I have noticed this as well when I tried getting stuff in blue or yellow. So, I guess the basic robot color is going to be black except where I can inject a bit of color into it. 
Black does look a bit more dangerous…
8-Dale
While not necessarily revolutionary I have been experimenting with the tibia on this prototype 2DOF hexapod. There is a spring that allows the tip if the tibia to float while the hex is walking. The middle leg takes the brunt of the floating when the hex is walking forward, but the fore and aft tibias do more floating when the hex is turning in place.
The tibia needs to be made from aluminum, and I need to decide if the femur will be two plates or just the one. Trying to keep the costs down.
The chassis is now aluminum…
Here is an image of the bot.
Here is a closeup of the leg.
Here is the chassis with the optional side panels.
WOW Jim, I love the one with the Optional Side panels. When would these be available?
Love it Jim.
I used to have the original hexapod 1, quadrapod, and hexapod 2 PE… but those got stolen a few years back along with a bunch of my stuff! Coulda been collector editions! I’ll miss the yellow plastic look, but overall I think the aluminum designs are much more practical.
I’m sorry, it looks to good. you’re gona hafta re-do it. 
Are those Lynx made spring shocks?
I’ll bet they are! If you look closely, You can see the lexan.
The shocks are made from laser cut lexan. I may have them injection molded. I dunno yet. It’s getting closer…
Put the CH3-R legs on this for a new 3DOF inline hexapod. 
It would be (and look) wickedly cool! 
8-Dale
Nah. Leave it the way it is. It looks cool already.
I think Jim saw my Johnny 5 mods and got “Shock Envy”
I think you made Jim “a little bit shock-n-roll”
That shock on the J5 was a real shocker to see, I was quite shocked! 
Hey wait a second…
Aside from my J5, I also had a suspiciously similar idea in Highschool! Proof is even posted on my project pages:
lynxmotion.com/images/html/proj029.htm
lynxmotion.com/images/html/proj037.htm
I demand royalties Jim!! rofl
You have some good ideas there! I can see some possibilities for adding contact and force sensors to a foot like that.
Hey Alan, are you listening??
8-Dale
Hi Dale,
What’s that? Let me turn up the volume a little…
Yeah, that’s a foot alright! A little compliance in a leg wouldn’t hurt. Pad size is about right for a pressure or capacitive sensor as well.
I don’t quite see the function of the linkage on the new 2DOF 'bot (other then transfer of motion). Is it to provide some sort of “soft” linkage to the servo? The “Crust Critter” or some such 'bot was complaining about that, I think I read.
OK ready to copy. I’m just wondering whether or not to take time to check out the touch sensor chips I found. I’ll need to make up a little PCB with a PIC and the QT1081 8-KEY QTouch Sensor IC. Also need to have your I2C interface working! ;>)
It actually looks like a minimal mod to my aluminum tibia to incorporate this touch sensor. It could probably work with ANY of the tibia designs, as an after-sale mod.
I think I’m going to need a couple of Schmart boards (both QT and PIC are SMT). I’ve got a circuit design and the firmware already in mind.
When and if to work on it is the question!
Alan KM6VV
WOW, how did this pass by my radar?
Really cool Jim! I geuss the strength to weight ratio is much higher than the lexan version and also somewhat lighter becuase of less material? 
You Have **RADAR **on your 'bot?
Alan KM6VV
LMAO, no silly 
I knew that. Although it would be nice!
guess we’ll have to settle for an ultrasound image.
Range to target maybe?
Alan KM6VV
This has become a nice 2DOF hexapod, but to be honest it’s hard to muster any excitement for it when the multi-color 3DOF Phoenix is coming out, and the existing all-aluminum H3 line is killer.
For me personally, I would always get 3DOF if I was building a larger hex, so I don’t see a use for this bot. Maybe it is more appealing to folks on a tight budget who don’t want to buy 18 servos.
I have considered building a small 2DOF on a budget for my son (like your Mini kit), but this big 2DOF doesn’t have a niche in my world. Of course I may not be a typical customer.
Also, I don’t really get what’s going on with the “shock”. Can we see a pic of one dismantled?
This bot is going to be much less expensive compared to any of the 3DOF bots. Not only can it be made with only 12 servos, but it can use 12 inexpensive servos. So that’s the purpose of making it. The first hexapod I ever built was a 2DOF and I will always have a soft spot in my heart for them
The 2DOF leg moves the tip of the foot in an arc as it makes it’s stride motion. The shock allows the tip of the foot to make a straighter path. I’m sorry, but I just don’t have time to make a video of it today. 