Notes From a Maker

So the board finally arrived, which means I can start work on the hardware components of the build. First off, I would like to comment on how properly massive the mountainboard is compared to my regular longboards. The longboard you see above next to it is 40" long, and is by no means small even in longboard standards. The mountainboard positively towers over it in all dimensions, with a track nearly half a foot wider and far taller. The longboard could easily roll underneath the mountainboard, which gives you an idea of how large it is. Bindings are definitely unfamiliar to me, and the large track and tires give a very distinct feel to the board unlike that of a regular RKP or TKP board. In this log, I will cover work done to the drive train, as well as mounting solutions explored for the boxes. For the previous part, click  here ! Wheel Sprockets The wheel sprockets are one of the more difficult portions of the build, as it's crucial to get it precise enough to spin correctl...

  Jigs are absolutely essential in a lot of things that I build. They allow for repeatability, and generally makes my life considerably easier when fabricating anything. With CAD and 3D printing becoming mainstream, the jig making process has become even easier and precise. Not only can 3D printers print out models, they can be used for functional, dimensionally accurate prints too. To demonstrate the versatility and ease of 3D printed jigs, I will be going over three examples of jigs I made and how printing them was the better option. Drill Guide Before I had a drill press, I had to find some way to drill perpendicular holes in things with a handheld drill. Ordinarily in materials like wood, that accuracy wasn't super important, but it becomes super important when working in metal with multiple bolt holes that had to line up. My first thought was to drill a straight thru hole in a block of wood and use that to support and line up the shaft, but making sure that was straight first ...

So a month's gone by, and almost everything has arrived. The only things remaining are the motor mounts and board itself, which kind of bottlenecks everything. Meanwhile, let's take a look at the current changes for the board and parts that have arrived. For the previous part, click here ! Core Board The core board is unchanged, with the MBS Comp 95 "Birds"  complete as the base board. It however is backordered, and isn't expected to arrive in at least two weeks. This is the main bottleneck, as I can't really do any measuring or test fitting until it arrives. Drivetrain Chain and sprockets The drivetrain has been finalized. The motor mounts will be the Boardnamics Matrix II Mounts , which I have ordered. I have also finalized on chain drives, as the Boardnamics gear drives are still a ways away. The sprockets I have purchased on Amazon, and I have gone with a 10T motor sprocket and 62T wheel sprocket. It might be slightly slow for my liking though, so I am als...