R2 Home
Finally making progress! On the left is the track rail made from 1 1/2" angle iron. This is what the middle leg will run vertically on. Instead of linear slides, I will be using skateboard wheels that ride up against the angle. This method is simple, cheap, will handle a very high load and will never bind up.

On the right, is the armature for lowering the center leg. Mine differs slightly from the original that Mike built. Mine is rotated 90 degrees from his original design to make room for the other motor. Unfortunately, this puts the arm right in the way of the axle rod for the main legs! A small cut in the arm should be all it takes to clear everything.

Next up was the coupling for the axle rods. I originally intended to use round seamless steel, but discovered by accident that square tubing would be an exact fit, nice and snug.

Another benefit was that is was much easier to drill, the flat bottom kept it in place, and it was easy to find dead center.

Above is a pic of the center leg extension actuator, a second one will be built for the main leg tilt mechanism.

To the left is the assembled axle and coupling. Now I need to start putting all the parts together.

PREVIOUS PAGE / NEXT PAGE
2006 R2-Depot

Images and Sounds of R2-D2 and C3P0 are the trademarked property of Lucasfilm Ltd.