Difference between revisions of "RC Lawn Mower"

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(Materials On Hand: added tubes for wheels)
(Status: added status update)
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| Purchased tubes for the bicycle wheels.  Took measurements and marked the steel tubing that will attach the chassis frame to the lawn mower || May 22nd
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| [[User:Omegix|Omegix]] Continued [[User:Ratmandu|Ratmandu]]'s angle grinding effort to smooth out weld spots on the chassis || May 19th, 2010
 
| [[User:Omegix|Omegix]] Continued [[User:Ratmandu|Ratmandu]]'s angle grinding effort to smooth out weld spots on the chassis || May 19th, 2010
 
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Revision as of 15:37, 24 May 2010

Creator:
Omegix
Status:
Building
Born On:
15:05, 22 April 2010 (CDT)
Last Updated:
15:37, 24 May 2010 (CDT)

Overview

Remote Controlled (RC) Lawn Mower that Ratmandu was talking about.
See example here: http://members.iinet.net.au/~tnpshow/RCLM/intro.htm


We have a mailing list for the mower here: http://lists.makerslocal.org/mailman/listinfo/rcmower

Pictures of the progress we're making are available here: RC Lawn Mower/Pictures

Status

Purchased tubes for the bicycle wheels. Took measurements and marked the steel tubing that will attach the chassis frame to the lawn mower May 22nd
Omegix Continued Ratmandu's angle grinding effort to smooth out weld spots on the chassis May 19th, 2010
Had our first build on the weekend of May 14th
  • On Friday Ben and I picked up two 8" diameter swivel castor wheels for the front of the mower.
  • Scott showed us how to use the portable band saw to cut 45 degree angles into the steel tubing to make the frame fit together the best. He then put tack weld spots where the pieces met to hold the chassis frame in place.
  • Ratmandu finished the welding job on the rectangle chassis over the weekend.
  • The bolt on the height adjuster is 1/2 inch. The threaded portion is too small to go all the way through the square tubing. Someone suggested we replace the current bolt that came with the mower (the one attached to the height adjuster) with a longer bolt.
May 14,2010
Had our first meeting may 8th. Came up with a design similar to the one in the example link above, except no castor wheels in the front and using bicyle wheels in the back, attached to the motor via bicyle chain. Currently looking for metal for the chassy. Omegix 12:10, 10 May 2010 (CDT)


Meterials

Potential Materials

  • Bicycle Gear Chains
  • Bluetooth to Serial module (for controlling via internet)

Materials On Hand

  • Two 8" swivel castor wheels ($14 each)
  • Metal Bars for chassis (See metal chassis from example above)
    • Purchased 20' of 1" 14 gauge square steel for $18. ($14 for the bar, $3 to have it cut)
    • Two 48"
    • Two 22"
    • One Solid piece of whatever was left.
  • Two Bicycle Wheels
    • Two tubes purchased for the wheels. ($6 each)
  • Lawn Mower (retrieved from Makers Local craigslist add: http://huntsville.craigslist.org/wan/1715017438.html) ($30 for two mowers)
  • Sea Foam (engine cleaner. the mower took a bit to stay running the first time we cranked it). $10
    • Omegix has in the trunk of his car.
  • Motor Control
    • The Current Victor 883 on the board has a burned out FET, causing the motor to only spin in one direction. Ratmandu said he might be able to fix it with tools like what he has at work, but not with the soldering tools at the shop.
    • PreauxPhoto has one of these available: http://www.firstwiki.net/index.php/Victor_884
      • This microcontroller will take in PWM and output enough current to drive larger motors
  • Motors
  • Battery (for powering the electric motors)
    • PreauxPhoto has batteries that can drive his motors
    • Spacefelix said he would donate his battery in the storage room to the project if we wanted it
  • RC Transmitter and Receiver Unit (hobby RC receivers output PWM signal)