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[00:58:09] <justanotheruser> thoughs on piezoceramic romat arm fingers?
[00:58:30] <justanotheruser> piezoelectric*
[00:59:10] <rue_house> I'd like to know how they are doing the new pizo actuators cause they get a hell of a lot of movement from them
[00:59:27] <justanotheruser> source?
[00:59:56] <rue_house> no idea, I'v only seen research videos
[01:02:26] <justanotheruser> plane steered by piezo actuators
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v8D4PI5OiOI
[01:07:57] <anniepoo_> some years ago there was a scientific american article on a new actuator that used a HV dielectric field across kapton film, it distored quite a bit
[01:40:40] <z64555> memory metals and bi-composition strips?
[01:41:38] <z64555> well... yeah, that actually is piezoelectric effect
[01:41:48] <z64555> I keep thinking of quartz crystals
[01:42:59] <rue_house> @#$%@$^& it wont give me the value of the combobox
[01:43:10] <z64555> $1
[01:45:46] <rue_house> hahahah I got it, little bugger
[01:46:36] <rue_house> :( no I didn't
[01:47:57] <rue_house> True
[01:47:58] <rue_house> PY_VAR0
[01:47:58] <rue_house> PY_VAR1
[01:48:01] <rue_house> !#$@^!@!@%#$%^#%&%$^&
[01:48:14] <rue_house> how does one get the freaking value of a combobox!!!!!
[01:48:16] <rue_house> damnit
[01:49:13] <rue_house> aha!
[01:50:25] * rue_house goes batty trying to write a dialog window in python to select a serial port and baud rate
[01:52:53] <rue_house> ok, sleep
[02:06:31] <anniepoo_> 8cD Ordering stuff to reproduce mbrumlow's web bot
[02:12:56] <z64555> combobox.value()?
[02:28:27] <rue_bed> no .get()
[02:28:49] <rue_bed> value gives you an index of what you gave it, not whats in the field
[03:53:24] <LiohAu> anybody here already made a motor from scratch?
[04:00:39] <deshipu> as a kid, 25 years ago
[04:00:50] <deshipu> doesn't make much sense to actually use such motors
[04:01:24] <Jak_o_Shadows> rue_bed, what ui library?
[04:05:55] <Triffid_Hunter> LiohAu: sure, AA battery, magnet, bit of wire.. homopolar motor :)
[04:19:48] <LiohAu> deshipu Triffid_Hunter : do you guys understand what we see here :
http://robohub.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/new-motor-halodi-robotics.jpg ?
[04:20:34] <Triffid_Hunter> LiohAu: sure, looks like one of those fischer & paykell smart drive washing machine motors
[04:24:13] <Triffid_Hunter> LiohAu: although that one looks like it's on a flywheel with some fairly serious bearings
[04:26:20] <LiohAu> Those guys shows a video with this motor lifting a 8kg payload at the end of an arm (arm weight is around 8kg).
[04:26:21] <LiohAu> they say they do not use reducer
[04:26:22] <LiohAu> (gearing)
[04:26:23] <LiohAu> and they say, the motor cost almost nothing.
[04:27:13] <LiohAu> so, do you think those guys took a washing machine motor?
[04:32:59] <LiohAu> the thing I do not understand is how are they able to use a direct drive motor with a speed around 1 RPM ?
[04:32:59] <LiohAu> if you don't have a gearbox, 1 RPM for a shoulder is a correct speed, and if you can lift 16kg (arm+payload), you can accept that "low" speed :P
[04:35:01] <deshipu> it's just a question of how much juice you pour into it
[04:35:19] <deshipu> the thing is, efficiency is going to be atrocious
[04:36:08] <LiohAu> deshipu: they talk about 15w max
[04:36:49] <LiohAu> deshipu: "As we started testing, we were pleasantly surprised as tests showed the arm using roughly 2-15W to move without payload (without regeneration)."
