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Traxxas Zero (1/10th Revofluxpede)
Project: Traxxas Zero
The ultimate true 1/10th basher The traxxas stampede 4x4 came out a few months after I came up with this idea.. but I feel like the Stampede 4x4 made by Traxxas is too weak and doesn't have a TVP chassis our laydown suspension. My project will end up being slightly longer and wider then the Traxxas Stampede 4x4. I want this thing to be exetremly durable... skatepark durable, Bmx track durable, huge jump durable. My goal: To build the Ultimate One-battery, One motor, true 1/10th scale electric basher. Features I look to put into the project: Built like a Tank 4wd Custom TVP Chassis Center Differential Laydown suspension High ground clearance Long suspension travel Inexpensive Electric Gear Diffs Strong a-arms/hub carriers Roll cage 2.8 wheels/tires Accommodate 7.4v or 11.1v lipo Defies Gravity Stampede stance and look My starting point...my Traxxas Evo8 project... I have no where to race it so I'm turning it into this project. http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a2/...o/IMG_2493.jpg http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a2/...o/IMG_2492.jpg Updates to come |
Last night I disassembled the buggy and took all the parts that I will be using for this project. I then went thru and cleaned all the parts. This project is ofcourse going to end getting dirty but it has to be clean for the finished pictures.. plus, I don't like working with dirty parts.
The Slayer a-arms will probably be replaced with Slayer Pro a-arms and the rear hubs will probably be replaced with Rpm hubs. http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a2/...o/IMG_2504.jpg I layed out partial front and rear ends to get a idea of how long its going to be .. and how everything is going to be layed out. Ofcourse the center diff and motor and all that are going to be raised up from the position that they are at in the pictures since its a monster truck. http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a2/...o/IMG_2514.jpg Here is my list of stuff to get... 1/4" lexan or 1/8" 6061-T6 aluminum for chassis Traxxas Updated slayer a-arms Losi High Roller Body Dust boots 2.8 Badland or Trencher Tires Rpm revo hub carriers Rpm Front/Rear bumpers Rpm Front/Rear bumper mounts Traxxas front/rear body mounts Ace 5000mah 3s lipo Reciever I have the esc and servo. and I got the motor today I'm a bit worried it might not be the right motor for this application.. its a Speed Passion Silver Arrow motor. Diameter is 36mm and length is 63mm. Its 3214kv. Its a short course motor I picked it up used for $40 shipped. I'm going to be using 3s. What I'm worried about is that I have a feeling this truck will be pretty heavy..especially if I use aluminum Tvp's. I'm not sure whether or not the Kv is too high. I'm shooting for around 40-45mph. I'm worried that the motor will get too hot or won't have enough torque. What do you guys think?? Heres a picture of it by itself and also a picture compared to a mamba 5700 and a Feigao 8XL. http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a2/...ilverarrow.jpg http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a2/eds24/IMG_2528.jpg I'm going to actually start building the truck today. I'm going to try and get the bottom chassis plates/skid plates done and maybe even the top ones. Who knows we will see how far I get. |
Cool project! :yes: I love seeing these hybrid builds...
If you're worried about the motor getting too hot- gear it for ~35mph, check temps, and see if there is room (thermally) to gear it up. |
I would say go with alloy for chassis over Lexan, or even carbon-fiber if you can fit it into the budget. CF used for a TVP chassis would be very light and tough as nails. Plus it just has that exotic, high-end look. Of course I'm just really partial to the stuff, alloy will still do a great job too and cost much less.
EDIT: If the SpeedPassion motor doesn't work out the new Castle 1415 2400kv motor would be a great choice. |
Would definitely go with 7075 over 6061 for the chassis. Cost only a little more and is stronger and will give you more rigidity. It also handles tapped holes better than 6061 without stripping.
Otherwise looks like a cool project. |
I'd suggest a double decker design rather than a TVP. The Traxxas stuff you are using is more suited for that than TVPs anyways, as revo is almost a double deck design anyways.
Heck even G10 fiberglass would be better than lexan. But really yeah, if you want a "tank", you should go with 7075 or like 3mm CF. Keep in mind most of the SC 4WD vehicles are around 6lbs, and the 540/550 SC motors are oriented towards 2S usage (ROAR, bleah, stupid.. should have gone 3S for 4WD), so more voltage should allow you to use lower gearing, so should keep the motor cooler. |
Cool project, I look forward to seeing the progress. I enjoyed watching the Evo8, so I know this will be of the same likes.
