Dalek (Mini-Me)

Sonic screwdrivers @ Chicago Tardis

 Chicago Tardis, Dalek (Mini-Me)
Dec 032012
 

Got back from Chicago Tardis a couple of days ago. I had a great time. I took Mini-Me and he trundled up and down the hallway again like last year.

Most people were happy to see him and took the opportunity to get their sonic screwdrivers out. (Ha like that really has an effect on Daleks).

Last year it was obvious that he moved rather slowly and while he was cute and everything, he was also very s-l-o-w.
This year I chose to “update” his motor control by changing the gear ratio on the VEX chassis that I made for last year. I changed it from being high torque to more speed. I learned an important lesson. High torque works better on carpet especially when you want to turn.
If I were to make an upgrade to the VEX chassis for next year, I would add floating wheels for the front. I did not realize that having four fixed wheels does not mix well with low torque. I did not realize that it was more of a fluke that he could turn on a dime last year and due to the higher torque.

There were many amazing costumes and though I did not have a camera with me at all times, I managed to get a few pictures.

 

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Mini-Me appearance was quite moving

 Dalek (Mini-Me)
Jan 072012
 

Before we went to Chicago Tardis I upgraded Mini-Me from being essentially a stationary Dalek to a moving Dalek.
Previous attempts had caused the Dalek to whiz down the driveway going too fast.  Then after about using it 5-6 times on carpet I heard the dreaded stripping of gears sound. The gears stripped because I tried to use a toy car and then a toy tank. Neither did very well (The tank took about 10 uses before the gears started to strip). So I upgraded to a Vex system.

Basically I had a Vex kit that I purchased quite a while ago when Radio Shack were getting out of selling Vex products.

I had the thing sitting around for the longest time waiting for the right project.
I had bought a starter kit and it came with a whole pile of metal bits, some motors and wheels. I started building the suggested base project. I made some modifications, added a battery holder and made a slight shape change to fit the pointy aspect of the Dalek innards and to hold the micro-controller receiver.

I realized that really I could not program this kit as it was a starter kit. Even though they gave you a micro-controller unit they did not give you the disk or cables to actually program it, those cost $$$$. So the only things it can do is use bumper switches to stop when it hits an obstacle. But it did come with a pretty decent remote control.

The upgrade in my opinion actually worked out really quite well.
If I were doing it again I would have made him move along just slightly faster, but I think it was pretty good upgrade.

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I hear voices in my head…. Clear voices

 Dalek (Mini-Me)
Jul 032007
 

I have been busy doing some of this and that recently.On the prop front I recorded some new voices for the Dalek.The gun arm servo was creating some electrical noise that was coming through the audio.I fixed it by adding it’s own 6v power and adding a capacitor. A switch allows for turning this on [...]

The bell domes for you!

 Dalek (Mini-Me)
May 312006
 
The bell domes for you!

Looks like a bell, the Dalek dome is not a perfect dome, it has an angled sides. To make the dome I used a former. I built my dome on a positive made from plaster. The final dome was made out of paper mache. The layers varied from newspaper, kitchen roll and toilet paper. Between [...]

Easy twist off dome

 Dalek (Mini-Me)
May 312006
 
Easy twist off dome

To access the inside of the neck and dome I made this keyed twist off ring. The neck is supported by this ring, and loops on the shoulders hold everything in place. A certain amount of precision is needed for everything to line up. An alternative view with the ring in position. 0   

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