[04:37:19] <deshipu> 15W just to move
[04:37:38] <LiohAu> well this is not a lot for a 8.3kg arm
[04:37:39] <deshipu> that's 3A at 5V
[04:37:54] <Triffid_Hunter> LiohAu: so they're driving it like a stepper motor
[04:38:07] <LiohAu> Triffid_Hunter: you can see more on that picture :
http://halodi.com/libs/images/investors.jpg
[04:38:22] <deshipu> LiohAu: "8.3kg" says nothing if you don't know the length
[04:38:38] <LiohAu> at the bottom, I see kind of wago connectors connected to each coil
[04:38:55] <Triffid_Hunter> LiohAu: that doesn't tell me anything useful, show me a schematic and winding diagram
[04:39:10] <LiohAu> deshipu:
https://youtu.be/5X6oIK8aSsI?t=1m2s
[04:39:19] <LiohAu> Triffid_Hunter: hey, i'm not the owner :P
[04:39:40] <LiohAu> i'm just trying to understand how they achieved that
[04:40:14] <Triffid_Hunter> LiohAu: sounds like a high phase number stepper motor.. I've heard of 5-phase steppers, that one could have even more
[04:40:19] <LiohAu> and I only have the pictures I showed before and that one :
http://halodi.com/libs/images/revo.jpg from their website
[04:40:55] <Triffid_Hunter> LiohAu: couple that with the technique of having a different number of magnets to poles, should be able to get a good chunk of torque from the thing
[04:41:10] <deshipu> LiohAu: doesn't look like something you would be able to make at home :)
[04:41:51] <LiohAu> deshipu: come on they are a 3 guys in a 2 years old startup, this is defintely DIY stuff
[04:42:24] <deshipu> LiohAu: not everybody has a lathe at home
[04:42:27] <Triffid_Hunter> LiohAu: got any more photos?
[04:42:41] <deshipu> or metal casting equipment
[04:43:20] <LiohAu> deshipu: well there are some aluminium parts that they probably bought from someone else having a lathe
[04:43:36] <LiohAu> Triffid_Hunter: hm no :(
[04:43:59] <deshipu> LiohAu: when you have a startup, you can buy all sorts of heavy tools
[04:44:16] <deshipu> there is DIY and there is DIY
[04:45:07] <LiohAu> unless they have been funded (and I don't believe so because they are asking for investors on their website), they cannot afford buying the heave tools
[04:45:25] <LiohAu> 3D printer, ok.. but a lathe, I don't think so
[04:45:39] <deshipu> lathes tend to be cheaper than 3d printers
[04:45:46] <Triffid_Hunter> LiohAu: it's not hard to grab some random motor shell, rewind the poles and glue new magnets
[04:45:50] <LiohAu> deshipu: :o
[04:45:55] <LiohAu> give me a link ^^
[04:46:00] <Triffid_Hunter> deshipu: what lathe?
[04:46:10] <deshipu> Triffid_Hunter: what 3d printer?
[04:46:30] <deshipu> for every class of 3d printer there exists a lather that is cheaper
[04:46:36] <deshipu> lather*
[04:46:39] <deshipu> argh
[04:46:40] <LiohAu> I paid my 3D printer around 1000€ iirc
[04:46:49] <Triffid_Hunter> deshipu: wanhao for example
[04:46:52] <LiohAu> flashforge 3d thing
[04:47:06] <Triffid_Hunter> deshipu: cheaper lathe would be what, a drill bolted to the desk?
[04:47:15] <LiohAu> :D
[04:47:43] <deshipu> https://www.aliexpress.com/item/New-arrival-C0-mini-Lathe-Mircro-metal-lathe-150W-moto-125mm-working-length/2011328062.html
[04:47:52] <deshipu> yup
[04:48:08] <LiohAu> wow
[04:48:38] <deshipu> or even this toy:
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/mini-lathe-machine-Z20003-Mini-Wood-turning-Lathe-A/32754210396.html
[04:49:57] <deshipu> granted, there are $100 3d printers out there too :P
[04:50:30] <LiohAu> that one is for wood
[04:50:34] <deshipu> you get what you pay for
[04:50:46] <deshipu> LiohAu: does your 3d printer do metal? :
[04:53:53] <LiohAu> deshipu: no!!
