Mr Parker - I thank you...

I got a good telling-off today, by Mr Parker. He said I'm spending all my time planning my revision timetable and not actually revising (working on the L/G - he wants to see it fly). I should just use a couple of bent wire coat hangers and be done with it.

So, I got home tonight, determined to get a chunk of work done on the legs. I want to get some gear in place for the thing to sit on, so it's doesn't rock and skate around (in theory at least). But you are right, Mr P, so I worked like a crazy man...

I got the rear vertical pieces cut out, sanded, drilled and tapped, then drilled the Alu knees of the rear pair. In a flash of genius I solved the anchor and adjustment problem for the tensioners, so they now operate correctly. I've ditched the LEDs too (for now).

I can lock-out the gear (manually locked in deployed position) and move on...

Everything will need dressing up a bit.

Time to work towards a controlled lift-off and touch-down cycle.

Fiddly legs

I've finished the front pair of landing legs, at least the component parts. I still need to find a neat way to secure the operating linkage, and operation isn't very smooth either. It's really fiddly!

I've been messing with adding lighting to the legs, but I'm not convinced about the effect (lighting not shown in photo).

The leg on the left has the tensioner, LED and wiring in place. Additional wiring will be needed if I add a Weigh-On-Leg sensor.

Ardunio or PIC - Action Priority Matrix

I remembered this:

I don't want the tool to be a major project, unless it needs to be. Arduino's looking good!

Arduino or PIC?

A dilemma: what should I use? Should I buy into the ready-made hardware, tons of examples and accessories of the Arduino or do I stick with the more powerful/flexible PIC, which I've used before, which has a rich selection of peripherals and can make a smaller, neater end solution, but needs a lot more effort to get going?

The trouble is it's been a while since I did any serious PIC work and I'm attracted to the quick and easy Arduino. But I'm also not sure the Arduino will be up to scratch, with respect to I/O, peripherals and physical size (I could get a Nano?) and I'd have to learn a new platform.

So if I go for an Arduino, will I have to re-do everything in a PIC solution later? Should I go straight for a PIC solution, but with the extra time and effort?

I don't know. The Arduino does look like a quick solution...

Arduino website
Microchip PIC website

How many times?

I've fabbed two vertical pieces for the front L/G pair from 6mm polycarbonate and in the process; realised that I could have done it better, sooner, given more thought. But it'll do. Hindsight is a wonderful thing!

Rear pair will be slightly shorter.

I gave one a light coat of paint so it would show up in the photos and give me an idea of what it might look like when done.

I had a small can of "Pewter".

Just resting in place.

I'll add some detail later.

Comparison. I'll have to stop re-designing the gear soon!

Like the caption says, I want to finalise the gear design so I can move on (I've said that before too). I've been thinking about the next step; how to get the desired results without unnecessary work, but that's another post...