Hey Jim,
With respect to the anodized vs. brushed aluminum, I definitely prefer the metalic look. However, the anodizing process clearly has a lot of advantages from a durability and corrosion resistance standpoint.
Am I to understand that the brushed aluminum pieces are not anodized (there are anodization processes with clear finishes after all)? And if they are not, do the brushed aluminum pieces need to have a clear acrylic lacquer applied to them to prevent corrosion and surface ozidization?
The price was the same for brushed or anodized, so I opted to carry both. I have kicked around the idea of offering the brackets in several anodized colors, but was not wanting to carry the extra inventory. I doubt the brushed parts will suffer any ill effects if they are always stored in a climate controlled environment (indoors). The other providers of servo brackets (Hitec and several places in Japan) do not anodize the parts. I offered the black anodized parts for our signature line of yellow and black robots. I don’t think a coat of clear laquer would cause any harm either. Thanks…
Thanks Jim,
While I’m sure there is a niche market for colored robot brackets… I probably wouldn’t carry them if I were in your shoes. That’s just too much inventory, with an unpredictable demand for it. Plus, people can always just use colored acyrilic paint and paint the brushed brackets anyway.
I’ll probably go with the brushed aluminum anyway, I’m vain I suppose. I’ll see if I can find a good acrylic finish on the off chance that the brackets might ozidize. Hopefully something non-flammable, I don’t want the heat from batteries and servos to start any fires after all…
Yeah, I would not carry any other colors than what you already carry. With several colors in your inventory, you would most likely have one or two color brackets that don’t sell well, and just sitting on the shelf collecting dust and space.
There is one thing I have learned growing up is that it’s impossible to make everyone happy, the goal is to make the largest majority happy, but only with in your abilities to do so.
I like the gold colored brackets on the RoboNova (though their quality seems to be lacking as they dimple under the screw head). But, like others have mentioned, you can’t possibly stock a variety of colors since there are just too many different brackets.
I took a bunch and powder coated them to my desired color. That seems to work OK, but its a pain.
for coloring, there are some homebrew anodizing techniques that will still protect and strengthen. Just google it and you will find instructions and even kits, startup costs begin at about 100 to $150.
You know, I am starting to have serious doubts that we will make the Jan 30th deadline too. The gears were just finished yesterday. I expect them early next week. Then we will have everything to make this a go. The new brackets should start showing as in stock in the next week or so. I’m really sorry this new stuff is taking so long. We’re doing the best we can. Thanks…
The black anodized ones will be ready early next week. The only one not ready yet is the low profile axis, which I am currently working on. Quick get a fire extinguisher! I see smoke coming from your trouser pocket!
I have an ETA on the Low Profile Axis! We will be adding them to the website by next Monday! A little info as to the reason for the delay. You ever try to count out 9 little 0.125" ball bearings? Then seal them into a poly bag… If you even look at them funny, they scatter! Not wanting to make an enemy of my parts bagger employees I had to make this easy. Well it took me a while to figure out a good way to do this and that was the delay. But it’s finally done! I made a little fixture that accurately disperses 9 little balls into a poly bag quickly and easily. Then the rest of the parts to make the “Ball Bearing Hub” can be added in the normal way. Just need to assign part numbers and figure out what additional hardware to include in the “Low Profile Axis”. Because we are 3 weeks behind I thought you deserved an explanation. Thanks for your patience, Jim…
I know there have been guys waiting a helleva lot longer on these than me but I am sitting here with one big stupid grin on my face! Time to start putting together my biped!!
Jim, you could make something similar to this to help your employees keep their sanity. This would dispense 9 ball bearings every turn of the crank. Just fill the hopper and crank away!
Hi Nick!
No, it’s not the 3mm ball bearing assemblies, it’s actual .125" stainless steel balls that make up the Ball Bearing Hub which is part of the Low Profile Axis… So he was right on with the design. I did something similar, but on the horizontal plane. I wish I had time to take a bunch of pictures, cause it’s kinda cool. But I’m on a time constraint to get some new products prepaired.
Thanks…
The gears were just finished yesterday. I expect them early next week. Then we will have everything to make this a go. The new brackets should start showing as in stock in the next week or so. I’m really sorry this new stuff is taking so long. We’re doing the best we can. Thanks…
: cough