[04:54:18] <LiohAu> this is that printer :
http://www.flashforge-usa.com/shop/3d-printers/flashforge-new-creator-pro-dual-extrusion-3d-printer.html
[05:22:51] <Triffid_Hunter> Jak_o_Shadows: heh, they're called "universal motors"
[05:23:39] <Triffid_Hunter> Jak_o_Shadows: instead of permanent magnet they have a field winding that's commutated, so when run on AC both stator and rotor fields invert every AC half cycle and everything works just like a brushed DC motor
[05:24:17] <Triffid_Hunter> commonly used where no or only crude speed control is required, eg vacuum cleaners, blenders and mixers, power tools
[05:49:46] <LiohAu> Triffid_Hunter: stepper motors have an internal encoder?
[05:50:23] <LiohAu> looks like the position depends on the coil being powered, right?
[05:54:59] <SpeedEvil> LiohAu: no
[05:55:37] <SpeedEvil> LiohAu: Motion however changes the current/voltage flowing in the windings and these can sometimes be sensed
[05:56:06] <SpeedEvil> 'controlled motion' in this case just means high step count.
[05:56:17] <SpeedEvil> they have 400, not 8 steps per rev, for example
[05:56:36] <SpeedEvil> and do not require feedback to stay in one of those steps as long as torque limits are not exceeded
[06:16:30] <LiohAu> SpeedEvil: so why don't we use steppers with very high torque in robotics?
[06:17:54] <SpeedEvil> In general, torque is proportional to weight. (sort of)
[06:18:09] <SpeedEvil> so add a 100:1 gearbox and you can use a _lot_ smaller motor.
[06:19:58] <SpeedEvil> https://hobbyking.com/en_us/turnigy-9014-105kv-brushless-multi-rotor-motor-bldc.html - for example - will lift a 1kg weight at the end of a 1m arm.
[06:20:59] <SpeedEvil> Add a 20:1 gearbox and it can lift 20kg
[06:21:25] <SpeedEvil> (and swing it around rapidly)
[06:58:22] <goppo> i'm trying to find some easy to work with material as support. this guy uses something yellow
http://i.imgur.com/atIvbTL.jpg is this PCB?
[06:58:53] <goppo> all the blank pcbs i see on ebay seem to be either drilled or just copper
[06:59:36] <goppo> http://www.ebay.com.au/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=p2050601.m570.l1313.TR0.TRC0.H0.Xpcb.TRS0&_nkw=pcb&_sacat=0
[07:50:11] <gmct> Heyo
[07:50:58] <gmct> I'm currently working on a Rubik's cube robot and I was wondering if anyone can shed some light on the maximum starting frequency of a Nema17 running off 12 volts.
[07:53:09] <gmct> Currently I'm pretty sure I can start at something like one pulse per 600 microseconds, but i'm not entirely sure what the best way to determine whether I'm skipping steps at the beginning would be and when in the turn I should increase the frequency.
[08:55:12] <LiohAu> SpeedEvil: the motor you linked looks exactly like this one
http://halodi.com/libs/images/revo.jpg <- Triffid_Hunter: so it is a brushless motor?
[08:57:39] <SorcererX> anyone know of something similar to
https://www.servocity.com/ddt500 (camera tilt)? or have some good ideas on how I can reduce the load on the servo?
[08:58:01] <SorcererX> with my current rig keeping the camera horizontal causes a lot of noise from the servo due to the load
[08:59:59] <SorcererX> I'm using a Hitec HS-7950TH servo, so I should have enough power
[09:01:37] <pythonirc101> anyone here owns a cnc?
