Knock Down Weld Curtain

[Don52]

My company sponsors six different teams in the Robot First competition. Robot First is an organization that gets High School students involved in designing and building robots that must compete with and against other robots at regional competitions. The idea is to get these students interested in science and technology in a high energy fun environment.

I have been associated with one of the teams, which has a bunch of toolmakers, technicians and engineers that help the students with their robot and also sponsor the machine shop function for all teams at three regional competitions. We bring small portable lathes, milling machines, drill presses, band saws, belt sanders and a variety of hand tools to help the students make and modify parts of their robots.

I will assist with any welding required during the three regionals. My Dynasty 200 DX TIG welder is ideal because the robots are mostly made of light gage aluminum. This year for one location I will be welding in the same room as the rest of the machine shop. The weld curtains that we have at work are 10’ x 6’ so they are hard to transport. To solve the problem I modified one weld curtain frame so that it can be knocked down for transport. The frames are made of 1” square tubing. For the modification I welded ¾” tubing into the 1” tubing to make a slip joint. Attached are pictures of the knock down weld curtain.

More information regarding Robot First go to the following link.

http://www.usfirst.org/?gclid=CJTNgZ...FQpzHgodni2p-A

[shott8283]

where the **** do you guys find this kick a$$ jobs!!!

welding and playing with robots and teaching kids....

i hate my life

[tasslehawf]

I would like to get involved with this in my area...

[fjk]

I would like to get involved with this in my area...

see http://www.usfirst.org/whatsgoingon.aspx

frank

[welder_guy]

Cool. I welded a high school's (Bend, Oregon's trinnity luthren) aluminium solar car frame and parts for them because they didnt have anyone that wouldn't do it labor cost free. Hopefully they will go to the dell winston school solar car chalange race this year in dallas texas.

[ligito]

I went to Bend Sr High Class of '58.

[fun4now]

way cool looking mod.

looks great, are you planing on pining them back together or adding a nut and bolt with butterfly for fast sturdy reassembly ??
i have used the nut and bolt version on many occasions for good solid hold with no tools needed.( see pic) just wondering what you went with ??

[kiwi]

Don,
Those welding curtains seem quite large. How much do they weigh?
Nick

[Don52]

looks great, are you planing on pining them back together or adding a nut and bolt with butterfly for fast sturdy reassembly ??
i have used the nut and bolt version on many occasions for good solid hold with no tools needed.( see pic) just wondering what you went with ??

The weld curtain and tye wraps actually hold it together because it is in tension. It was surprisingly rigid after I added the weld curtain to the frame.

Don,
Those welding curtains seem quite large. How much do they weigh?
Nick

~15 lb. They are 1/16" x 1" square tubing.

[fun4now]

i had not thought about the curtain stretch as an aid to holding it together, but i see it now you mentioned it.

[Grumpy]

I went to Bend Sr High Class of '58.

Telling us your age, huh?

[flighteng]

Robot Information

here is a link to the FIRST Robot site.

http://www.usfirst.org/

This web site can explain the concept better than I can.

I work at Bellarmine Preparatory School here in Tacoma Wash. and the team here just went to the nationals that were held in Georgia.

the statements below are off the site just to give people an idea of what they are trying to do.
------------------

Vision

"To transform our culture by creating a world where science and technology are celebrated and where young people dream of becoming science and technology heroes."

Dean Kamen, Founder

Mission

Our mission is to inspire young people to be science and technology leaders, by engaging them in exciting mentor-based programs that build science, engineering and technology skills, that inspire innovation, and that foster well-rounded life capabilities including self-confidence, communication, and leadership.


Dean Kamen is an inventor, entrepreneur, and tireless advocate for science and technology. His passion and determination to help young people discover the excitement and rewards of science and technology are the cornerstones of FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology).

FIRST was founded in 1989 to inspire young people's interest and participation in science and technology. Based in Manchester, NH, the 501 (c) (3) not-for-profit public charity designs accessible, innovative programs that motivate young people to pursue education and career opportunities in science, technology, engineering, and math, while building self-confidence, knowledge, and life skills.

[ligito]

Telling us your age, huh?

Yup.
My first welding class was in high school, in 1955.
Looking at my latest project, it hasn't improved much.

[DM66C10]

I went to Bend Sr High Class of '58.

I was born in 58 and I don't feel old
My wife still says I am just a big kid

[IA52 Glenn]

adding two cents-

My company sponsors six different teams in the Robot First competition. Robot First is an organization that gets High School students involved in designing and building robots that must compete with and against other robots at regional competitions. The idea is to get these students interested in science and technology in a high energy fun environment.

I have been associated with one of the teams, which has a bunch of toolmakers, technicians and engineers that help the students with their robot and also sponsor the machine shop function for all teams at three regional competitions. We bring small portable lathes, milling machines, drill presses, band saws, belt sanders and a variety of hand tools to help the students make and modify parts of their robots.

I will assist with any welding required during the three regionals. My Dynasty 200 DX TIG welder is ideal because the robots are mostly made of light gage aluminum. This year for one location I will be welding in the same room as the rest of the machine shop. The weld curtains that we have at work are 10’ x 6’ so they are hard to transport. To solve the problem I modified one weld curtain frame so that it can be knocked down for transport. The frames are made of 1” square tubing. For the modification I welded ¾” tubing into the 1” tubing to make a slip joint. Attached are pictures of the knock down weld curtain.

More information regarding Robot First go to the following link.

http://www.usfirst.org/?gclid=CJTNgZ...FQpzHgodni2p-A

I've found the most convenient/knockdown weld curtain is one with no frame, and uses a center pole support. To wit:

Material can vary, lately I made one of-

1x1x1/8 steel tube "yardarm"; top of screen is attached to this

1x1x1/8 center tube that accepts a 3/4 round stub welded at center of yardarm

1x1x1/8 tripod base with a 3/4 stub welded at center to be received by the center tube.

Tripod bases can be handily made by marking out a circle with points at 120 degrees, placing a riser of some kind, washers, for instance, at a height of about 1 to 1-1/2 inches at the circle's center.

Lay the legs out on the marks on the circle, bring them all together on top of the riser at the center and tack/weld.

This rig can be handled by one guy easily, and it swings out of the way on it's center, also.

Variations abound.