Joined: 16 Jun 2004
Posts: 11802
Location: Sydney, NSW
You're going to use a MUCH larger hammer?
My lock idea has two versions, the better one needs a small amount of welding. its on the frame, not near any plastic so it should still be fairly easy. The non-welding version just needs a couple of holes and bolts. _________________ Australian 2015 Featherweight champion
UK 2016 Gladiator champion
Sun Sep 27, 2015 11:34 pm
Nick Experienced Roboteer
Joined: 16 Jun 2004
Posts: 11802
Location: Sydney, NSW
OK, here is my idea for a strong, simple and easy to make arena lock. I knocked the demo up from wood off the scrap bin; the steel parts can be sized to what people think is strong enough:
In the closed and locked position. The locking bar pivots around the top screw and is secured with a pin. I have four of the pins spare from another project; I can post them up or bring them with me.
From the door frame side. You can see how the latch is angled so the locking bar draws the door closed on the inclined plane.
In the open position. The locking bar is not stable like this and wants to rotate down to keep the door closed, so its inherently safe even without the locking pin. The block above the latch plate is to stop the locking bar rotating too far.
The locking pin. It fits up to a 38mm thickness and needs an 8mm hole.
The latch plate could be welded or screwed to the door frame and the locking bar can be made from whatever flat bar is on hand. In the demo, the bar is 75 x 130mm. _________________ Australian 2015 Featherweight champion
UK 2016 Gladiator champion
Cool I knocked a few test steel bits today think it will work. Will also leave the old ones there and just put it above/below them so that we can still use them. Think hardest part will be making the steel latch part thick enough so it doesn't bow out when door gets hit.
Also shirts are ordered.
One more thing to cross off the list. _________________ Steven Martin
Twisted Constructions
http://www.botbitz.com
So I added a similar latch to the door. Seems to work ok but door frame is so flexible it can move like 10mm and if that happens it seems to jam due to the way I built it. Few more mods tomorrow then I am going to call it done F@#$##IN%$C@#N^%^$T@MOTH!#@DASG@#$!@E@!!!!!
I also modded the other two latches so the pin can be used to lever door closed and then placed in a slot to lock. So between those two mods it should be somewhat better.
The real issue is the door basically floats in the frame so its not that hinges sag or the latches bend is that the whole frame twists. Really needs some braces on it to stiffen it but even then probably won't help once we get to bolting the whole thing together. _________________ Steven Martin
Twisted Constructions
http://www.botbitz.com
Tue Sep 29, 2015 6:40 pm
Nick Experienced Roboteer
Joined: 16 Jun 2004
Posts: 11802
Location: Sydney, NSW
The new arena lights are almost finished; two are complete and the other two are cut & drilled, just waiting for the extra heatsink fins to arrive - 3 or 4 more hours work should finish everything. The DMX controller has arrived and looks easy to get going to control the lights:
The board is tiny, as are the relays, so I am not convinced they will switch the advertised 10 amps. Luckily, each light draws less that 0.4A at 240V, so we don't need to worry. It will be easy to build this into a power distribution box so each LED strip light can be controlled.
The bad news is that the arena timer isn't going to be finished in time; the wiring & construction is much more time consuming than I thought so this will have to be an upgrade for the following event . _________________ Australian 2015 Featherweight champion
UK 2016 Gladiator champion
Tue Sep 29, 2015 9:11 pm
Valen Experienced Roboteer
Joined: 07 Jul 2004
Posts: 4436
Location: Sydney
The NSW arena timer is still good to go, wouldn't be insane to add some "repeater" displays for the combatants, as a stop gap.
It's not little though, getting it to QLD could be interesting? _________________ Mechanical engineers build weapons, civil engineers build targets
TODO
- Test Arena Door - Done
- Robot Trading Cards - Revision 1 done, revision 2 to come this weekend
- Run sheet finalised - TODO
- Green Ant Repairs - Done
- Arena Lighting - Almost Done
- TV Video Streaming Test - Maybe
- Shirts - Done
Plan for next few days:
- Do as many cards as possible from Builders DB so far nobody has assisted with supplying details. - TODO
- Reload trailer with arena.- Done
- Ditch old top layer floor. - DOne
- Re Paint bottom outside layer of floor.-Not doing
- Drill the steel bottom barriers. - TODO
- Sort the Arena Bolts - TODO
- Finalise Shirt order - Done
- Replace all the green ants batteries and pack. - Done
So where am I at TODO:
- Do as many cards as possible from Builders DB so far nobody has assisted with supplying details. - TODO
- Run sheet finalised - TODO
- Drill the steel bottom barriers. - TODO
- Sort the Arena Bolts - TODO
Well getting there. _________________ Steven Martin
Twisted Constructions
http://www.botbitz.com
Arena is all packed and ready to be delivered Friday.
Cards and Time schedule are happening slowly but its not really my highest priority. _________________ Steven Martin
Twisted Constructions
http://www.botbitz.com
Wed Oct 07, 2015 10:54 am
Nick Experienced Roboteer
Joined: 16 Jun 2004
Posts: 11802
Location: Sydney, NSW
I had a bit of a setback with the lighting - it seems that Locktite destroys some plastics and the mounts for the power supplies now look like crumbly cheese. I fixed it up with massive amounts of epoxy and once that sets, the last two lights can be wired up and packed. _________________ Australian 2015 Featherweight champion
UK 2016 Gladiator champion
Wed Oct 07, 2015 11:54 am
Valen Experienced Roboteer
Joined: 07 Jul 2004
Posts: 4436
Location: Sydney
ouch, that is not how you want to find that out. _________________ Mechanical engineers build weapons, civil engineers build targets
Joined: 31 May 2004
Posts: 3160
Location: Melbourne, Australia
I prefer Gaffer tape, it sticks better and is black.
I suppose Duct tape is a bit cheaper than the good (Nashua) gaffer tape.. _________________ Great minds discuss ideas. Average minds discuss events. Small minds discuss people
Wed Oct 07, 2015 1:54 pm
Nick Experienced Roboteer
Joined: 16 Jun 2004
Posts: 11802
Location: Sydney, NSW
In the US its the same thing. You should try a roll of Gorilla tape, its pricey but even better than the Nashua stuff. _________________ Australian 2015 Featherweight champion
UK 2016 Gladiator champion
Wed Oct 07, 2015 2:22 pm
Spockie-Tech Site Admin
Joined: 31 May 2004
Posts: 3160
Location: Melbourne, Australia
Really ? Duct Tape has always been silver and plastic/stretchy when Ive seen it.. This stuff
(some make wallets out of it)
Gaffer Tape is usually cloth backed (non stretch) and black
Although i did see some silver cloth backed "duct tape", as well as the usual "Duck tape" misnaming and so on, but Ill stick with what Nashua calls it..
Gorilla Tape is new to me. _________________ Great minds discuss ideas. Average minds discuss events. Small minds discuss people
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