[09:03:00] <SorcererX> I wish I did? :)
[09:03:26] <pythonirc101> SorcererX: that counts - I am in the same boat
[09:03:39] <pythonirc101> am thinking of buying one
[09:04:22] <SorcererX> very expensive isn't it? unless you are actually building something you can make money on that is
[09:04:37] <pythonirc101> SorcererX:
https://www.omiocnc.com/products/x6-2200l-usb.html - thinking of buying this
[09:06:37] <SorcererX> ah, neat
[09:08:02] <SorcererX> would be sweet to be able to machine alu parts
[09:08:13] <pythonirc101> SorcererX: that is exactly why i want it
[09:11:48] <SorcererX> I wonder how the water is hooked up to it
[09:13:02] <pythonirc101> I think its a pump
[09:14:32] <SorcererX> yeah, but pumping from where?
[09:14:34] <SorcererX> :)
[09:14:45] <pythonirc101> they have a bucket of sort i think
[09:15:08] <SorcererX> I suppose that'd work
[09:28:15] <SpeedEvil> LiohAu: yes, it's brushless
[09:43:22] <rue_house> ARG: the thermocouple in the furnace failed this morning
[09:43:28] <rue_house> wont keep the pilot on
[09:43:46] * rue_house tries to remember where a spare one is
[09:48:48] <SorcererX> blah. guess I might have to consider something with indirect drive
[12:46:15] <LiohAu> SpeedEvil: then I can't understand how they are making a brushless motor working at less than 5 RPM without any gearbox oO
[12:46:39] <anniepoo_> the commutation on a brushless motor is electronic
[12:47:05] <anniepoo_> just as a stepper motor can be moved any speed, same with a brushless motor
[12:47:40] <z64555> he might be thinking of traditional AC brushless motors, which don't have a speed control
[12:48:03] <z64555> or rather, it can't vary
[12:48:28] <mbrumlow> I am looking at my next robot having Mecanum wheels. I want to have good positional awareness and accurate movements. I know you can get DC motors with sensors on them, but what about using a stepper motors?
[12:48:55] <z64555> steppers are more precise, but they still don't have a sensor
[12:49:01] <z64555> they can also slip
[12:49:31] <z64555> you can only do so much with dead reckoning methods
[12:49:58] <z64555> so you'll need an outside source of alignment if you need precision
[12:50:09] <mbrumlow> The final system was going to use visal and a system much like a mouse works to track movement.
[12:50:19] <mbrumlow> one looking at the ground and the other looking up.
[12:50:42] <z64555> that tracks movement deltas, which is again part of the dead reckoning method
[12:51:05] <z64555> (I'm also not sure the laser sensor has enough range to track the ceiling)
[12:51:50] <z64555> If you wanna get fancy, do image processing on the camera
[12:52:21] <z64555> being in an office environment, you have lots of straight lines you can use as a reference
[12:52:25] <mbrumlow> yeah, I am looking for the word that they call it. I saw a video where a guy uses a mono camera and can track movement
[12:52:34] <z64555> that's image processing
[12:53:15] <mbrumlow> This is the video
[12:53:17] <mbrumlow> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GvEOaBbyEZ0
[12:55:07] <mbrumlow> For the mouse like tracking I was not going to use lasers, but cameras with optical zoom (mostly for the ceiling)
[12:55:29] <z64555> right side has a few heat maps, the lower map is a top-down view of the courtyard path it's tracing
[12:55:52] <mbrumlow> But if I am doing all that work, should I just use DC motors, or will steppers still provide some help.
[12:56:16] <z64555> steppars will give you more precise controls at the cost of some speed and smoothness
[12:56:25] <mbrumlow> In my ideal setup I want to still be able to move strait even if there is something phsically wrong with one of the wheels.
[12:56:41] <mbrumlow> (to an extent)
[12:56:50] <mbrumlow> if it is glued to the ground then I have no hope :p
[12:56:59] <mbrumlow> But no drifting left and right.
[12:57:09] <z64555> that's easy to do, lookup PID control algorithms and fuzzylogic stuff
[12:57:19] <z64555> that's _after_ you've figured out your reference lines
[12:57:26] <mbrumlow> thanks, that is the sort of info I need (what to search for and read about :p )
[12:57:43] <z64555> start with a simple line follower
[12:57:50] <z64555> get your control algorithm sorted
[12:58:08] <z64555> then switch to a more conveniant/robust sensory sytem
[12:58:47] <mbrumlow> The control system I want to build has 4 mecanum wheels, and I can point the face / front of the robot in any direction and then tell the robot to move in any other direction.
