Alt-BEAM Archive
Message #13007
To: beam@sgiblab.sgi.com
From: JVernonM@aol.com
Date: Tue, 4 Apr 2000 09:47:16 EDT
Subject: Re: Ambler and so on
In a message dated 4/4/00 7:03:40 AM Eastern Daylight Time,
evandude@yahoo.com writes:
> sounds like a really kool idea, but make sure you're
> ready to do the precise building it takes to build a
> photopopper, and then fit it into the ball! it can be
> a real challenge...
Sounds like? Take a look at my site and you'll SEE one. And it's really not
that difficult to build. There are only two difficulties to overcome. First,
is attaching the bot to the bubble. The top half must be left loose so it can
be removed for repairs or replacement. The bottom half is polypropylene and
nothing will adhere to it. The solution is a frame that the popper is built
around which is bolted to the bottom. This can be quite simple or elaborate
if you add a suspension system to allow for motor shaft retraction when the
bot hits the floor from a fall. Second, is the motor shafts themselves. The
openings on the bottom must be large enough to allow the shafts to protrude,
yet not touch the sides or friction will rob your bot of power. Of course,
you could make the holes MUCH larger, but then you sacrifice weather
proofing. The rest is simply fitting the bot to the space as you build.
Another nice design addition is separating the brain from the frame. Wrap it
in foam or encase it in epoxy and attach it to the motors, and solar cells
with pliable stranded wire. This will allow for a higher level of shock
proofing that will enable you to drop the thing from a height of 4-6 feet
without damage. The frame also makes the bot bottom heavy, which makes it
roll over onto the motor shafts, like a weeble, and keep going. I'm presently
working on a BEAMant design, but will try to get the tutorial up for the
popper version soon. It is quite feasible to build a Bubblebot out of an
unbreakable plastic sphere that could be literally thrown against a concrete
wall with full force and fall to the floor, roll over, and keep going. The
weather proofing is a side benefit.
See ya,
Jim
http://www.geocities.com/SoHo/Exhibit/8281/beamart.html
ICQ# 55657870
13008 Monday, April 03, 2000 8:17 PM Re: info beam@sgiblab.sgi.com SkavenArmy@cs.com you can't send to one person. select an e-mail the select reply to auther
then reply to all. you will notice that the message is atoumaticaly sent to
beam@sqiblab.sqi.com
, that shouldve been sent to one person
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