R4-D4 dome - life form scanner update 2024 (not completed)

Original post - July 2024:

It’s been a few years now since I last worked on the lift setup. So decided I needed to get back on it again.

The problem I had was being able to set up the Pololu control board.

October 2024: didn't get around to following up on this......

Life-form scanner - R4-D4 - part 20

June 2022

Back in June, whilst I had R5’s bad motivator setup out of R5’s dome, I thought I’d refresh my memory of where I was with R4’s Life-form scanner.

After recently salvaging parts from a broken 3D printer, the parts gave me a better idea of how to operate the lift system.

So this version will be belt driven.

I needed to design some new parts so that the original setup could still be used.

A new lower bearing holder was drawn up and 3D printed. This clips over the lower bracket and has a locking screw to secure.

The main lift unit had a bracket added to clamp the belt onto.

The upper unit had to have a new servo holder designed up as it needed to be turned 90°’s. This has a location tab and a securing screw.

July 25th

Test printing done and then some more redesigning. The bracket needed some work done after all, so it had the lower bearing included in its update. This bearing holder also needed to protrude more to allow clearance. This also means it replaces the ‘clip over’ version.

Next up was the main lift bracket.

This was also modified to protrude more, for the belt to be aligned and to allow clearance and full travel up to the top.

October:

With the progress made with the Bad Motivator setup, these will be included on here.

Life-form scanner - R4-D4 - part 19

Back in.....May 7th 2021.....

Dug out the laptop and got playing with the Pololu servo controller program...... then had a refresh look at the instructions lol :D

Got the pie panel to open and close, great!

.....but the continuous rotation servo for the lift is going to take a bit of figuring out.

The connector sleeve for the LFS rod to servo, broke. So knowing a bit more about shell thickness for 3D printing [thanks YouTube lol] I made the wall's thicker, and also increased the bore diameter. The rod is now a much better fit and isn't as hard to push into the connector.

July 1st 2021

Hoping to get this all working on Sunday at the MOT Day, as Paul is a whiz with Pololu programing.

Life-form scanner electronics part 12

January 24th 2021

Found a ‘box’ on Thingiverse for the Pololu control board. So that got printed, and it’s  a perfect fit!

Next up was something I’ve sort of been looking forward to.... the Pololu 6 servo controller. Downloaded the program and plugged in the controller board along with two servos I had to hand. You also need power for the servos. The instructions online are good, but ..... I personally find watching/listening to step by step guides, is better at understanding a process. And I had a short sequence running in no time at all. This is going to be fun setting up the life-form scanner setup.

February 2nd 2021

360° servos have also now arrived & have been tested.

Also the ‘Y’ servo lead’s came to.

Now to get on with the fine tuning.

R4-D4 dome - fitting Life-form scanner part 11

 Installed the LFS into the dome. Two counter bored holes were drilled to allow the two countersunk head bolts to sit down inside the edge, allowing the lid to be closed flush. These have nylock nuts on the inside.

The aluminium tube thin walls are easily bent, ever so slightly from being man handled and installed..... think these may have to be replaced with either solid bar or steel, if I can find the size. Also remembering the first tube I bought had a thicker wall, but was a lot more cost wise. I would of liked to (of) kept the tube as LED wires could be run up inside.

Of course I had to do a manual test of everything. The lift worked, but not as smoothly as previously (slightly bent tube), but the principle still works. The lid panel was already opened lol :D I then powered up the servo tester to 'sweep' the LFS.

Next is to look at the Pololu controller and figure out the best way to activate everything. Am thinking I might not need the micro switches.......???

A Life-form scanner for R5-D4 - Part 8

Final 3D printed parts fitted and everything works as it should. Really pleased with how it runs.

Now it’s onto the electrical side of the project. The micro switches need diodes soldered across the contacts. This is so they return the flow of power but switch off the motor. The idea is that the power lift servo is a one button activation:

• Press button, activates system.
• Motor lifts LFS, micro switch stops lift at top.
• Pololu control board activates scanner, set amount.
• Motor lowers LFS, micro switch stops lift at bottom.

This is the idea......have to see how it works out.

As promised, I’m putting a quick video together of this in action. I’ll post up the link to YouTube once complete.

A Life-form scanner for R5-D4 - Part 7

 Fine tuning the design of the lower servo holder & the servo/tube connector.

The new normal sized servo's holes were NOT the same as my previous one, so needed to be slightly moved. I added the slot in the support for the support tube and also added splines for point contact only. Both of these will be getting re-printed again.

The pulley wheel got a new version printed, happy with how it turned out and that it works.....of course it works lol :D

Then this morning Royal Mail pulled their finger out and I received the micro switches, second aluminium tube AND.......

........the Pololu servo control board, from Hobbytronics!

So after the re-prints, it's onto the electronics, tho I will be looking/designing a holder for the board and the electronics. Thingiverse came up trumps again, case will be printed later. I'll also post up pictures of the full assembly.