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Its sad to see the 1/8th scale buggy go. It was so one of a kind.
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whats nitro: I think I'm going to start at the lowest gearing I can 12/50 and work up from there.
Simplechamp: I've decided to use alloy. Carbon fiber looks awesome.. but I want to feel like I can beat on this thing and not have to worry about breaking a $70 chassis. Yea, the castle 2400kv looks to be my back up plan. Texassp: I think that 6061 will be plenty strong especially since it will be 3mm thick. Thzero: I feel like and have heard a TVP chassis will be a lot stronger. Also making a double deck chassis with enough ground clearance or a single deck chassis with enough strength I believe would be quiet difficult. Ok I will keep that in mind. Reno: Yep, I can guarantee this one will be just as good. Kcaz: I know what your saying.. but the Evo8 will be featured in a upcoming issue of RcDriver soon...so that makes me feel better about tearing it a part and turning it into this.. something I will actually use. |
Can you even buy 3mm thick aluminum? If you want this thing to be bulletproof as you say 3mm is not even 1/8" thick. 6061 is pretty strong, and I don't even think 7075 will be strong enough for what you are talking about, but Texas SP is correct on strength, 7075 is much stronger.
If you need a source for metal try Metal Supermarket. Jeff |
Sorry I should have said its 1/8" which is what I will be using. Considering that the Stock Savage Flux uses 2.5 mm TVP's and weighs at least twice as much as what this truck will weigh I believe that 1/8" 6061 should be strong enough. But nobody really knows until its tested out. Guess time will tell.
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The 2.5mm is too thin for the Flux really. 3.5mm would have been far better.
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I have made custom parts with both 8th inch 6061 and 7075 and the 6061 bends too easily and does not thread well. Of course if you have to weld it the 6061 is you best bet but the 7075 is superior in every other way.
Of course the last chassis parts I ever made were titanium. Can't remember which grade though. They were beasts and never bent. |
Unfortunatly, I have to switch my concentration back to a custom 2wd buggy I just finished..I recently became a "project' contributing editor for RcDriver magazine and so they want me to send it to them for pictures and have me write an article about it. Currently its fully disassembled and requires some new parts..Sooo I'm going to have to work on that for the next week or so. I'm sorry.
but, I did receive the wheels and bodies for this truck. I decided to go with a Losi High Roller body becuase it is meant to fit on trucks with a 11.5"-12" wheelbase. I feel like the Stampede 4x4 is alittle bit too short so this body was the perfect size. Usually these bodies are $30 brand new.. $16.87 +$10.00 shipping...if you buy two then its about $33+$10.00 shipping .. Considering that means these are almost half price I decided to buy too since I'm sure they won't last very long..and the 1/10th High Roller has disappeared from Losi's website so who knows how much longer these bodies will be around. http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a2/...o/IMG_2538.jpg I decided to go with Imex Eagle Black Jato 2.8 rear wheels. I saw a picture of these with Badlands on them and they looked pretty sick. http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a2/...o/IMG_2541.jpg I mocked it up to get a feeling of how this beast is going end up looking. http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a2/...o/IMG_2548.jpg |
After a 4 month hiatus from this project.. I have made it my top priority project again there are just too many awesome bashing spots around here to not take advantage of them before winter comes...so updates will be coming soon.
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The past couple of days I have been working on the lower skid plates. I have been cutting them out of 1/8" 6061-T6 aluminum with my hand-held jigsaw. Today, after an hour of filing and drilling I finished the front skid-plate. I also mounted the steering rack to the skid-plate. I'm duties a Team Associated Rc8 steering rack to take care of the steering duties.
Tomorrow I will finish the rear skid plate and have pictures of that one up also but for now here are a couple of pictures of the front to prove that I am actually making progress! ;) http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a2/...1814-45-02.jpg http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a2/...1814-51-35.jpg http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a2/...1814-51-50.jpg |
You do this with a hand held jigsaw and files completely free hand?
WOW.... I'm impressed, looks like it has a good symmetrie to it. Wish I had persistance like that. |
Yep..I draw the design out on graph paper...then package tape it to the material and start hacking away...I don't have the resources to be able to mill the parts.
