Initial Bowden System testing

Finally got around to trying the arms.  Unfortunately I almost knock out a light!

Second Arm

Finally got around to the second arm, and some control rod additions. Expect a video within the week!

A Handy Print

Too lazy to make a vid about the arm, but motivated enough to design & print a hand:

Unlike many hand mechanisms, the fingers rely on mechanical force: there is no rubber band or some such making the fingers spring back, making it ideal to attach motors

Mini armor

Working on a smaller, easier to handle armor set that I can easily walk around in and not require a stasis dock. I finished revising the shoulder mechanism and gave it some quick cardboard covering. Going to make a video soon demonstrating the degrees of freedom.

Unintended Experiment

There was a crazy windstorm, so I took advantage of the situation.  FOR SCIENCE!!!

Hand mechanism

Quick prototype of a mechanical hand mechanism.  The knuckles are non-elastic, so the force of motion is transferred equally in both directions.

"MARDUK" Display setup timelapse

I can fit a giant robot in my Van!!!

Head...

Put the head on at the maker faire last week.  *sigh* haven't had the time to put it on yet...

New Opening Logo Sequence

Have a new opening for the logo.  Kinda inspired by anime...

In the Air at the Faire

Made an overhead-style crane for the stasis dock using some wood lying around:

To raise/lower it I got a lever-action ratcheting winch at Home Depot.
Had a display at an event at the local Maker Space:

 

 

Started designing a head.

 

And a cardboard mockup. Gonna make a metal version soon.

All together

Probably will invest in an electric winch for the larger stasis dock.

 

Top-full

So... yeah. The stasis dock is too small and narrow to lift the torso high enough to attach the bottom half. I'll have to build an extension with an engine-lift style attachment.

 

I also goofed up on the shin armor. All well. Makes great shoulder armor. 

And my residency at the local makerspace is coming to a close. Gonna be on display there for a month. Gives me a chance to prepare the extension and negotiate borrowing my parent's cargo trailer to bring it home. Although I seem to be in a similar predicament to that of the man who built a boat in his basement... 

 

Tests 03-04

So I've done a few more tests: hooked up bowden cables, added heels onto the feet and took the feet on their first test run.

At some point during construction a stabilizer bolt on the right hand leg got bent outta shape and a stabilizer mount is on backwards, but even so it is pretty stable. That is and easy fix for this upcoming week (my work schedule changed so I can devote a few hours every day to it now).
Pretty soon the top and bottom half shall meet!

Springing to mind

Finished the ankle stabilizers (the modified bike suspension), which were hard to figure out but fun to do.

Top to bottom: Completed stabilizer, spring partially wound on (keyring style and had to be persuaded with a hammer), cut spring, uncut spring and empty suspension cylinder.

Completed stabilizer:

All four:

Test 02: Shoulder mechanism test

Did a quick test of the top half dripping with 80s cheese.

Unfortunately the PVC frame for the arms are too heavy for the current shoulder mechanism and shift the center of gravity drastically (even if the pelvis straps were attached). I'm stripping it down to the bare minimum of just bolting the armor to a single pipe for the arms. Aesthetically there won't be any difference.

Tested the bowden cables yesterday, and they work surprisingly well when you can figure out where to mount them. The other set should arrive tomorrow (monday) so I should have the arms finished by the end of the week.

Meanwhile, I got some 57 lb springs to swap out the ones on bike suspension rated at 1500 lbs. The springs are too narrow to fit over the suspension cylinder, so I have to cut em down and thread 'em on keyring style... after I get the dremel attachment for cutting discs. Should work, I've had to cut a broken bearing out of my scooter before.

 

Tendons n' things

been working on some fiddly bits like the arm bowden anchors.  These act like handles to move the elbow joint back and forth, like the bicep/tricep.

Reusing them ol' foot straps

 
And some foot extension curves (PVC pits that act like springs)
 

I just realized how cool it would be to make extra-large "Halo" armor or something for this...

Armed and Stasis

Sorry for the lack of updates. Had to re-build the stasis dock as the PVC was just too jiggly at 3' segments. Its also wider: 52".



 
Also built the arm superstructure.

 

Pretty soon I'll have to load the top half into the van and haul it up there. And speaking of the van...

I am a fan of "Simon's Cat"

Stasis Dock 2.0

Settled into the maker space and built the boring bit: the Stasis dock to hold the Exo-Mech for display/suiting up.

 

And put the feets in. Arms will probably hang over the sides or something.



 
The entire thing collapses flat via loose-pin hinges on the back segment so it can fit in my van. Should've taken a pic but didn't...

Gif

Settling into my workspace, but not much to show for it... doing all the boring bits first, like building a structure to support the suit while I build it. Still keeping the dream alive though. Made a nifty gif for the presentation on it I'm giving Monday.

PVC Shavings and The First Shirt

Again, the cursed lawn tractor took up my free time. Went to clean the carburetor and it nearly fell apart in my hand. I think I found the problem.

Anyway, had to do some after market mods to the T junctions for the crossbeams.

Man, PVC gets everywhere when you're cutting holes in it.

Tada!

 Gonna be harambe-gluing them together this weekend.

Also finally got around to making a custom T-shirt.

 

This upcoming Thursday is when my residency with the local Makers Guild officially begins, meaning a sweet $500 to invest into it and more progress! Now I just need to get my van on the road to move the big bits...

Didn't get much work done yesterday 'cause the lawn tractor died and I spent the day diagnosing it. Probably an ignition coil ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

With my residency coming up (meaning some extra $$$ and a groovy workspace) I thought I'd lay things out to see what's what.

 Moved my van around and climbed onto the roof get these sort of shots.

 Its much bigger than the tractor >:)

Hey, my other car!

Attaching da feetz

Making a step in the right direction. Ran out of machine screws (aka bolts) so that put a bit of a stop in progress.  Another shopping trip!

Definitely need more crossbeams.

Tiny feet

Says it all.  Hard to balance and stuff.  They're only 4"x13" as compared to a 3' wide torso...

Got some more PVC and with a new design built some new shins. Here's how they compare.

 Feet are 26" long and 10" wide.

Might need cross-baces on the sides.

Gonna mount the straps & tension rods tomorrow night and give 'em a test run this weekend, if all goes to plan. 

Footing around

So I finally bit the bullet and started riveting. Only problem is the punches that I bought weren't tough enough, so I ended up drilling holes for the rivets instead.

First three seams riveted:

 Preparing to fit onto the shin. Approx 28" tall.

Fits a bit oddly. But that's to be expected.

Ankle slots are very handy. If only I thought to put them in!

Riveting was easier than expected. Planning on doing some more mech building later this week after work instead of working on my webcomic. Also need some black plastic to make a dust cover for the frame... so much to do, so much fun. 

I gots a 3d printer

The government hasn't whisked me away to secret underground labs (yet), I just got a 3d printer and have been goofing off- er, have been exercising my 3d modeling skills in preparation for making unit 02. Dimensions for Unit 01's basic chunky armor have been measured and will be built (hopefully!) this upcoming weekend!

I wonder what sort of bits I could make with my 3d printer that would be handy. Maybe giant robot finger bones (5 1/2" print bed) and joystick grips?

All well, here's some of my first prints of some stuff I modeled!