[12:59:25] <mbrumlow> For example, I can say point the face of the robot north, but then have the robot move at 25 degrees from the face.
[12:59:41] <z64555> start simple first. :P
[13:11:33] <mbrumlow> z64555: PID stuff is awesoem.
[13:26:54] <Mindstorm8191> hi :)
[13:29:07] <Mindstorm8191> so umm... I'm thinking about buying an ardurino, and getting into robotics with it. I'm good with programming, but I don't know anything about electronics... would this be the right place to ask questions?
[13:29:55] <deshipu> try #arduino :)
[13:30:02] <deshipu> but sure
[13:30:12] <Mindstorm8191> okay, thanks :)
[13:30:18] <deshipu> Mindstorm8191: any particular kind of robots?
[13:30:58] <Mindstorm8191> not really. its been an interest of mine for a long time, but haven't had the money & time to do anything with it. I went through college for programming, so I won't struggle with that aspect
[13:31:01] <deshipu> Mindstorm8191: I have a pretty nice cheap spider-like robot project using arduino, documented for people to replicate
[13:31:26] <deshipu> http://tote.readthedocs.io/ <-- here
[13:32:24] <Mindstorm8191> I'm wanting to set up a system to control vents in my house, and use temperature sensors in each of my rooms, to better regulate the temp in my house. I'm not sure what type of motor to use for the vents... I'm also not sure what sort of range I can get out of them, and still power it
[13:34:16] <deshipu> that doesn't sound much like a robot
[13:35:14] <Mindstorm8191> yeah, its not much of a robot, but it does involve a lot of the same ideas
[13:35:39] <deshipu> anyways, probably #arduino and ##electronics could give you better answers
[13:35:59] <Mindstorm8191> ok, thanks
[13:36:03] <z64555> depends on the vents, you can use an RC servo to start off with
[13:36:28] <z64555> if you need more range/power you can try different motors, or even steppars, but you'd have to provide the control electronics somewhere
[13:36:33] <Snert__> and survey what the market places uses in terms of actuator motors.
[13:39:07] <Mindstorm8191> yeah, I was thinking of a stepper motor... a guy told me they were more expensive than a servo, but a site article said steppers were cheaper. I just need something that can hold a position w/o continuous power (I mean, why waste power 24/7 when you move it only once an our or so?), or have a system to lock the vent angle
[13:42:19] <Mindstorm8191> anyway, gotta run for a bit
[13:49:23] <z64555> you can shut off power to the servo once the vent has been moved
[13:50:20] <z64555> Most decent quality butterfly valves won't open under pressure
[13:55:50] <SpeedEvil> If you're not trying to do proportional control, geared small DC motor run to stall works just fine
[14:02:20] <Mindstorm8191> ... :/ butterfly valves? I'm talking home-style air vents. with the little nob, and a series of flaps
[14:07:23] <z64555> which is a butterfly valve
[14:07:42] <Mindstorm8191> like this?
http://imgur.com/gallery/pWlLUrU
[14:07:58] <z64555> yes
[14:08:15] <z64555> I'm referring to the mechanism it uses to shut off the flow of air
[14:08:21] <Mindstorm8191> ok... well we're on the same page, then
[14:08:24] <z64555> Commerically, those are known as registers
[14:08:46] <z64555> https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Butterfly_valve
[14:09:05] <z64555> as opposed to
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ball_valve
[14:09:45] <z64555> and this:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Globe_valve
[14:11:37] <mbrumlow> Anybody have any thoughts on mecinical breaking? powerless mecinical braeking at rest?
[14:11:48] <mbrumlow> Is that something wheeld robots do to hold position?
