Reflexions: Total Recall - Day 29 and Parent meeting

Good work day in the shop for the team.

I discussed with the Robotics II classes about the importance of posting to Basecamp on a daily basis so we could see/track progress. This is so important for other subteams who need information about the robot build but are not there each day or in the shop the entire time. I also discussed the lack of students at the work sessions on Saturday and Monday evening and the fact that this class was no different from any other extracurricular class in regards to team meetings/work times. They should show up to meetings when called even if they are on weekends and school holidays such as Monday.

Progress on the robot included:

Red deck had large wheels and caster mounted
Large silver wheels had hubs and tread mounted
Bolts were cut for the motor mounts, caster and wheels
Began painting the bucket blue
The bucket was cut to fit on the new deck
Reinstalled the door support and slides
Microswitches were soldered and installed on the slides. The slide had to be drilled and tapped for a 2/56 machine screws.
The corner Lexan pieces were drilled for access holes for mounting. They were also heated and bent at the top so that a gadget could not get stuck on top of it.
Jonny tested the code on the door. It was very successful with the wooden door in place but not so with the Lexan door. See the attached video. Two videos are attached. The first one shows 60 gadgets being released. The second shows 180 golfballs being released. Notice in the second one that so of the golfballs release but then they get jammed. Jonny has worked a drive code to help with this scenario but has yet to test it.
Fingers for data port were filed and sanded on the lexan piece
Grant worked on laying out the drill pattern for the fingers to be mounted to the wire assembly
Standoffs had a section that was not very strong, so we inserted wood wedges into the locations and glued them in place. The excess was trimmed off with the bandsaw.
Standoffs were installed using the right angle brackets
Servo mount holes were cut out in the standoffs
The arm motor was mounted to the right standoff
Tim Ousley came by to visit with the team and do some video of the omni wheels.
Grey sanded the lexan circles down so they would insert into the PVC pipe. He then expoxied 2 lexan circles into each piece of PVC pipe.
Joe worked with Grey on cutting the outer plates for the omni wheels. He got one small axle cut. The wheel looks good. It shows great prospect.
David M cut three arms from plywood and glued them together for the actual arm piece.
Brocklebolts were made for the pulley arms
Aluminum disks were drilled for the motor/axle arm for the pulley
Igus flange bearings were mounted with 4/40 machines screws that were cut off

We have some issues to work out that include weight balance since the door motor is located at the back end hanging over the back of the robot. We will lighten the deck in the back beyond the wheels. Jack B. suggested we use a wheelie bar or wheel to keep us from tipping over. The bucket will have to cutout on the grabber side so the standoffs do not stick over the end of the robot. Scott McMahon asked many different groups/students about their work projects. He asked questions for clarification as well as to make sure the students were aware of not only what they were doing but why as well. This is a usual daily activity for him in the shop.

The BEST award team met in regards to the notebook, display and notebook. Michael Watson spent some time with the Web team. He communicated the importance of posting on Basecamp projects that have been done as well as the need to get all files on Basecamp so others have access to it.

Joyce and Linda held a parent meeting to discuss WESTA and answer any questions about the team up to this point. I visited with the parents for a few minutes about our past, our current progress in BEST, plans for the Spring and our future. Funding continues to be a major hurdle we must be concerned with.