The Shaft and the Shaft

Spoiler: Indexer, shooter, and gearboxes all ready to go!

After less than 2 weeks having limited on-site access, we have a rolling chassis that has already run some autonomous routines, some student-driven paths, and even collected a few power cells! (They immediately fell out, but, progress!)

In this next week, the goal is to finish manufacturing and assemble as much of the final systems that we can. This will give the most amount of time possible for practicing the skills challenges themselves.

On Schedule Stuff

Though our time in the lab is still limited compared to previous years, our machining schedule has been quite rapid. For one, tiny robot, not many systems, so there's simply fewer items to manufacture. For two, with the limited time, we have been a touch more focused on running efficiently. We say this every year, but there's hopefully a more prominent sense of that this year. (The people understand this, the router, not so much. Stopping halfway through a 4-ish hour operation on the 1/4" aluminum... not cool router. Not. Cool.)

Second time was the charm for these 1/4" plates...

That being said, we did finish the 1/4" plates this week, and the indexer parts, and gearbox plates and more. We've now got the indexer assembled with all bearings, pulleys, and shafts, and we are able to hand-roll a ball through. We've also got the gearboxes mostly built.

Off Schedule Stuff

Alas, at the end of the week, we do have just a few more parts to make. Our major rebuild and re-wire is scheduled for Saturday. Maybe we'll need to add in an extra 2 or 4 hour block on Sunday. We are maybe a little bit behind though. (Ah, finally some normalcy has returned! An FRC team that's behind schedule!)

Earlier in the week, starting frame assembly.

This part of the build, even in a normal season is great for another burndown list in the lab. (Because I'm not there, I don't actually know if one will be drawn on the whiteboard, so we'll see what happens next week!) This part of the build often involves lots of little tasks. Again, small robot with fewer systems makes this easier, however there are still a lot of moving pieces. There's a few parts to finish cutting. The indexer and shooter are 1 large assembly, but there will still be a number of small pieces added on (tensioners, protectors and the like). The start of work will be removing the existing temporary electrical, and the "finish" of things will be installing the final wiring. 

And then of course, once the robot is "complete", software will come in the next day, bring-up the systems, and start testing, which will inevitably bring about a few changes as we learn lessons we could not see with the CAD. Actually, we already have been made to rethink our collector deploy after testing.

While this looks good, it's not really in the robot...

We found a 'sticking point' with the intake wheels at the edge of the collector. To prevent catching power cells on the edge of the intake and the bumpers, we moved the wheels more inboard. Now we don't have a roller that overlaps with the edge of the indexer plate, so our "roll off" deploy mechanism doesn't have anything to "roll off" of. Back to the drawing board. We did think of duct-tape, or 3-d printed spirals, but are going to experiment with wrapping Velcro around the roller shaft.

So, we've done a lot of good, almost having finished manufacturing and installing most of our shafts. However, the time on the clock is still ticking downward, so let's hope we don't get... well, you know.

Random Musing of the Week

If there's one thing that always makes my day, it's a little bit of fresh air. A good walk in the morning, evening, or both, or any other time can help in so many ways.

One, exercise is simply good for you. Maybe even getting a bit of sun (unlikely in the Seattle area sadly...). 

I photoshopped in the sun. It doesn't actually exist here.

Two, it allows you to take a break. I call walks my 'sanity time'. I can stop thinking about anything, everything. Stare at the tree branches sticking out oddly. Find the woodpecker who's decided that a signpost makes more noise than a tree (but probably has fewer bugs).

Or three, on the flip-side, you can rubber duck about something on your mind. Rubber-ducking is basically uh... talking about the problem out loud. It can be to another person. It can literally be to a rubber duck.

"Ugh. It's so frustrating. My code just won't build!"

"Squeak."

"I added this new line that- Oh, I hope I remembered to close with a semi-colon."

"...Squeak."

Squeak!

Rubber ducks and Google are basically how I get anything at work done.

And four, it's a change of scenery. A change of location, maybe a change of pace. It's a fresh smell, or a sound. It's simply, different.

I know things can be difficult for a number of people, especially in downtown areas, heck even before the pandemic, but I highly recommend that if you are able to - go take a walk.

Get some fresh air.

Squeak.

-B