Help me design the Zero-AX...

[Kamikaze]

I feel terrible for neglecting the AX-10 crowd like I have. Finally I have started the final prototype version of the Zero-AX chassis. There's really no reason to be secretive about it, so I want everyone's input on this truck cause it will be made available to the public.

I have gone through several design phases to get where I'm at as can be seen in the pics below. The version I have now is somewhere in the neighborhood of the 6th one. Take a look, and keep in mind that these are no frills prototypes, so no fancy designs. I do plan on axle trays and chassis trays for all of your electronics and such, as well as provisions for a DNA dig that is being so graciously provided by Don and his crew at DNA. Thanks guys!

Thank you all for your help!

[Kamikaze]

Also I plan to use my high clearance links, but I don't have anymore revo ends so the ax-10 links will have to work.

[joesbruiser]

Chassis looks great Jeff

Guys give some input.
I caint wait to see how Jeff does in the AX-10 chassis department.

[BOWTIE]

motor side have enough room for a puller? if not maybe make some changes to allow that.

[rockassassin]

I like having alot of upper link holes so I can run different size links, pinion angles. I just like having lots a options , same with shock holes. The one many things I love about crawling is trying different setps, just always trying to make my truck better. thanks

[ubbb69]

Lay the shocks down some keep top of chassy lower and longer with shorter links. Room for puller and dig we can mount elecs on the axles plates only add weight up high. Imo they way your shocks are pretty straight up and down now would prob do good for droop but i prefer sprung. Would also like to see it set up for 4" shocks.

[crunky]

i'm not much of a comp/buggy guy, but that looks really nice.

have you got any future plans to tap into the " scaler " side of things ?

thanks for offering us more options.

[guerd87]

Chassis looks great. One thing i would like to ask/suggest is how the spur runs through the side of the chassis. Does this allow for a larger spur to be used? I originally ran a larger spur on my truck but discovered when i bought my DNA slingshot it wasnt accepted and had to use a stock one.

[Kamikaze]

Originally Posted by BOWTIE

motor side have enough room for a puller? if not maybe make some changes to allow that.

It lacks about 1/8" of clearing, the puller......I think I can handle that.

Originally Posted by rockassassin

I like having alot of upper link holes so I can run different size links, pinion angles. I just like having lots a options , same with shock holes. The one many things I love about crawling is trying different setps, just always trying to make my truck better. thanks

I might add one or two to the height adjustment.

Originally Posted by ubbb69

Lay the shocks down some keep top of chassy lower and longer with shorter links. Room for puller and dig we can mount elecs on the axles plates only add weight up high. Imo they way your shocks are pretty straight up and down now would prob do good for droop but i prefer sprung. Would also like to see it set up for 4" shocks.

It has 4 inch shocks on it in the picture.

Originally Posted by crunky

i'm not much of a comp/buggy guy, but that looks really nice.

have you got any future plans to tap into the " scaler " side of things ?

thanks for offering us more options.

I have been building, well starting builds for about a year. I have been considering trying something scale, I have been prototyping some leaf springs for a while now.

[Kamikaze]

Originally Posted by guerd87

Chassis looks great. One thing i would like to ask/suggest is how the spur runs through the side of the chassis. Does this allow for a larger spur to be used? I originally ran a larger spur on my truck but discovered when i bought my DNA slingshot it wasnt accepted and had to use a stock one.

This version is with the stocker. If you needed to clear a larger spur you could bevel the inside of the plate and gain 4 or 5 teeth with room to spare. I could raise the slot .100" with little problem.


Thanks guys keep it commin!

[bjanzen]

Can the spur be changed out fairly easily?? Can't tell for sure. Would be my only critique. Looks great and would love to have one. My current favorite is the Black Widow. This has nice lines like all your stuff.

[Kamikaze]

Originally Posted by bjanzen

Can the spur be changed out fairly easily?? Can't tell for sure. Would be my only critique. Looks great and would love to have one. My current favorite is the Black Widow. This has nice lines like all your stuff.

It should be easy to get the spur out, I'll try tomorrow when I check clearance on a bigger spur.

[jakepkoe]

If you remove the spur gear, can you install/remove the transmission assembly (including dig) without disassembling the chassis? If you have to raise the top bar a little to accomplish this it'd be well worth it IMO. It might not look quite as nice, but the practicality of it will outweigh any loss in aesthetics. If you can already do that, forget I said anything....

[Harvo]

I noticed extra supports between the upper links on the chassis. Are those needed because the delrin flexes there? They won't interfere with shafts right?

It looks right. I assume a kit would be offered with a skid drilled for the tranny?

I'd drive it

[Kamikaze]

Originally Posted by jakepkoe

If you remove the spur gear, can you install/remove the transmission assembly (including dig) without disassembling the chassis? If you have to raise the top bar a little to accomplish this it'd be well worth it IMO. It might not look quite as nice, but the practicality of it will outweigh any loss in aesthetics. If you can already do that, forget I said anything....

The tranny will come out without taking the chassis apart, its a little tight but I will make that revision for the next prototype. I just swapped out the lathe motor for a HH crawlmaster since I don't have to solder anything for it and I want to drive it tomorrow.:-P

Originally Posted by Harvo

I noticed extra supports between the upper links on the chassis. Are those needed because the delrin flexes there? They won't interfere with shafts right?

It looks right. I assume a kit would be offered with a skid drilled for the tranny?

I'd drive it

The chassis flexes just like the berg Zero's do, I feel that it is beneficial for it to do so. Normal flex with this prototype is around 45 to 50 degrees with out limiting the shocks, if I grab it with my hands and force it it goes a little past 90 but thats with quite a bit of force (more than I would try if I had bought it....) I put the extra set of braces between the uppers just to keep the chassis plate from getting into the spur gear, it was designed that way from the start. I like the flex, I have broken way less parts since I started running delrin chassis.

I have found a source for chassis braces and will be offering them on my site soon for the berg chassis and this one, also I am getting all the stuff on order to include hardware with all my products. As for the skids, I programed this skid with the holes in it. In the near future all my skids will come pre-drilled for the lower links as well.

[Kamikaze]

I got it running, I found some old wheels and tires that where already weighted from my last shafty, figured they where a good start. As for electronics I haven't designed all the mounts for them yet so its all kind of jumbled up in there. I should have a dig unit from DNA in a few days to test for clearances and to possibly incorporate mounting holes and or brackets to mount a full size servo in the chassis.

Here are some pics as a running truck next to my comp rig.

(Before anyone says anything, yes I work for Panther, yes there are no panther tires in the pictures, I am just testing tires.)

[Kamikaze]

I will also tackle a high clearance tie rod for the ax-10 as well.

[DiEzel]

sigh....... Waiting.

[666]

Stand the shocks up, not very many holes, use THICK Delrin.

[rednck21]

Originally Posted by Kamikaze

I should have a dig unit from DNA in a few days to test for clearances and to possibly incorporate mounting holes and or brackets to mount a full size servo in the chassis.

now your talking. the 225mg isnt strong enough to move the dig like i like it, so i had to make a custom bracket and mount a 645mg servo on top of the dig. i think a mount directly behind the dig would be the way to go.

also, not sure what you provide with your other chassis, but M3 hardware is nice.