Navy Diver 2020 concept

[runkrod]

Hey Gang,
So I've initiated a couple of projects in real life to build the next generation of one atmosphere diving suits for the US Navy and commercial diving worlds. It occurs to me, that in order to really understand how feasible something is, one must have a physical prototype or model that you can show off. After all, we as people, understand things better when we can see and touch something. So while the real engineers work on the actual challenges, I've decided to build a "costume" version from the concept drawing. This will be beneficial in a couple of ways. 1. I can size parts to see what actually would work anthropomorphically, 2. I can figure out how to put the bloody thing on, 3. I'm between projects and really bored.
The build thread posted the other day for a remote hand (http://www.therpf.com/f24/quick-n-dirty-mechanical-hand-extension-pic-heavy-190795/) really got the juices stirring since I'd need to build something like that as well.

The concet art is here:

So, its off to home depot today to go find the EVA foam floor tiles I used for my Spartan armor. Will try to keep this WIP updated for you. And welcome any ideas, since there will be "challenges" going from concept drawing to real life (well, real-ish life). No doubt you picked up on one already: How do you build joints for something like that? (That is actually RL project #1 for the engineering teams)
Cheers

 

[Beer_Money_Props]

Cool build idea...Definitely subscribed!

If you're looking for cheaper alternatives to EVA floor mats than Home Depot, try Harbor Freight. You can get twice as much for half the cost. I know I went through quite a bit of the stuff when I was prototyping my builds.

 

[runkrod]

Ok, so lets start with the arm pod and the hand. First build a pod out of poster board in order to size it. I suppose I could fiberglas this and do it that way, but I'm not a fan of fiberglas and its cold in my garage, so this'll just be to build a template to cut foam from later.


Next the hand. I used the aforementioned post to start and tried to make some mods for ease of build. Using Sintra I had laying around from another project I started cutting out my parts with a hot knife. I used craft foam for my hinges, but those quickly fell apart.



So after a couple of hours fighting that, I decided to go ahead to build as shown in the thread. Using fiberglas screen material, overlayed with the foam for strength.


More to follow.

 

[runkrod]

Ok, I have one hand built. And it works! More or less..
So heres a shot of the underside of one finger. Mesh, with craft foam over top.


So when repeated with the remaining four fingers and thumb (sorry don't have thumb photo)


On the top, the extensors are rubber bands. While the string serves as the flexors.


Finally, came the question of how to actually operate it. Decided to take a section of 3/4" PVC (because I had it laying around), split one end up with a hacksaw, used a heat gun to make it soft and spread the two halves to form the handle. Its very ghetto looking now, but I'll wrap it in something to pretty it up later. Decided to cut 5 PVC rings from another section of pipe and have used them as the pull rings for the fingers. To help guide the strings and keep them separate, I have four small nails placed as fairleads. Not sure you can see them in the photo, but it makes each ring have a direct pull and lessens the friction interference of the multiple lines. The thumb is a little tricky. I positioned as you see because it will flex to make contact with the index finger, in a "ok" sign. Thought it might be the most useful maneuver. The pull ring is led to the back of the handle and my thumb pulls the ring forward. Not perfect, so may play with that some more.


Last step will be to put some sort of palm on it. Probably need to do something I can remove later should I break a string. It'd be a pain to rethread if completely closed.