Locked and Loaded

Finally got around to some R2 work. Recently got some ankle locks and finally decided to instal the center ankle set after spending several minutes staring at them over the course of a few weeks.

Install was pretty easy, but I had to take the ankle off and disassemble everything in order to do it. I clamped one side into place and drilled the ankle though the hole already in the lock. At first I tapped both the lock and the ankle, but I discovered shortly after that I wouldn't get a good tight fit that way.




I had to drill the hole already in the ankle lock a little wider so it would fit the 8/32 x 3/8 screws I purchased for these. I had originally bought some regular philips screws, but decided later to get some hex screws to look a little more industrial since these will be somewhat visible if you look close enough. I countersunk the holes so the screws would sit flush when installed. Then I rinsed and repeated for the other side of the ankle and test fit them before I did the final re-install of the entire center ankle back onto my frame.

They aren't quite as tight a fit as I'd like. Theres a very small gap between the ankle lock and the center foot shell and it causes a slight kick back when R2 goes in reverse. I was afraid that would happen after test fitting these by hand before installing. I'll probably post in the forum to see if anyone has any ideas on how to fix the gap. Its not terrible by any means, but I'm afraid it would create a problem down the road after some wear and tear. I pushed R2 around and it seemed to work fine. I'm not sure if I really need the side ankle locks or not. I may hold off on them until after I've got the drive system up and running to see how they really hold up.

Hard to Port

First part was purchased in awhile. Now I'm into the more optional pieces. This is an Aluminum Data Port Panel that hides behind one of the front skin doors. This part is offered quite a bit in plastic, but this was the first time someone offered it in aluminum. There was a big stink about it on the forum that never really made sense - something to do with it being a part only seen in the Visual Dictionary. Luckily I got in on the action before the run was closed by the builders council. So I may have a collector's item here.

Not much other progress in the last few months, but I'm hoping to ramp up again after the busy work month of March. DroidCon 2 is this August and I'm debating attending, but hope to have my guy mostly done by then either way.