Charon Boatman of the River Styx by bensid54

[bensid54]

I'll check that out Ken, thanks.

[kees de mol]

Wow this is a very extraordinary build. Very nice work on the rowing movements

[bensid54]

Thanks very much Kees but most of the credit needs to go to AEW he came up with the rowing program for the Arduino board.

[bensid54]

The start of the elbows, forearms and hands cut and drilled ready for shaping.

[bensid54]

Shaping mainly done, I then cut and separated the forearm and hand. The forearm and hand are threaded to allow the insertion of the "wrist" stud that is actually a pivot point between the forearm and wrist. The stud threads will hold the two pieces together and have the threads to rotate on.

[bensid54]

[BANYAN]

Great to see this update Ben, coming along nicely.

 

cheers

 

Pat

[bensid54]

Been a while since my last posting and I've elected to scrap all previous Charon's to start on the final one. The final Charon is going to be smaller than originally planned due to my lack of storage space. He is also going to look something like Terminator until I cover him with his clock. I have started making him out of brass as his main structure, the first pictures are the progress of his waist. 

[bensid54]

After machining his waist components.

[BANYAN]

The rising of the dead   I look forward to the revived build Ben

 

cheers

 

Pat

[bensid54]

First picture is the side view of the unfinished parts. Second picture is the shoulder bearings and the machined sleeves they will be mounted in, I made those from a piece of brass pipe. The last picture is the electronics.

[bensid54]

I'm going to scrap the swivel at the waist when rowing, it dawned on me that he will be paddling in tight left hand circles if I do that!

[BANYAN]

Can't have that mate; the dead would never get to their resting place   Look forward to seeing it come alive )so to speak).

 

cheers

 

Pat

[bensid54]

His framework so far. Turns out he is going to be left handed because his left shoulder is more square to his frame than the right side. I've also started machining his shoulder shafts, those his arms and hands will be very entertaining.

[bensid54]

The start of Charon's arms

Shoulder bearings staked in place

Upper arms temporarily in place

Nemean introducing herself to Charon

[BANYAN]

Coming on nicely Ben, seems like you have the 'paws' of approval

 

cheers

 

Pat

[bensid54]

Charons arms stage two.

[bensid54]

This is Charons organ donor, I'm using his skull, forearms, wrists and hands.

[lmagna]

Did you get written consent before the demise of the donor? 

 

Lawyer Lou

[bensid54]

I did a little grave robbing but don't tell anyone

[lmagna]

Ahhh! Midnight requisition!

 

I doubt he will be missed anyway. He doesn't look all that fresh.

 

Lou 

[bensid54]

These will be his forearms, wrists, hands and possible elbows left and right sides.

[bensid54]

I need your input here people. The picture below is the incomplete right arm so I have a question, should I make the elbow from nylon and make it an attachment on the upper arm or go with the material in the picture? Keep in mind the material in the picture will likely wear out much sooner than a nylon elbow. Now based on my last project that took me two years I've only used it four times and once I build something and get the bugs out of it I lose interest. I think the nylon will function better and longer but the metal finished parts will have a classier look. What do you think?

[BANYAN]

Hi Ben,

 

If you think the boatman won't be operated that often after building, then make life easy for yourself and use the current elbow.  The decision is one of aesthetic over function; normally I would choose function - but your statement about limited use sort of sways me the other way.  From what you say it seems it will be more of a static display than an RC/powered model so the aesthetics may be slightly more important in this case?

 

Good luck

 

Pat

[bensid54]

Because the arms will be covered by the arms of his cloak they won't be seen unless I lift the sleeve. I agree with you Banyan regarding the look but that will only be seen during the build. The right forearm will actually be free moving between the wrist and elbow and will operate on the same principal as a piston, rod and crankshaft. The only powered part of both arms will be at the shoulders. The left arm will be static from the shoulder to the hand except for the shoulder, it's job is to be the fulcrum of the oar and to raise and lower the oar. The right arm will be powered to move the oar fore and aft and to allow the forearm and oar to float up or down depending on the movement of the left arm. The arms of the cloak will cover the mechanics, plus I intend to put putty or something of that nature to help with his physical shape. I was going to make a nylon sleeve of a sort to slide onto the upper arm then use the tube with a drilled flattened end to insert the skeleton forearm into. So far the vote has been 75% in favour or using nylon.

[bensid54]

The right arm and it's rowing motion. The arm is not finished yet, it is still too long at the upper arm and rather crude looking at the forearm. I had to heat the plastic skeleton arm and twist it 90 degrees to get the proper bend of the wrist while in motion. I squeezed the copper tubing tight onto the forearm drilled through the tubing and skeleton arm. I tapped one side of the tubing then passed a screw through the untapped side and into the tapped side then I was able to clamp the skeleton arm securely in the tube. The nylon part was turned on my lathe and drilled in the centre up to where the elbow joint is. I milled the area where the forearm would swing during the rowing motion then drilled the nylon tube and forearm to create the elbow.  

[bensid54]

Left arm structure completed. The body and arms will all be finished with putty or something I can form around the moving and non moving parts. The second picture is the shoulder bushing in the shoulder bearing and staked to stop it from sliding out.

[BANYAN]

That looks good Ben, he will uup and rowing (or is it paddling) before we know it

 

cheers

 

Pat

[bensid54]

Thanks Pat I'm starting to get into this build so the posts should be often until he is finished. You know I'm not sure whether it's rowing or paddling I think it takes two oars to row but I'm not sure about the definition of paddling.

[bensid54]

The ball links installed for both arms.