My Senior design project - a "Swamp Thing" tracked vehicle clone

[Garauld]

I am not sure I like the short travel and will hold off my assessment until I get a chance to drive it. It may be more of use as an emergency type of brake as pulling back on both steering arms brakes just like the service brake.

 

[Garauld]

I have actually been busy. The weather has been sucky so I saw no reason to bring Snowzer outside (where it would stay) when I can work on it in my 68F shop. Here's some of the door parts that remained after I created a bunch of chips/shavings.

 

[Garauld]

I got the doors mostly finished and hung. I still need to paint the lower white panels Flame Red like the cab. Hopefully, I'll be able to post a test drive movie this week. :thumbsup:

 

[airbiscuit]

I'm waiting for you to drive that bad boy through a tamarack swamp

 

[ArlyA]

thanks for the updates Garauld! :thumbsup::thumbsup:

 

[Garauld]

I did get it outside and took a nice photo of it. It runs and goes forward and backward. I still need to work on some issue like it does not steer nor brake well. I guess I need to get more clamp pressure to the brake calipers by probably adding brake boosters. Please offer your suggestions. Also, the track bars are rubbing too hard on the drive sprocket faces - I will need to play with the tooth geometry to lessen this. Once I have it driving around the yard, I will post a movie like the real "Swamp Thing" snowcat. Stay tuned. :dance1:

 

[pmsmechanic]

If I remember correctly you were using disc brakes for the steering. Add a second caliper to each disc or find a different differential that lets you cut the power to the side that has the brakes applied.

Lowering the center wheels so that the vehicle can pivot on the center tires instead of the whole track would also help.

 

[MossRoad]

I did get it outside and took a nice photo of it. It runs and goes forward and backward. I still need to work on some issue like it does not steer nor brake well. I guess I need to get more clamp pressure to the brake calipers by probably adding brake boosters. Please offer your suggestions. Also, the track bars are rubbing too hard on the drive sprocket faces - I will need to play with the tooth geometry to lessen this. Once I have it driving around the yard, I will post a movie like the real "Swamp Thing" snowcat. Stay tuned. :dance1:

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Sure is a nice looking critter! :thumbsup:

 

[ArlyA]

Lowering the center wheels so that the vehicle can pivot on the center tires instead of the whole track would also help.

On all the snow machines I've worked on, I've not seen a change in idlers down pressure through the machines length. That doesn't mean that what you suggest might not work, but I haven't seen that done to improve steerage.

 

[Garauld]

If I remember correctly you were using disc brakes for the steering. Add a second caliper to each disc or find a different differential that lets you cut the power to the side that has the brakes applied.

I have a second set of calipers installed on each disc. One set is used for the service brake and the other are used for brake steering. The diff is open so I can brake either side for steering.

Lowering the center wheels so that the vehicle can pivot on the center tires instead of the whole track would also help.

That would not be feasible as each two wheel set is mounted to a pivoting walking beam.