DEVLOG: 02

HI GUYS!! How are y’all doing?

For those who don’t know, I am creating a mini Mars rover - ALL FROM SCRATCH (AHHHGHH) - on Onshape (a cad software), while I am importing a few parts like the cameras and wheels, everything else is made by myself. My Mars rover is based off of a rover called “Perseverance”, which is a famous Mars rover. Previously, I did lots of research on the wheels and what type of build it should be to be successful on Mars.

Anyway ~ Right now, I have added the wheels and the wheel framework to attach these beautiful bluish saucers onto this beautiful structure!!

“YAy, iT finAlLy looKS liKe an actual roBoT ANd NoT A WEIRd MICroWAVe!!”

Yes, I know, I know guys, thanks for your compliments😏😏!!

I ran into a couple of problems on Onshape: my first being that the Assembly tab wouldn’t update even when I changed my parts in my part studio. Basically, this meant that I had to undo all of the mates and redo the build and redo the mates again!! I tried to troubleshoot and watched a ton of videos to try and change the settings or use weird tools but nothing worked, so I basically wasted hours just trying to find a solution. SIGH

(For those who don’t use CAD, a mate is something that connects your parts together, you make things in the Part Studio, and you build and assemble in the Assembly studio!)

I also had to redesign my parts in the part studio because the mates wouldn’t stick on the weird cylindrical surface, and I couldn’t add a mate connector because… well I still don’t know, but what’s a little mystery to spice up life? Eh?! Soon, I stumbled upon a mysterious tool that allowed me to swap out my parts in the Assembly studio, called “Replace Instance” which basically replaced any part in my Assembly studio, which basically saved me a ton of time!!

So far, I have also added WORKING HINGE DOORS YAY! As well as a few different parts to ensure all of my parts stuck to each other!

Anyway, that’s it, and here are some pics!!!😆😆😆

Mars Rover

I decided to try and recreate Perseverance (a type of Mars rover ), except my rover would be more small and cost efficient meaning I would try and use the least amount of material so in theory more of my small rovers could be mass produced.

I carefully researched Perseverance and kept the parts that were absolutely needed for a Rover, and discarded the ones that wouldn’t be needed as much.

As of now, I need a camera for surveillance and observations, while I need to keep some in the front and back so my Rover knows where to avoid and go.

My rover also needs solar panels for energy, and arms to interact with Mars’s environment.

So far I have made the cameras, the main body, figured out the proportions and sizes, and framework.

I think this project may take 10+ hours, but stay tuned to find out!! :D