The Giant Robot Project OK, so... this page is apparently being overrun with progress video's.
Thats cool, but if you want to know my babblings from when I starte this
whole thing just scroll down.
OH! ...and someone named Michael just made me some better artist
rednerings of the finished product. They're down HERE! ...and I think I've lost control of this website. :-P I
need to update it... and there's so much exciting going on in life to put
on here!
The workshop is going really well. Its dying to get a giant robot
finished in it. :-) I am too. Winter, please feel free
to stop any time now.
1. Here's
some progress.... Incase your webviewer doesn't work so great, here's the
url to it on Youtube...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=86Krv3gE-c4
2. Here's another update!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M6ON5IpUj0g
3. Yep, I'm still goin'...
Here's the 3rd installment. Actual robot construction commences....
I just loaded it on youtube, so its not giving me the
link yet. ...so just click on it!
4. Still in Wisconsin...
working on things. Its exceedingly difficult to work on unusual projects
in a "normal" environment. Really, most people just don't get the
whole inventive spirit! Everything is all about being quiet, taking
your prozac, and not doing anything to maintain a "civil" lifestyle.
BLAH!
5. Here's my last vido
update in Wisconsin. I'm going home tomorrow! (To Vermont).
6. Vermont was convered
in snow when I got back so I went to sunny Florida!
7. Still working.
Things seem to be going well. I've been working on the inner guts.
You know the parts that you look at and say... wha??????
8. Still in Florida.
I've gotten through most of the inner workings. I just have to finish
the section I'm working on, and one more major area. Then the legs!
oh, ya. Sounds easy.
9. This is my 2nd update
in 3 days. I must be kickin' some serious... uh... I mean.
Things are progressing exceptionally well, Captain.
10. I spoke with a
newspaper lady, made some rabbits, and got my hands on a pile of polycarbonate.
11. I'm still in Florida
doing my best. :-) Its going pretty well. I just have
one more difficult part to finish, then its all grunt work.
12. This is becoming
a pretty serious project. I'm starting to go crazy and everything.
eeeexcellent. Well, I cas see the light at the end of the tunnel
now. its still far away, but there.
13. I don't even know
what to say here anymore. I'm whiped out.
14. Blagablarg.
Jaimie tired.
15. I finally got an
oil change so I could go get a new tank of argon (mig welding gas) and
some more screws.... but my ball bearings are stuck in transit!
16. Going a little crazy
here.
17. Working hard...
Ya. I know its taking a long time! This is tha part where I
could use a minion.
18. I don't even
remember what happened in this video....
19. Getting ready to
leave Flroida! ...to go to Vermont. Well, with a working stop
in NC.
20. Here's a quick
update of my getting the robot parts up to the dome. It'll be on
hold while I do some work. ....its kind of nice, though, since I'll
have a chance to think about what I've done so far and anything I might
want to change. ....like that thing.
20b. I'm back in Vermont....
with the issue of not a good enough workshop. So.... I'm making one!
...and in familiar fashion.... to make that, I need to make...... dun dun
dun.... a road!
20c. It took a month or so,
but.... well, you'll see.
20d. The Banana Building
Part 1. I'm building a super robot building workshop! Then
I can finish things at my own place, and make a big mess. :-)
20e. The Banana building
situation has become known as "Operation: Crazy Operation.
20f. Operation: Crazy Operation.
(Clearing the Way). Ya... making the ground flat, in a nutshell....
so a building can go there.
20g. Operation: Crazy operation
(unstoppable) Part 3 or something...
Basically, some mud tries to stop me, but it didn't know
who it was messing with. uhh... right.
20l. Operation: Crazy Operation
8 I'm putting doors on the workshop and stuff... I think. I don't
know whats happening. I'm confused.
21. Ok, so.... I'm pulling
the robot pieces out again. Now that the banana building is standing,
and the weather is warming up, I've go the go ahead from MEGA-BASE to do
some robotting!
This project is the
culmination of one basic premise. The world needs more giant robots!
I wouldn't even know where to find one if I tried. Giant robots inspire
imaginations, and encourage interest in science. The giant robot
I plan to build will also be the greatest offroad vehicle on the planet.
That makes it extra cool, and I think will help to bring science and engineering
to a whole new audience. No longer will we need to look to Science
fiction for our giant robots. They will be part of the world.
Now, this is already happening.
People scattered all over the planet are building strange and amazing creations
in their garages, or backyards, or wherever. I've been recieving
a lot of interest in the giant robot I'm planning to build. People
often ask how they can help. I'm terrible at accepting charity, or
asking for help. I have often offerred help to others with only the
reward of feeling super about having been part of a great project.
I see no reason to let my personal pride prevent others from being part
of this great project.
I have already applied for a
grant.... but after 6 months of no response, I'm tired of waiting.
I am already emotionally committed to the project so I am going forward
with it.
Apr. 2009 I was on the news!
Channel 3, Burlington..... basically local Vermont news.
I was in the Newspaper regarding
this project. ...St. Pete Times. ...uh... just check this.
