Painted GraviTrack

Solar botics
March 5, 2018

We always enjoy seeing our products being modified, revamped and DIY-ed, as well as the results of these transformations.

Our customer Vera Kark provided us with some thoughtful feedback on adding mechanical tweaks to improve our Solar GraviTrack build and documentation. She also painted the brown MDF of the machine. She used tempera paint on the wood components still in panelized form, and the GraviTrack's performance seemed to be unaffected. 

The GraviTrack looks great in vibrant jewel tone colours, however, we do not recommend applying paint to the hand mechanism itself. You can paint the base and the rails, avoiding the hand mechanism completely. The moisture and the thickness of the paint might affect the precise tolerances of the moving parts, and will interfere with its proper functioning. Another relatively safe option might be felt tip marker since the moisture from alcohol evaporates quickly.

 

Photos & video by Vera Kark

P.S. Also, a particularly bad idea is painting your GraviTrack after the assembly is completed. Even though we were using a very watered down acrylic paint, the mechanism seized up the moment the paint became sticky. Don't be like us. Take care of your GraviTrack.

A portrait of a sad stuck GraviTrack

MORE POSTS

May 18, 2012
Closed May 21, New Product Friday

Here in Canada, we think those plucky British monarchs are pretty swell. So swell that to this day we still celebrate Queen Victoria's birthday every year on the Monday before May 25th. The fact that Queen Victoria died waaaay back in 1901 doesn't seem to phase us at all. We're pretty hardcore that way. So […]

August 1, 2008
Solarbotics Closed for Heritage Day

We are so historical here, that we are going to be closed for Heritage Day - Monday August 4th.  Never fear we'll be back on Tuesday 5th!  No orders will be processed or sent out on that day, but we will be shipping on Tuesday. Cheers, Solarbotics Team!

February 26, 2002
Vancouver BEAM Workshop

Here's a few links to a workshop spear-headed by ScottyDogma in Vancouver, B.C. Some impressive work done using servos, BIOBug motors, some wooden spacer blocks and lots of soldering! Nice job, guys. Pics and movies: http://www3.telus.net/dogmabots Full Size (1344 x 1008, 500-700K) http://www.davehylands.com/VRC-BEAM-Workshop/index.html Half-Size (672 x 504, 100-150K) http://www.davehylands.com/VRC-BEAM-Workshop/Thumb-B/index.html

September 30, 2011
Synapse Wireless, LCD Clearance Sale

The Googles tell us that 'synapse' is defined as "a junction between two nerve cells, consisting of a minute gap across which impulses pass by diffusion of a neurotransmitter." This, however, is one of the rare instances where The Googles are wrong, because what Synapse actually is (according to Jeremie, our tech guy) are RF engines […]

Solarbotics Ltd Logo
Solarbotics has been operating for more than 25 years, bringing electronics know-how and supplies to both the electronics professional and hobbyist. We'll be happy to help you too!

Solarbotics, Ltd. is not responsible for misprints or errors on product prices or information. For more information, please see our Terms and Conditions.

Warning: This product contains chemicals known to the State of California to cause cancer and birth defects or other reproductive harm.
Please visit www.P65Warnings.ca.gov for more information. This item was manufactured prior to August 31, 2018.

cart