getting ready for Planet Comicon. Part 1

Had some good progress lately with the crunch for Planet Comicon.  Club had a build day last weekend and I got my upper inner skin glued in but I realized when I got home that I had it rotated 90 degrees.   It's not horrible, I just loose one hinged pie panel in front of the top Holo Projector

Just finished getting one FLD and the front HP installed.  Looks nice and I'm really happy with the mount setup. 

Pie panels hinged

With the new work space I got back to work on the pie panel hinges.  I got all 5 pie panels hinged and it looks good though a little rough.  Need to clean up the inside panel skins.

Work space moved

So after a long break, I got tired of being at the mercy of the weather to be able to work in the garage and I need to get some work done before Planet Comicon next month.  So I moved everything to the basement.   Seems to work so far but it's going to be an issue for paint and glue as it isn't ventilated.