I decided to use the Bermuda Triangle plans to build the wooden feet for my robot, but wanted to make a few modifications. Knowing the finished robot would weigh hundreds of pounds I decided to incorporate casters for ease of movement on smooth floors. This would also allow me to create the illusion of mobility for the purpose of making home movies (way cool). By mounting the wheels under the center sections of each foot, where the wood is thicker, it also takes strain off the weaker outer (outrigger) sections of the feet. This also means the treads, tread wheels and axles only have to support their own weight since all the robots weight is focused on the swivel casters under the center of each foot. This means my treads, tread wheels and axles could be a flimsier and less expensive design than those usually required. I was starting off already saving money which could be applied to other areas of the robot. It worked for me!

The acrylic discs for the wheels were available off the shelf from Tap Plastics. I had them drill the center holes and also cut the acrylic tubing segments I would need to complete the wheels. I ran short of material for the larger diameter tubing so I had to improvise with some black PVC. Tap has a great cement for acrylic, but be careful, it's very runny. You don't need to squeeze the tube just tip and the glue flows like water. It's so runny in fact it leaves you feeling like you can't even operate a tube of glue right. Not the most wonderful feeling to have just starting this project. Excess glue (on the inside welds) can't really hurt though. It makes the wheels much stronger. I quickly learned that many of the holes Tap drilled for me were not exactly centered, so I finished glueing the second side on the wheels using a wooden dowel as a spindle to assure that the center holes on both sides lined up (see picture that looks like the Capitol Records building in L.A.). Since my wheels will not be rotating it's much more important that the holes line up than the edges.