Thanks...I understand this piece isn't perfect but at the same time I didn't want to spend aton of time on this one part since I have 3 more I have to do like it..not to mention the main tvp plates haha |
Not a whole lot of excitement today... but I did finish the rear skid plate. I made sure to bend it so that it provided rear kick up like the Revo/Slayer. I cut both the front and rear skid plates to be a bit longer then they will end out being. I'm not sure exactly how long they needed to be so I made them longer just be safe.
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a2/...1919-33-22.jpg http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a2/...1919-35-32.jpg http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a2/...1919-38-36.jpg Next I will be working on the upper chassis plates and also the braces which will connect the skid plates to the upper chassis's These are also the pieces where the main twin vertical plates will connect to the front and rear of the truck. I ordered another sheet of 6061 1/8" Aluminum plate from ebay for the main chassis plates. I will start drawing the design for those also very soon. I have a feeling that this truck is going to be a pig. I'm getting excited about this build..and after experiencing a time of having no motivation to work on my projects...it's nice. |
Another small some what boring update for today...
I got the front upper chassis cut out and filed. This part reminded me about how much work making custom cars really is..The part didn't take long to cut out..but it took a couple hours to file it down to get it fit right. I also had a hard time bending the piece to accomodate for the front kick-up. I resorted to sandwiching the piece between two 2x4's and crouching on top of the top 2x4. Then I pulled with all my strength upward to achieve the bend. http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a2/...2119-01-41.jpg http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a2/...2118-59-10.jpg Today my piece of 1/8" 6061-T6 aluminum for the main chassis plates came. Its 12" x 24" and I have a feeling it will last me awhile. http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a2/...2114-54-31.jpg Tomarrow I'm having a dental implant done..so not sure if I'll be up for doing any work but tomorrow or Saturday I will finish the rear upper chassis plate and also post pictures of that one. Hopefully soon I will be able to start providing more interesting updates : ) |
Well....today no progress was made becuase of me feeling under the weather after the dental implant. BUT as a reward for making it through the process of someone drilling a screw into my mouth I decided I should order most of the parts needed to complete this project.
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a2/...Zero/order.jpg I also ordered some 2.8" Proline Badlands. Unfortunately, now that Proline has started making tires to fit Traxxas wheels they have discontinued the tires that fit there wheels. I purchased some Imex Jato wheels awhile ago for this project and they don't have the same bead type as the Traxxas wheels. So I had to hunt down some of the old Badland tires. Everywhere I looked either didn't have them or only had one pair! So I ended up having to buy one pair from one place and the other pair from another! I also ordered some Rpm revo hubs for the rear to match the Rpm hubs which I have for the front. Perhaps, tomorrow I will be able to get back to work on this but no promises. |
I started to feel well enough to do some work on this today... it took quiet a bit of convincing though. Once I got started though I was able to fly through finishing the last of the 4 upper chassis plates/ skid plates! The rear one that I just finished doesn't fit exact..but the top plates will be covered in flat black vinyl and that will hide many of the in perfections.
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a2/...2319-24-23.jpg http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a2/...2319-24-39.jpg I couldn't just keep feeding you guys boring updates with repetitive pictures...so to spice things up... I threw some rockers and shocks on there for a couple of pictures. http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a2/...2319-35-39.jpg http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a2/...2319-34-47.jpg Tomarrow I am hoping to get the designs drawn up for the chassis braces which will connect the upper and lower chassis and also be the mounting location for the TVP's. Also, would like to get those pieces finished and mounted so that I can start designing the TVP's. I think once I start working on those...things will start to get interesting quickly! |
Came home from work and had three packages awaiting me.. One had one pair of badlands, another had the other pair, and the last one had the RPM revo hubs.
