March 29, 2018

Optic 6 Transmitter - 3D printed stick lock

After last Sunday's event, it reminded me that I needed to sort out some sort of hand grip/strap for the controller. As when 'parading' etc, you only need the one hand/thumb to steer R5 with. So I hold the controller down by my side when walking, I this helps with the illusion of R5 being real.

One thing tho is that the dome (left stick) is then exposed to potentially being knocked, causing the dome to 'randomly' rotate, when you just want him facing forward.

Internet searching for grip/strap, led me to 3D printing ideas, but I only found transmitter stick lock/protection covers. So I drew up my own, to help guide the stick left/right.



Then I drew up a 'lock' to clip into the groove and lock onto the stick. It looks solid, but I made a hollowed out version.
Only have a pic of the 3D CAD version of it.

I designed it to slot into the groove, fitting so that it couldn't slide left or right. The the upper section is a snug fit so that it can't fall off.

I've not sprayed this piece up yet, may do it in R5 red.....

March 27, 2018

Optimus Comic Con - Bristol (UK) - Sunday April 8th

This is the third Optimus Comic Con event in Bristol.
Though this will be my first  time.


Paul, who I'll be joining with his R2-D2,
he's attended in the past

with his B9 Robot from 'Lost in Space'

The UK R2D2 Builders Club
www.astromech.info

will be there
(that's us two, plus Rob will also be there with his R2D2)

March 22, 2018

Fantha Tracks @ MCM Birmingham Comic con - March 18th 2018

Sunday afternoon, after the parade,
we bumped into Matt & Martin from Fantha Tracks.




Always good catching up with the guys as they are very informative
and up on what's in the news of Star Wars.

Here's a link to Sunday's You Tube video they posted up yesterday.


Check out their website for all their other social media links.

March 21, 2018

MCM Birmingham Comic Con - Event Report 2018

Sunday March 18th 2018
Day 2 of event

Up 5am, out the door 6am. R5 was already loaded up Saturday night.

