We are discontinuing the 4WD1, 2, and 3 rovers. We will continue to fill orders for them, but we want to be clear that they are being replaced. We are replacing all of them with the new, (still un-named for now), robot pictured below. We expect the new rover to be in stock in about 4 to 6 weeks. We will replace all of the tutorials for the old rovers in the next few weeks. We will have tutorials for adding a small arm with gripper, L5, L6, or SES Arm, PS2 remote control, RC stick radio remote control, and autonomous control.
There are a series of expansion deck in the works as well.
We plan to offer an improved version of the 4WD2 using the same aluminum construction techniques.
We are planning a larger 6WD version that also pivots in the middle.
The wheels ride on the output shaft of the motor, so it depends on the motors used. We do not currently stock any 37mm motors with ball bearings on the final gear. They all use bushings.
I agree, I think you should either design one chassis that can pivot in the middle and can convert to a solid chassis depending on how the builder wants or design two different solid and pivoting 6WD chassis. Id love to go head to head with em and see which one is best! 8)
I think a 6wd non pivoting chassis would not work well. I have to make sure the investment of time and money will be worthwhile. I have to go with my instinct on this, sorry…
Thanks for being upfront with your plans! No problem!
However, how do you plan to attach either an L5 or L6 arm to the split chassis? Would you have to abandon the new Arm Base and go to the Low Profile Axis for panning on the bigger rovers, ie 4WD3 or 6WD?
The present Arm Base would probably require a split chassis width that would be unaccetably wide per section while the Low Profile Axis would work, but might not have a high enough load capacity compared to the Arm Base.
In other words, you are thinking of a 6WD that would be similar to the Machine Lab MMP-8?
I’ve designed and ordered prototype parts to build up the articulating 4WD chassis. The shorter front pieces are 3.25" wide. The injection molded base is 4.0" wide at the bottom, so it’s not a good fit. The original 4WD2 design had mounting holes to mount the arm without base rotate. That will still be an option. I will have to think about how to get base rotate on the new 4WD articulating chassis.
The 6WD articulating chassis segments will be wider so the base rotate part will fit it. I will see about making it possible to put the injection molded base inside the enclosure.
I have seen the machine lab rovers, they are nice. I have tried to not let their design influence my design. Keep in mind there is only so many ways to wrap aluminum around some motors, and there is sure to be some similarities, but I am purposely not paying attention to their published dimensions.
I am considering purchasing a chassis and wanted to know the projected size of the carcass on this new design. I need to squeeze a 2†x 3†x 6†battery inside, will this work on this new design? From the pictures it might be too small.
Good timing on the question. We just received the first order of A4WD chassis parts. We are sorting and inventorying them right now. We need to put together an assembly guide and kit them out. It should be a basic rolling chassis kit in a matter of days. In the following weeks we will add tutorials for adding an RC stick radio and speed controller, making it RC from a PS2 game controller, PS2 control with 4WD1 gripper, L5, L6, and SES arm control. We basically just need to redo the 4WD1 tutorials for this new chassis.
Edit: I haven’t made much progress on the articulating 6WD rover. Doing the best I can here…