[14:11:56] <z64555> they can
[14:12:06] <z64555> but usually they use electrical breaking
[14:12:50] <z64555> If your motor is a DC motor, you can brake the motor by shorting the leads
[14:13:06] <mbrumlow> The idea in my head is I would have to use power to disable the mechanical break, then move wheels, then cut power and the mechanical break would engage.
[14:13:40] <mbrumlow> I guess it all depends on how much breaking power I want at rest.
[14:13:43] <z64555> can do that too. Simplest example is a ratchet wheel and a solenoid acting upon it
[14:14:29] <z64555> a more continously/slippery variation is to have a rubber wheel and brake lever
[14:14:40] <z64555> or you could go full-on drum brake
[14:15:59] <mbrumlow> I was thinking something like a wide (think) sprocket that has a clamp that goes around it and inside the clamp there are rubber pads. The clamp has two screw shafts that can be moved up (open) or down (closed).
[14:16:19] <z64555> so a disc brake
[14:16:28] <mbrumlow> s/\(think\)/\(thick\)/
[14:16:43] <z64555> If your wheel's big enough, you can use bike brakes
[14:16:45] <mbrumlow> Yeah, so long as at rest it is not using power.
[14:17:00] <mbrumlow> only power to engage or disable.
[14:17:28] <z64555> use solenoids, not motors
[14:18:12] <z64555> In the event of power failure, the solenoids will automatically brake
[14:18:22] <z64555> Not that big of an issue for small robots, but it is for larger ones
[14:18:24] <Mindstorm8191> yeah, a solenoid sounds like it could work for unlocking the mechanism
[14:19:19] <mbrumlow> auto breaking on power failure would be a huge plus.
[14:19:36] <mbrumlow> This will be a much begger robot than the ones I have been linking.
[14:21:05] <z64555> solenoids can be treated as binary devices, or as continous
[14:21:16] <mbrumlow> bigger*
[14:21:31] <z64555> so you can adjust how much brake force is applied simply by adjusting the voltage to the solenoid
[14:23:22] <mbrumlow> I am trying to figure out how I typed begger vs bigger, but larger would have been better.
[14:28:19] <z64555> it's a fruedism, don't worry about it. :D
[14:28:48] <z64555> or you're trying to put in a verbal accent into text
[15:16:18] <mbrumlow> I always feel like I am cheating when I buy a chassis.
[15:25:54] <robopali> dont
[15:27:19] <robopali> you can always modify it to best fit your needs, and you gain in time and cost and effort
[15:57:53] <malcom2073> Thinking of motorizing this, ideas?
http://i.imgur.com/Ri8mX2J.jpg
[15:58:22] <malcom2073> I could possibly stick an offset chain sprocket on the inside or outside) of a wheel
[15:58:29] <malcom2073> Then attach it to a secondary axle
[15:59:41] <z64555> your floor could use a bit more gravel
[16:00:10] <malcom2073> Needs more concrete :/
[16:03:18] <z64555> not really likeing the setup, driving the wheels doesn't look straightforward
[16:04:09] <malcom2073> Yeah. Low speed, just around the yard sort of thing for transporting stuff
[16:04:25] <malcom2073> Which is why I was thinking maybe a sprocket on the wheel
[16:04:44] <malcom2073> It's not optimum, it's a trailer afterall heh
[16:05:03] <z64555> whats the area near the wheels look like?
[16:05:13] <z64555> the axles look like they're above the cross-beam
[16:05:43] <malcom2073> Uploading pic. They are, barely
[16:06:41] <malcom2073> http://i.imgur.com/HcOc3kw.jpg
[16:07:17] <z64555> welp
[16:08:14] <z64555> your only option is to put a sproket and bolt it into the wheel hub
[16:08:28] <z64555> and *hope* you have enough clearance
[16:08:53] <malcom2073> I can space the wheel out, so clearance won't be an issue if I put it on the inside
[16:09:19] <malcom2073> I'd just beat the lugs out, machine a metal spacer and get longer lugs
[16:09:20] <z64555> If you can't put a sproket on it, then you'll have to use a gear and drum rack
[16:09:30] <malcom2073> gear and drum?