Here's the gist. See the little
drawing of a person with little levers in his hands? Thats the driver,
but he/she will be much bigger.... and more human.
This is a plastic prototype. ...made
from all original Jaimie-made pieces. The big one will be made of
steel and aluminium mostly. ...about 12ft tall, and 18ft across.
Click this to see video
What
I've got so far... Designs. Thats what
I've got. Good designs. This is the working prototype of the
giant robot I am building. It is only a foot tall radio controlled
plastic copy, but the big one will be 12ft tall, and made of steel, and
aluminium. It is a large undertaking, and I need some help.
I have often offerred my complimentary services to projects I felt were
worth doing. I am hoping that some of that karma will come back in
the form of people who feel that this giant robot thing is worth the effort
to bring into the world.
I hope to update this section
a lot once I get some momentum. :-)
How
you can Help! What I am looking for is
help in the form of materials (I'll make a list below), tools (I'll list
these too), money, or even just some good old fashioned encouragement is
appreciated. So feel free to send me a message. Joogles@hotmail.com
Money The simplest and easiet
way to help out is to send a few bucks. Seriously. Anything
is appreciated. I can stretch a dollar mighty far. (it helps
to be able to do that when doing these sorts of things). If you want
me to promise to give you a ride in it when its done in exchange for your
excellent efforts, just send me a message. Trust me, anyone helping
with this project will be in my good books, big time. :-) So
like... click on that button over to the right. Oh, or send something
to my mailbox....
Jaimie Mantzel
780 Pluck Hill Rd
South Royalton, VT 05068
If you can pay for it, I'll
even drive the thing over to you.
Materials I live in central Vermont,
so this stuff will have to either be relatively close. I do travel
a good deal and can pick stuff up in the New England area, and sometimes
outside that. I'll obviously travel farther to pick things up if
its a lot of useful stuff. (I'm not stuck on the idea of building
it at home either. I'm open to other locations).
Here's a quick list of things
I'll need. Whatever I can't find here, or in a scrap yard, I'll have
to buy. I'll update this as I get things.
-Steel
balls. About 1'' diameter. I need about 30 the same size for
a big big ball bearing. I got that all worked out... -...unless
someone just happens to have a 3-4ft diameter ball bearing lying around.
??? Hmm. didn't think so. Built it. -Aluminium pipes.
(LOTS!) Roughly 1 to 2 inch outter diameter. Thicknesses can
vary because these will go in a lot of places with varying amounts of stress
on them. (I've already started collecting these, but I need a lot)
I
still need pipes! -5hp
Electric motor. (roughly) Motor acquired. 2hp 130VDC... -speed control for said
motor
-batteries to power said
motor. Golf cart batteries. (I'm guessing I'll be buying these,
but you never know)
-Loads
of ball bearings! roughly 1/2 inch inside diameter (and a few bigger ones).
I
think I have enough bearings to finish! -stainless steel rods (for
axles in joints). These will hopefully fit the ball bearings.
-Welding
supplies. I don't have a welder yet, so I'm not sure what type. I
bought a Lincoln Electric 140C. Its great! -Steel
gears. I have a bunch already, but I'm going to need a pair (possibly
3) of matching gears that are 12- 18 inches in diameter. ...and I'll
need a pair of small (1-3 inches) gears that fit them. (These can
also be sprocket and chain) I ended up buying sprockets and chains. -I'm sure I'll continue
updating this. ...I guess I haven't been updating this part enough.
....but the video's lay it down pretty well.
Tools
-Welding
equipment. Something capable of welding steel and/or aluminium.
(I'm going to need this pretty soon, so I'll probably end up buying, but
any help or advice on what to get would be great! I'm thinking flux
cored mig at the moment. ...I've heard of this stuff that brazes
aluminium. Has anyone used that?)
I
bought a lincoln electric 140C, and it is amazing.
-Occassional use of a mill
and lathe would be super!
-The person who stole tools
out of my truck last year's head on a stake? hmm. ok, scratch
that.
I guess there isn't much
other than that. I have pretty much everything else.
I have to say, its been a really amazing experience making this
thing so far. Exciting, frustruating, fun, tedious, in short....
awesome. Right now I'm biting my nails waiting for the snow to chill
out! ...or warm up, actually. I'm doing everything I can now
so that when the spring hits, I'll be able to devote all my time to the
robot. I'm excited, and anxious. Must relax..... deep
breaths....
I guess its a good thing I put video's on youtube. I've been getting
lots of encouragement. I'm super grateful, and will stretch any monetary
donations very far. :-)
Wow, a wonderful lady I met in Alaska 2 years ago just helped me out
a lot! She knows swho shse is, and thanks!!!
So... construction of the big ball bearing is going well. ...I
think. 106 bolts to put in, and its done! I'll get some video soon.
Dashaina put money in the robot jar YAY! ...AND tested out
my payment button with the balance of her paypal account. sweet!
Tom gave me a whole bunch of leftoever aluminium pipe!
