Nerd Crew - My robotic R2D2 build v. still in progress.

[God of Thunder]

I have quite a bit of time on my hands considering my GF still works evenings on occasion....usually 2 -3 nights per week, but enough so that I needed to find something to do with my time.

I have a LOT of tools at my disposal, so I wanted to find something that would be fun, intriguing, challenging, and rewarding. Finally, I stumbled on a website called the R2 Builder's Club. I began reading a little and was sold within a few minutes. I started back in June of this year, and have built most everything from scratch so far. I do have many parts on order like the dome (www.300mmdome.com) and some aluminum skins (it's what gives R2 his panels, body, etc).

So I invite you all to check out my build blog, take a look at my progress and just kind of show off what I am proud to have accomplished so far.

http://brandonpaith.blogspot.com

When it's done, it will be taken to area Children's Hospitals along with nursing homes, conventions, and any other thing where people might see him and enjoy the opportunity.

I know this is kind of nerdy on Chiefsplanet, but hopefully everyone will play nice and realize that this is more for charity and bringing joy to people. If you have any questions, feel free to post here or send me a PM.

LINKS.

www.astromech.net (club's website)

http://vfranco.blogspot.com (a finished R2 done step-by-step)

[Rain Man]

This is amazing stuff. I can't make a ruler out of a 12-inch stick, so I'm always impressed by people who can build stuff from scratch.

[LiveSteam]

Yup/ Your R2 unit is pretty interesting. Any chance you want it to run on steam?

[FAX]

Can you make one for me, Mr. God of Thunder?

FAX

[MoreLemonPledge]

I'm in for one. Thanks in advance.

[Lumpy]

Originally Posted by God of Thunder

If this tape failed me, then it would pretty much ruin my coin slots.

Sorry, but that's funny.

Seriously though, cool project!

[God of Thunder]

Originally Posted by FAX

Can you make one for me, Mr. God of Thunder?

FAX

Originally Posted by MoreLemonPledge

I'm in for one. Thanks in advance.

Originally Posted by Lumpy

Sorry, but that's funny.

Seriously though, cool project!

It's not funny when that little coin slot (about 4" long) cost me $45 and shipping!

AND, They can be had for about 3-4k (on the lower end for the building inclined, probably $1200 from styrene.....those that want full aluminum, you're looking around 10k, and for those like myself, 3-4k), so if you want one bad enough........I can point you in all the right direction!

[God of Thunder]

Originally Posted by Rain Man

This is amazing stuff. I can't make a ruler out of a 12-inch stick, so I'm always impressed by people who can build stuff from scratch.

Thank you......it hasn't been an easy road that it for sure. I received templates with the legs that allowed me to just rout right around them and then glue them up. Messed up several of them along the process. The frame is all 100% hand done from some plans I found.....it's taken a lot of trial and error, but it's getting there!

Originally Posted by LiveSteam

Yup/ Your R2 unit is pretty interesting. Any chance you want it to run on steam?

Steam. Care to elaborate? Right now it's planned to run off of two windshield wiper motors. The dome has a Pittman motor with a Syren motor controller

[FAX]

Originally Posted by God of Thunder

It's not funny when that little coin slot (about 4" long) cost me $45 and shipping!

AND, They can be had for about 3-4k (on the lower end for the building inclined, probably $1200 from styrene.....those that want full aluminum, you're looking around 10k, and for those like myself, 3-4k), so if you want one bad enough........I can point you in all the right direction!

That's great, Mr. God of Thunder.

But, I would like a custom-made one. I would gladly pay cash money. Can you make it so it shoots goo and vacuums and attaches itself to my home security system and communicates with the home office security guys in beep lingo?

FAX

[God of Thunder]

Originally Posted by FAX

That's great, Mr. God of Thunder.

But, I would like a custom-made one. I would gladly pay cash money. Can you make it so it shoots goo and vacuums and attaches itself to my home security system and communicates with the home office security guys in beep lingo?

FAX

sadly, as much as I hate to say this, but there are already ones out there that do all of this, and tons more.

[MoreLemonPledge]

Can you attach a Fleshlight to one? My...uh...friend was wondering.

[God of Thunder]

Holy crap! First all, this takes forever, about 4 hours to get everything you see here complete. In the end, it looks FANTASTIC with a few minor glitches that I can fix later.

First I want to show all my pie panels drawn out. They are numbered how they are on the outer dome so that I will be able to match them up easier.



Next up, I start drilling hundreds of tiny holes all around the pie panels......this takes forever. I did it without stopping and only broke 3 drill bits!






Next, I had to get the panels out! I did this a unique way. I used my Dremel with a reinforced disk, what I did, was slowly trace along the edge of the drill holes so that I had a "track".......then on one end of the drill holes, I used the Dremel to go ALL THE WAY down through the aluminum.....like pictured below.




Then, what I did was throw some WD40 on there, take my hack saw with a handle, and quickly and easily cut the piece out.




Next up, was to file the inner dome cutouts....I started slowly.



Eventually, I got them all fairly smooth. I will still go over them again at a later date to make them even smoother, but so far I am more than pleased.

Next, I had to do what any guy would do........test it with my outer dome! As you can see, the results are pretty good!!! I wanted to start filing the cutout pieces (that attach to the bottom of the pie panels) but decided it was time to take a break for a day or so and recoup from this long mess! Here are the test pictures!!