Service Arm #1 Second Element
The four U-profiles are the guides for the Extension Platform, which is designed to be movable. Ball bearings run in the upper profiles, but I left them out. We don't want to overdo it.
First and Second Element combined
We screw the two elements together and notice that the thing slowly resembles a swing arm. The camera has a hard time with focusing the latticework, which puts a subtle blur over the picture. All in all, it becomes apparent that the part can also be built without a laser cut. ;)
So after we've successfully mastered the lamps, the rest is a walk in the park.
Reconnect unit and withdrawal mechanism
The rear spoiler at the tower side prevents the cable bundles from being cut during the swing process. On swing arm 1, they are just a few, the real thing comes at the service arms further up. Unfortunately the paper is a bit too stiff due to the laser print pressure, that's why the swing of the cables appears a bit unnatural.
Reconnect Unit
I will redesign the yellow Reconnect unit to make the assembly a bit more comfortable. Everything else fits perfectly so far. In principle, the front filler neck can be moved forward and backward. It is not recommendable, however, but rather meant to adjust the distance to the Saturn model.
If the yellow latticework seems crooked to you - that's true. The reconnect unit is twisted by 2° in relation to the longitudinal axis of the swing arm, and the 'bell tower' tilts forward at the top. Inside, hung on four hinges, is the filling spout with its withdrawal mechanism, to pull it back before launch. You will be sad to learn that I have refrained from making the whole system moveable.
Extension platform
The Extension Platform. Since common printers have a hard time with white, I printed the mesh fence in light grey, which works ok. At the picture you might have a hard time with the orientation of the whole fence, but the swing arm comes across quite convincingly.
Extension platform
The extension platform is movable, but the spotlight stands in the way. NASA obviously had the same problem, which is why the cage on the right was trimmed - the deviation from the plans unfortunately caught me not before I ran into the same problem *ggg*
Otherwise only the pipes on the right side are still missing. This presents me with a bearing problem, because they exceed the bottom level and the model does not stand right up anymore. So maybe I'll build parts of the hinge and the LUT, so that the thing can stand as a display.
Finished Service Arm #1 prototype
Finished. Not the complete LUT, but at least a swing arm ;)
Proof of concept. The last criterion were the tubes - but with a bit of sensitivity they can be rolled perfectly. Thus the feasibility study is successfully finished, and I can devote myself again calmly to the drawing board. A makeshift improvised wire frame currently serves as display stand ;)