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a2/...2713-55-09.jpg I'm still waiting for my big shipment from Rcplanet to come though... Also, I had a bit of time to mount the front shocks...The rockers I have mounted are for the rear.. they will be replaced by the correct front long travel rockers once they come. http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a2/...2722-35-09.jpg I wasn't planning on doing that till further on in the build.. but things started to get complicated fast..as I found that the only way to make the motor fit in between the front and rear shocks was to slide the center differential as far forward as I could. How far I could push the center differential forward depended on where the shocks where mounted..so I had to mount the shocks first then return to trying to design the lexan parts which will be sandwiched inbetween the top and bottom aluminum plates and will be where the TVP's are mounted to. The lexan parts will support the center differential so that's why it's taking me longer than I had expected to design and cut those parts. A picture of the complication... *note the center differential be raised up and the skid plate bent upward to provide more ground clearance* http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a2/...2722-37-30.jpg I'm crossing my fingers that tomarrow I will make large strides and be able to get the lexan chassis braces mentioned earlier mounted and also mount the center differential. (Something else I hadn't planned on doing before the chassis was completed) Hang tight guys. |
I'm surprised that you guys don't seem very interested in the project...sorta seems stupid for me to keep posting updates with no interest brewing..I'll post a few more updates and see if you guys come around..if not I'll just post the finished product once I'm done..
Had a wicked long day at work today..cooking burgers 8 hours a day at mcdonald's tires a guy out...but hey people gotta eat and I have to have money for my projects..and college.. anyway.. I came home to find this at my door step... http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a2/...2816-12-55.jpg I wonder whats inside... http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a2/...2816-17-02.jpg Shortly after taking the pictures..I tore into the packages in an organized and controlled matter...haha yea right! I started to throw parts on the front end of the truck and I'm very happy with how things are turning out. The width of the truck looks like its going to be around between 13 1/2" and 14" ! Which will fit the wheelbase nicely and is much wider than a Stampede 4x4. I'm very excited about the front bumper as it will fit the Highroller body perfectly. I can't show guys pictures of it with the body.. but I'm going to tell you that the stance is killer. Unfortunately, I didn't get a chance to do any heavy machining on the chassis braces like I wanted too. Maybe tomorrow... but till then.. some pictures of the front end...I think it looks good..but will look even better once I dye the rockers and cover the upper chassis in flat black vinyl! http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a2/...-38-04_org.jpg http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a2/...2822-37-18.jpg http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a2/...2822-34-13.jpg http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a2/...2822-32-48.jpg http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a2/...2822-30-49.jpg |
I think this project is turning out nice.keep up the good work.
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Nice work. :)
I have been following, just not posting. :lol: |
looking good man! don't get too discouraged by the lack of posts, I'm sure many people have a read through and forget to, or just plain old don't post anything. I know I'm guilty of doing that a few times....
Lots of hard work going into this project, can't wait to see the finished product. |
looking to see where its going next - looks a lot like a G-Revo with a CD and slayer arms at the moment...
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But posting "looking good, exited to see the finished project" every time, seems a bit off to me:lol: |
i think alot of us are watching your project, most of us dont post though, monster has been pretty quiet for the last year
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Thanks for the compliments guys.
Its nice to see that you guys are reading the updates and are interested in the project. As far as posting I don't mind if you guys don't post.. I just felt silly becuase it felt like I was talking to myself. I am majorly guilty of lurking I just wanted to see if there was any interest on Rc-monster for it. Looks like there is, so I will continue to post my updates for you guys :) |
I think the best thing on this forum are the build threads.
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thanks for continuing with the build thread! I've always wanted to do one, but I don't have the patience to stop and take photos at each step, haha, need to get on with it! I also haven't done anything really note worthy, just repairs and bolt on parts and such...
Your work looks great! I know how it is, I have to do any custom plastic work with a mini hack saw and a small file set. Need to get a dremel here some day... |
Yeaa brainanator these types of projects takes LOTS of patience. I have been lucky enough with this build where I haven't had to re-make parts because I messed up on the first one..on some projects I have to remake a single part two or three times.
