BB-8 want-to-build thread (apparently I'm calling him BB-8)

[kresty]

Well, more tests.... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uNe_ncG_K80 - which inspired some comments on facebook, like "why not stop with a static droid?"

I confess I find myself somewhat at a loss to how to respond to that remark    - I'd rather not have "a mess", however it didn't take that long to repair.  "Only" 3 panels fell off... the annoying part was that a couple pealed their edges away as well, that was 10 of the 20 minutes to fix.

I guess it's kind of like climbing Everest. I'm at base camp and I'd really like to get to the summit. It may prove impossible (more impossible?) but I have to try...

For those questioning my sanity, this isn't even the hard part.  I'm not at all concerned that I'll be able to get the sphere to roll.

The first roll test showed that the sphere is "round enough" (& stable enough when it gets Kragle'd).  This second test, short though it was, demonstrated that an axle centered on the triangles should be aesthetically pleasing.  Three panels fell apart, but without most of the internal structure expected to support the final model that isn't surprising. (He needs more 3D printed panels, and, of course, the Kragle!)

Where I'm afraid the obstacles may become insurmountable is getting the head to smoothly slide over the dome.  THAT's going to be the hard part!

I have a fallback plan to make him approachable if that fails, and even if the rolling ball works, he's likely going to be limited by terrain and in speed.

[Toby]

Just found a little article about an (small) working Lego BB-8:
http://www.gamestar.de/kino/news/3268665...8+aus+Lego

I know it's German, but the pictures says it all

[kresty]

Just found a little article about an (small) working Lego BB-8:
http://www.gamestar.de/kino/news/3268665...8+aus+Lego

I know it's German, but the pictures says it all ;)

Danke, aber es gibt gibt 404. Is it the same one as is on ideas.lego.com?

[kresty]

Grr, typos from phone

[kresty]

Btw, finally got decent YouTube URL: Http://youtube.com/legobb8 !

[Toby]

This link should work: http://www.gamestar.de/kino/news/3268665
But it's very unspectacular compared with your build

[kresty]

This link should work: http://www.gamestar.de/kino/news/3268665
But it's very unspectacular compared with your build

Yea, that's the Lego Ideas one: http://ideas.lego.com/projects/132170 - It's "cute", but I'm not that excited about it.  Doesn't seem very "Lego" to me.

[kresty]

Dunno if I mentioned, I have a easier to remember URL now:  http://LegoBB8.com

We went on a Star Wars themed Disney Cruise so at the last minute we looked at BB-8 and thought "why not?" We bought a box the morning before we left.  Unfortunately he didn't do so well during the shipping:





More pix on the blog - http://bb-8.blogspot.com/2016/03/thanks-...think.html

Fortunately he's Lego so repairable.  Getting on the ship Disney didn't mess with him at all!  (& I heard the x-ray scanner saying "BB-8!!!")  He did even worse on the way back, but that was more likely packing than abuse.  I have a project this weekend I supposed...

[kresty]

Ugh, I am so stalled on making him roll I need to post some updates.

[kresty]

That. Was. The. Most. Terrifying. Thing. I've. Done. All. Week.

Whew.  Glad I used gloves as instructed.

We got some dome magnets in the mail yesterday.  I figured that if I could put the top on the Dome Magnet Mount (DMM), then the casters would be in and I could see how well it might roll, and how to attach the skirt/dome to the DMM.  Of course it's if I put the magnets in first I won't have to tear it back apart.

First I wanted to know the polarity, so I used a little test magnet.  Actually the 2nd one because the first test magnet vanished when I unpacked the big magnets.

This 2nd magnet flew the last inch and smashed itself into the small 1" magnet.  Part of it flew past my head 'cause I heard it hit the wall!



To get the magnets into place we slide this board over them.  There are 3 of the little magnets (above, 1"x1/2") and a center magnet that is 2"x1/2".  Getting them separated from shipping, even with the spacers they were shipped with, was very tricky.  I found the first tiny test magnet in the packing, apparently I'd gotten too close when unpacking the first magnet.

I also heard a "popping" noise of the bubble wrap.  The first small 1" magnet had lept from a foot away and smashed into the remaining magnets.  I didn't see it and could not even figure out what had popped the bubble wrap for a few moments.  After that I call Lara for help and we stored them in different corners of the room awaiting assembly.

After placing the first outer small magnet, we slid the board over that and placed the middle big magnet.  That tried to attack the first magnet.  Then we slid the board over the middle magnet as well, and placed the 2nd outer small magnet.  That managed to knock the board about an inch and actually connected to the middle magnet.  At this point all four of our hands were trying to keep the board in place and the thing together.  The last small magnet went better.  Practice?

Now we had 4 magnets trying to shove the top away from the bottom and our hands were cramping trying to hold it in place, but we had to find the blind holes for the screw on the bottom, which took 3 or 4 years.  Eventually we found the first hole and got it screwed in.  After that it was easier but still pretty tough.

Most screws had to be let back out and tightened again as it managed to shove us apart from 1/6" to 1/4" in places.



We decided to stick the BMM (Body Magnet Mount) onto the bottom so the magnets would pull away from the board.  We felt that would be much safer, though I am a tad concerned about the strength of the printed mounts.  I'd done some math on the numbers, but this feels really strong in practice!



Here is another view, you can see 3 of the smaller magnets, we left the middle big one out for now.  No clue how I'm going to test the rollers on the outer shell as that would mean separating these, and that means dealing with these three magnets.



Really glad that I used gloves. A few times the magnets pinched some of the fabric, and one time it was difficult to pull the glove fingertip out (and that was just between the DMM and the BMM).

They'll be a little further apart in use, so hopefully this will be better.

No clue how I'm going to safely ship him.