Mech/Exoskeleton Build (Full-Size )

[GMer56]

First test run, found the following issues:

1) Roll cage is in way of control arms. Solution: add braces to roll cage
2) Left Pilot cradle shin housing is loose. Solution: add brace to housing
3) Difficult to insert legs into shin cradle. Solution: see #4
4) Thighs are too short- pilot reported compression on thigh muscles. Solution: compound (double jointed knee) - will lengthen leg and provide more flexibility
5) Left arm frozen. Solution: adjust tension on control cables & lubricate.

 

[GMer56]

Built the double jointed shins before the rain got too bad. Will add tension cables when its not so wet.



Honestly I was inspired by a gundam kit.



Now the feets lay flat on the ground!

 

[Benton188]

It's definitely getting there GMer56. Looks better and better everytime I check in on your post. I may have to pick your brain here coming up towards the end of the year as I plan on building my own large mech. I want to make a Gypsy Danger build, but make it 10' tall and use the same rigging for the arms that your suit uses. But that's later down the road, I haven't even started making the legs yet lol.

 

[GMer56]

It's definitely getting there GMer56. Looks better and better everytime I check in on your post. I may have to pick your brain here coming up towards the end of the year as I plan on building my own large mech. I want to make a Gypsy Danger build, but make it 10' tall and use the same rigging for the arms that your suit uses. But that's later down the road, I haven't even started making the legs yet lol.

If you'd be willing to have a boxing match with 'em its a deal. Depends on when I get the video done of my to challenge Megabots.

Judd McStudd (My Mech) stands around 9 feet tall.



And he fell down again. Must've been those beers last night. Minimal damage though 8)

 

[Benton188]

If you'd be willing to have a boxing match with 'em its a deal. Depends on when I get the video done of my to challenge Megabots.

Judd McStudd (My Mech) stands around 9 feet tall.

View attachment 257525

And he fell down again. Must've been those beers last night. Minimal damage though 8)

Yeah he looks a little hung over lol. Also, I think you might win this fight as yours is metal and mine will mostly be PVC and EVA foam...

 

[GMer56]

Yeah he looks a little hung over lol. Also, I think you might win this fight as yours is metal and mine will mostly be PVC and EVA foam...

You'd be surprised how durable Eva foam is: I hit my chestpiece hard several times while wearing and barely felt the impact (not that I recommend it for actual protection).

Of course, I'm thinking a rockem sockem fight where the goal is to knock the opponents head off.

Added a stabilizer to the stasis dock so Judd mcstudd doesn't fall down.



Added tension cord to compound knees.



And braces to the chest cage.

 

[GMer56]

Popped some rivets into the hip joints & added some metal reinforcement to the control arms.




Boarded it and didn't feel any discomfort in my hamstrings: compound knees added just the right length and flexibility to the knee and thigh.





Without that metal post the control arms bend like gumby :O

And tomorrow I'll (hopefully) be able to film a test run. All the rain lately means I'll have to give the elbow cables some lube

 

[GMer56]

During the test run and a PVC joint on the ankle popped off. Gonna rivet all of 'em tomorrow.

 

[GMer56]

Strapping is a little funky (tends to slip oddly enough), and the shoulder bolts have bent compromising movement. Probably replace 'em with 3/8" bolts. Haven't given it a loooob job yet XD
Definitely needs a back cushion!

Processing video footage now, here's a screenie:

 

[GMer56]

Okay, so I did a little more than a test:

 

[GMer56]

Added a back cushion. Very comfy.



Loooooooobed up the elbow cables too. Hooray!

When Judd McStudd is laying down you can really get a sense of scale


Looking under the dust cover, the shoulder paralellograms were not so paralell. So that's why he seemed drunk.


Bolts were really bent!



Replacing all eight 1/4"x3 shoulder bolts with 3/8" x3 bolts & locknuts. Cost $22! just for 8 pairs!


Looking better:





Put rivets everywhere on the right shin. Should come apart anytime soon. Really should've gotten that PVC cement instead.

 

[GMer56]

The back cushion is indeed comfy. Too comfy: it puts the pilot too far forward to grab the control arms and barely wriggle into the shins. Gives me an excuse to install a 3rd degree of freedom in the shoulder. Did I mention the cushion is comfy? Because it is.



A rare sketch. oooo. Quick take notes guise!

It pretty much makes the current parallelogram the anchor point for another paralellogram to shift left and right, transforming any rotational motion by the pilot to horizontal extension/flexion in the shoulder and extending the arms towarms the front by about 4", just the right amount to compensate for the cushion. Gotta get another 100 pak of lock nuts, 20 pak of 3" bolts and 2x 3/4"x8' PVC. Shop shop shop.

The cushion is comfy :3

 

[GMer56]

Slave parallelogram is proceeding: got the shipment of nylon lock nuts early.



Finally got some PVC cement. Meet some permanent connections on the slave stabilizers (man its fun coming up with new terminology!) Don't worry: I wore gloves and a respirator

 

[GMer56]

Judd mcstudd sees you...



The arm mechanism is nifty, but impractical atm.

 

[GMer56]

So it finally happened:



The shins gave out: pop rivets and gorilla glue won't last.

See?



So I made a new shin subframe to PVC cement tomorrow:



Pilot Footprint is 4" longer so my feet can sit comfortably therein.

And a random rocket:

 

[GMer56]

Used PVC cement on the shins, and replaced the MDF with a PVC frame (with metal reinforcement) that takes at least 10lbs off each foot.

Gonna get some wood underlayment to help pin the panels on and attach the Eva foam soles.


The feet look more complicated, but I'm happy with the results... Until I find out I forgot to glue something XD

 

[GMer56]

Doing some more cat watching for my folks this week.


So I fit all of this:

Into this.

Plus clothes and groceries.
Laying everything out reminded me of this:


Expect a lot of progress this week.

Assembled the arms, and the cushion is properly mounted! Need to fine tune the arm cables and loosen the webbing.


Finished up the feets. Just need fine tuning on the pilot foot cradle angle.

 

[GMer56]

Just a quick update: looks like I'll be using the mech in haloween show this year, so there might be a slight divergence from the mecha development while I dress it up as a giant demon. Cardboard base, cheap cloth painted skin.
Maybe something like the baron of hell? Have to contact the grand poobah of the show for details.

 

[GMer56]

I underestimated the commute to work from my folks place via the interstate. At one onramp traffic daily came to a halt! IN VERMONT!

Too hot today so I waited till things got shady to do some work.

Like giving it some sole...



Using some heavy plastic for dust covers.



Funnily enough, now I have 2 core torso units... Hmmmmm...

 

[Dirtdives2424]

Hmmmmmmmm........