FULLY ARMORED
[11/16/2004]
As I expected, it took the entire class period to complete the top armor. What was not
expected was that I would only get four bolts in on each panel. The front panel will have
eight bolts, with six bolts on the back panel, once complete. It just took a long time,
because I made only one transfer screw to mark where to drill the holes, and I spent so
much time taking the side panels off and putting them back on and drilling holes wider,
etc., etc., that it just ate up all my shop time. Having only one transfer screw makes
things take that much longer.
I split the top armor into two panels. The "front" panel bends over the top to provide
protection to the batteries. The rear panel is made from thicker aluminum (a T6 grade,
I believe) as I intend to mount the weaponry on it. The front panel was cut square, but
the frame was not quite exactly square, so it doesn't line up very well on one side. But
I'm not going to fuss with it. I cut the rear panel to fit the configuration of the frame.
An official weigh-in of this "completed" robot puts it right at the predicted weight of
12 pounds. This is bad news, as that leaves me no weight allowance for a weapon. I
think my only [unrealistic] option at this point is to replace all the aluminum armor
(bottom, sides and top) with Titanium. That would lighten it up considerably, but
it would be a major burden on the bank account (the one that is already feeling the
strain).
To add a weapon would mean adding a couple of bearings or bushings, a steel shaft, some pulleys, a belt, a motor, a motor controller, and the spinning blade. That's just a bit too much to pull together before December 5 (the day of the rumble) - plus it will put me way overweight - so I don't know if I will fight it or not. There is an ominous foe in the midst that could potentially make Slap Happy very unhappy, and I refuse to fight it without a weapon. Then again, adding a weapon to Slap Happy will ensure that I won't fight it, because then I am out of its weight class...unless he would be willing to battle anyway.