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

July 29, 2011
Closed August 1st, New SparkFun Fun

So, like, it's that magical time of year where we of Albertaville, Canada get a long weekend. We don't even have a reason anymore. We just figure that we ought to have one, so we come up with a name that sounds semi-official and run with it. "Quick, we need to figure out what to […]

October 9, 2009
What can you do with a GM15?

...oh, just save the Republic! Just got this note in from Rob Meyer, who is using 3 of our GM15 pager gearmotors to drive his 1/18 scale R2-D2. Given that the real R2-D2 measures 108cm tall, that makes this cute cousin only 6cm (2.36") tall! There's a GM15 for each of the drive wheels, and […]

March 30, 2007
New Solar cell - SCC2433b-MSE

These SCC2433b-MSE solar cells with the Miller Engine circuit on the back make it real easy to build a pulsing power source for your projects. These cells aren't quite as powerful as the SCC3733-MSE, but they're no slouches either! Check them out below!

May 25, 2003
Remember the GM5?

Hoped you ordered one while you had the chance - they're all gone now! I will most likely be a looong time before these come back, so please don't contact us asking for more - it was a rare deal for Solarbotics, which we were glad to bring to you for as long as it […]

1 52 53 54 55 56 253
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