What to build?

[sanddrag]

I want to build something because I'm bored and CD is dead but I'm not sure what. I am willing to fabricate and assemble things, but I don't want to have to machine things. I don't want it to be too difficult, or take too long, but I want the finished product to be something fun/cool even if it is not a quality piece of work.

I already have lots of RC cars, radios, servos, tires/wheels, and parts and stuff. A couple 12V SLA batteries. A drill motor w/o gearbox, aluminum metal, wood, a weedwhacker, an air compressor, and probably some other stuff I'm just not remembering right now. Maybe I can turn some of this stuff into something?

I am willing to buy some things if needed, but I'd like to see if I can use stuff I already have.

Any ideas on what I should build?

[Kyle Love]

Do what I'm doing build a mini field...I am almost done...pics to come later tonight.

[mechanicalbrain]

well you could do a remote control lawnmower or a nice control box for robots (the one im doing is NICE it does everything and a bag of potato chips).

[Andrew Rudolph]

I would make a motorized Lay-z-boy. In fact i think i just may. But yours can be powerd by a weedwaker...which would be fun. You could make it R/c which would be funny to watch people sit in it.

[mechanicalbrain]

thats just creepy ive had that exact thought i even looked up cheap chairs. you know you could take a old robot and bolt it directly to a chair. asuming the motors were geared right.

[Denman]

enter a featherweight robot wars competition...
(we did this and had a robot called 4am. Cookie for guessing why ;) )

[sanddrag]

Okay. I've got my 3hp horizontal lawnmower engine running quite well now. Now I just need a project to build around it.

I was thinking Gokart but it is a little too small don't you think? I'm thinking it wouldn't be fast enough or powerful enough.

I was thinking big RC Car but it is a little too big (steering and brake actuation is the problem, I don't think even 1/4 scale servos would do it would they?).

I suppose I could make one heck of a scooter (stand on style) but again brakes would be a bit difficult to implement

Do you think it is powerful enough to hook up to an alternator and make a decent arc welder (like 130 amps)? Or would it kill the engine every time I tried to strike an arc?

I was thinking of making a generator but the power doesn't really go out very often, and when it does, it is usually back up in <35mins.

What are your thoughts? What should I do with this thing? I don't want to have to do any machining, but I do have limited access to an arc welder to lay down a few welds if I need to. I'd like to do this project on the cheap, but I am willing to spend a little bit. So, what should I do with this gem of an engine?

Video clip of the engine starting and running (http://www.team696.org/images/lawnmower.avi)

[Denman]

Okay. I've got my 3hp horizontal lawnmower engine running quite well now. Now I just need a project to build around it.

I was thinking Gokart but it is a little too small don't you think? I'm thinking it wouldn't be fast enough or powerful enough.

I was thinking big RC Car but it is a little too big (steering and brake actuation is the problem, I don't think even 1/4 scale servos would do it would they?).

I suppose I could make one heck of a scooter (stand on style) but again brakes would be a bit difficult to implement

Do you think it is powerful enough to hook up to an alternator and make a decent arc welder (like 130 amps)? Or would it kill the engine every time I tried to strike an arc?

I was thinking of making a generator but the power doesn't really go out very often, and when it does, it is usually back up in <35mins.

What are your thoughts? What should I do with this thing? I don't want to have to do any machining, but I do have limited access to an arc welder to lay down a few welds if I need to. I'd like to do this project on the cheap, but I am willing to spend a little bit. So, what should I do with this gem of an engine?

Video clip of the engine starting and running (http://www.team696.org/images/lawnmower.avi)
ups ? lol
you could put it back in a lawnmower and enter lawnmower racing ...
i'm stuck for ideas...