Yep, I definitely don't have the money to get stuff CNC'ed so hand tools it is... amazingly though..to this day I still don't own a Dremel. Perhaps that would make stuff easier. I finally got the front chassis braces done and mounted today. These parts took some time because I had to make sure that I had the holes in exactly the right spots so that that the center differ would be straight and would spin freely. I also had to make sure the tops and bottoms where completely flat and that my cuts where straight so that these parts would fit flush and weren't crooked. http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a2/...3120-03-02.jpg http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a2/...3119-58-50.jpg Once I got the pieces cut and drilled then it was another challenge to mount them to the upper and lower chassis. These parts have to be square and straight so that the TVP's will be parallel and won't be crooked. I think I ended up doing a pretty good job considering that I'm useing hand tools and I'm happy with how it fits together. I think it will prove to be very durable http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a2/...3121-12-46.jpg http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a2/...3121-12-26.jpg http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a2/...3121-14-07.jpg I also discovered today that Long Travel Rockers fit the front of the Slayer but will NOT fit the rear becuase the push-rods interfere with upper a-arm. So I will be have to use P2 rockers on the front and back. The front clip as it stands.. http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a2/...3121-13-54.jpg Now that I have the majority of the front clip completed I'm going to start working on the rear clip. Once I get the rear clip done I will finally be able to design and fabricate the chassis plates! |
Today I started off the day by a nice trip to the hobby shop. Knowing that I couldn't move on with the project until I knew how far from the rocker posts the shock mounts were placed on a Revo or Slayer. So I picked up a Revo rear bulkhead. Took it out of the package and measured it. I was talking to my girlfriend about how I just bought this part for $15 and won't even be using it on my project..and that I just needed it to get the measurement. She was like " Uh...Ethan why didn't you just measure the part at the store and not wasted $15?" I responded.."umm I didn't think of that" haha :lol: Since I had opened the package I wasn't able to return the part..she thought it was hilarious.
Anyway..knowing the distance of how far I should mount the shock mount from the rock posts on the rear and I got to work and mounted the rear shock mount along with the shocks, rockers, and Push rods. I also put the a-arms on and the hubs. Then, I bent the rear lower skid plate up to allow for better ground clearance to finish the day off. The rear clip as it stands... http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a2/...0422-20-11.jpg http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a2/...0422-20-26.jpg http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a2/...0422-20-44.jpg The front and rear clips.. http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a2/...0422-33-02.jpg Tomorrow my goal is to get the rear chassis braces drawn up , cut out, filed/sanded, and mounted. Once I do that....I can FINALLY start designing the TVP's. |
Another small update today. I got the rear chassis braces designed, cut, and mounted just as I had wanted to. I bent the rear skid-plate up dramatically to increase the ground clearance. I then cut the skid-plate and bolted the other end to the brace. The pieces aren't the best looking because in order for the lexan and aluminum to be flush I had to file the aluminum while the lexan was mounted. It doesn't matter though since the lexan parts will be covered by the Tvp's
Here's a of pictures of the rear chassis braces. http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a2/...0522-52-56.jpg The front and rear clips in there respected positions.. http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a2/...0522-56-23.jpg The picture makes the truck look pretty short but in reality I am shooting for a wheelbase around 12 inches. Considering that the Stampede 4x4 has a wheelbase of 10.83 in. I believe that 12 inches should be perfect. I'm currently designing the TVP's as we speak. I'm not sure when I will be able to work on them but it should be in the next few days. Stay tuned..once I get the TVP's done..this thing will really start to come together quickly. |
Over the past couple days I have been gradually working on the Twin Verticle Chassis Plates (TVP's). I started out with a basic drawing with dimensions I knew the Tvps had to fit into. I then made a couple copies of that drawing and taped them to the 3mm (1/8") 6061-T6 Aluminum sheet I bought off of ebay.
Once I got the basic rectangles cut out and I drew the cut at the bottom of the plates that increase the ground clearance. At this point I was ready to mount them to the lexan pieces. I won't explain the boreing and lengthly method I used to get all the holes in the right places and to make sure they line up..so i will skip to the pictures... *Keep in mind that these Tvp's aren't even close to being finished.. once I get the motor, battery, servo,etc mounted I will take everything back off and finish the design, shorten them, cut sections out to reduce weight, and file the pieces* http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a2/...0819-55-01.jpg http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a2/...0819-56-25.jpg http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a2/...0819-56-08.jpg http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a2/...0819-55-12.jpg http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a2/...0819-46-31.jpg http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a2/...0819-49-14.jpg The next task on the list is to cut a section out of the left TVP for the motor to fit through and also get the motor mounted up. |
Very interesting. Your work looks good!
How do you plan to mount the batteries? On the outside, a-la flux? Sould be a solid performer. I have a pede 4x4 and it just leaves alot to be desired as far as arm and driveshaft strength goes. I did have a slayer/revo hybrid a while back and it was a great basher, so I think you will have alot of success here. My only advice will be never use the al pivot balls (they are costly and like to break), and you will likely have to play with the spring rates and shock oils to get it to handle just right. |
Looks to be quite stout. Bet it will handle pretty darn well too!
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Looks nice! Really thick stuff all around...has to be tough! haha
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