[16:10:31] <z64555> eh, I forget the actual term for it, but like a planetary gearbox, but with one elliptical gear and the ring
[16:10:57] <malcom2073> Ah, a ring on the rim bolted on, and the planet gear attached to the axle bar?
[16:11:03] <z64555> yes
[16:11:13] <z64555> and then attach the chain to the axle
[16:11:20] <z64555> or belt
[16:11:34] <malcom2073> Was gonna do chain for now, sprockets are cheaper than timing gears heh
[16:12:34] <z64555> might need a pair of idler planets
[16:13:15] <malcom2073> Yeah
[16:13:35] <z64555> although you could power those as well, if you put in a sun, too
[16:13:47] <malcom2073> Use it as a final gear reduction
[16:14:23] <z64555> the driven planet would engage the ring and the sun, and the sun would engage the two idlers
[16:15:24] <malcom2073> Ah yeah
[16:24:10] <Snert__> harmonic drive is the ovular thing.
[16:28:57] <malcom2073> I have a spare harmonic drive laying around
[16:29:21] <malcom2073> though 160:1 is a bit extreme of a gear ratio heh
[16:33:59] <Snert__> yea those things are amazing. Seem one 3d printed.
[16:34:21] <malcom2073> Hah I saw that, cute
[16:34:22] <Snert__> I have doubts about a 3dprinted harmonic drive - durability.
[16:34:31] <malcom2073> Yeah it wouldn't be good for much of anything
[16:34:37] <malcom2073> But good proof of concept piece
[16:34:56] <malcom2073> Harmonic drives can be had on ebay for fairly cheap, no need to 3d print one :-D
[16:35:14] <Snert__> good thought I keep eyes open
[16:35:34] <mbrumlow> z64555: sorry to ask again, but you think I can get without encoders if I use image based guidance?
[16:35:43] <mbrumlow> I can do without**
[16:35:54] <z64555> yes
[16:36:05] <mbrumlow> okay good (that saves me money)
[16:36:10] <z64555> although the more sensors, the better
[16:36:14] <malcom2073> I have some other random gear boxes, I may use one of them. I'm gonna power it off a DC motor to start, maybe eventually moving to a small gasoline motor with a go-cart clutch if that works out well
[16:36:22] <mbrumlow> If ound a place that can let me kit out the base the way I want.
[16:36:27] <mbrumlow> http://www.superdroidrobots.com/shop/item.aspx/programmable-mecanum-wheel-vectoring-robot-ig32-sb/1713/
[16:36:33] <mbrumlow> But it is a bit pricey.
[16:37:40] <Snert__> would a tracked tank chassis like thing sdo?
[16:37:45] <z64555> ah, the gear version of the wankel engine
[16:41:25] <mbrumlow> Snert__: was that directed at me?
[16:41:35] <Snert__> ya
[16:41:57] <Snert__> saw one for much less than 900bucks.
[16:42:07] <mbrumlow> Oh okay, well, I am mostlydone with tracked tanks I have 2 of them up (actually had to remove the tracks from one).
[16:42:26] <mbrumlow> I like how the tracks work but I have too many problem with them.
[16:42:53] <mbrumlow> Although this new system will have some cool things on it, I also don't like the tracks because I let random peple play with them.
[16:42:59] <mbrumlow> ANd they can climb things.
[16:44:08] <mbrumlow> (I won't post the link again, so people don't get annoyed :p) (you can pm me if you want it).
[16:46:29] <Snert__> k.
[16:49:31] <Snert__> that's very responsive. It's no fun when the device just ain't fast enuff to be fun.
[16:51:12] <Snert__> that's very nice running gear.
[16:51:24] <Snert__> love the quality
[16:52:34] <mbrumlow> 8081 is back on line.
[16:53:29] <mbrumlow> I make them slower than they have to be so it translate well for low bandwith people.
[16:53:56] <Snert__> that was fun. I'll remember you when I need mechanical inspiration.
[16:54:19] <Snert__> just being able to look at the chassis close up is helpful.