Now.....I don't have a problem with driving in snow.....
.....but cars on ungritted roads do lol
~~~

UK R2D2 Builders Club

It was a longer than usual drive up from Bristol to Birmingham, due to the weather conditions on the roads. And after driving to three different car park points I eventually got my unloading pass and where I had to go to unload R5 lol.

Today's group of droids.
UK R2D2 Builders Club
One R2 is missing.......Darren!?!?! lol

The R2 members were now on day 2 at the stand, which were were sharing with the Rebel Legion, 501st & Jedi News stand. Our corner wasn't very big, but this was due to the layout. We had one 'work in progress' R2 that belonged to Chris, who was on the 'Steampunk' stand with his R2 Steampunk droid.
UK R2D2 Builders Club

The day was good, chatting to the public and catching up with friends who were attending either in or out of costumes. There was a large gathering of public and it actually seemed to get more busy as the day went on. Perhaps due to people braving the weather as the snow was abating perhaps.

Emma took these great pics of the stand area & I'll be able to post up more once George uploads his photos.
UK R2D2 Builders Club
 Emma with her droids

UK R2D2 Builders Club

 Our small display area, with R5's vintage controller,
trading cards and leaflets

Lee's R2 & Colin's work in progress droid

The afternoon came around quick, and it was time 2pm, for the parade, which is led by the 501st, joined by The Rebel Legion & a few other costume groups. So we headed from Hall 4 of the NEC, around and down the ramp to the Hall 1. Unfortunately Ian's droid was unable to attend, so it was just three of us.
There was a group photo, before they 501st and others, lined up in order for the parade.

We would be bringing up the rear.
Emma took this picture of us.
UK R2D2 Builders Club, R5D4, R2D2, Lee Towersey, Darren Poulson

The parade went across into Hall 2, which had a camera exhibition going on, lol, so PLENTY of photo's were being taken on our tour lol. We drove the droids as seen in the above picture, at some points having to drive single file. Myself and Lee have had experience with driving our droids together and as it's part of the Clubs 'driving' process, we knew how and when to slow down etc without bumping into each other. Darren led the way.

A friend of Darren's was there and caught a nice picture of the three of us, looking serious lol, the concentration on our faces lol.
UK R2D2 Builders Club, R2D2, R5D4, Lee Towersey

There are a few pictures & videos on Instagram that's I found. More hopefully to come with some searching lol.

The parade winded it's way through Hall 2....eventually, leaving the crowds and camera flashes, and headed back up the ramp. Around the upper concourse, back to Hall 4. There were more people taking photos, and calling out R2's name as we finally made it back to Hall 4. Once back inside, we broke ranks and headed back to our stand, as the costumer's went for a rest and de-lid, break.

Whilst we were away, Ian was holding the stand and getting lots of photos taken with the public.
This is Ian's R2

The day ended at 5pm but before we started packing up the droids and display stands we had one last group photo.

I only have the picture of the droids....
UK R2D2 Builders Club
.................I'll post up photo with the droids and us when I get them.

Outside was starting to go cold again, but at least the roads were clear. After a pit-stop on the way home for food.....I'd forgotten to eat during the day lol, I was home & unloaded by 8pm.

Another great day entertaining the public and bringing a little bit of Star Wars to life.

Checkout
for how to join up
if your interested in building your own droid.

March 16, 2018

R5-D4 - Bad Motivator system upgrade 1.5

So it was back to re-designing the pivot arm and linkage points.

I first used a piece of cardboard to gauge the distance after I took photos of the gaps that the pivot arm would need to be extended by.

I then redrew these up in work on Inventor. I countersunk the nut so that it looked good lol, no other reason other than the length of the bolt. Both parts seen in picture one were then reprinted in 3D PLA filament.




Recessing the nut, just makes fitting easier. It's a push fit into the recess, so is help tight.

Next up is the electronics, electrical & the smoke system to be re-installed. This will be next week as this weekend I'll be at the NEC Birmingham.

March 12, 2018

MCM Birmingham Comic con - March 17th - 18th 2018

So this weekend members of the UK R2-D2 Builders Club,
will be attending.....

MCM Birmingham Comic con - March 17th - 18th 2018


Well be joining up with the UK Garrison 501st, along with The Rebel Legion
on STAND 6100
next to the Comic Village

Some droids will be there for both days, others, like myself only for one of the two days.
I'll be attending with R5-D4 & bringing along my R4 dome on the Sunday.


There is so far about 13 dorid's attanding over the weekend!

Here's some from the last time I attended way back in 2015



Don't forget if you have your picture taken, and post on social, Instagram, to add at least one of these hashtags. And share your experience with others, big thanks

#ukr2d2buildersclub
#astromech
#astromechdroid
#R2D2
#R5D4 ......etc

March 09, 2018

R5-D4 - Bad Motivator system upgrade 1.4

After printing out the actuator bracket re-design, I found out that I actually had less space than I thought and that the rear of the actuator was interfering with the inside of the dome, so not allowing it to sit in it's needed position.

Next problem was that in order to achieve clearance, I needed extra height (see pic above). Unfortunately tho, the longer version was TOO long (or high) for my mini desktop 3D printer.

So I had a thought and swapped the actuator bracket's location to the other side of the motivator opening. This meant a re-design, again, of the 'bell crank' component.

Am getting the hang of the clearances needed to make things a nice fit. I countersunk the hex hole for the lock nut into the component.

Well, the new position for the actuator fits, but is now at an angle that won't work.....

So looks like it's back to the drawing board (CAD) to look at another way to activate the motivator.

~~~

Next idea was to just mount the actuator directly below the IGUS slide to push/pull the motivator unit. But where to fix it tho. Idea was to mount the bracket to on of the internal wood frame supports.
So I drew up this bracket.
The next thing once this is fitted is to design up the linkage from the actuator to the IGUS slide.

March 05, 2018

R5-D4 - Bad Motivator system upgrade 1.3

Ive had to do a few more re-designs on the motivator's activator bracket & pivot pieces. This is all new to me and although I sort of know the basics, a linear piston movement connected to a pivoting 'bell crank', didn't go the way I thought it would lol.

I decided to change the bracket for the pivoting bell crank, by making it a separate item. This means the actuator bracket can now be placed independently, maybe until I know where it should actual go lol

Downloaded the IGUS slide an assembled it onto the bracket. Along with nut, bolt and washer. Re-designed bell crank as well.


I found a supplier for the IGUS t-track and the price wasn't bad. I just now need to sort out the location bracket for the actuator.