HOME | DD

Description
After four hours of staring and referencing and studying and planning, I've finally fleshed out how Max's automail works, essentially. If anything changes or is added, I'll update the info (still uncovering some of the kinks!)

Main Exterior points

[1] Ventilation:
Spread throughout the exterior design are areas covered with a mesh over cloth (to keep dust, dirt and debris out) that allows the interior motors to take in air and helps keep the metal from overheating in the hotter months. These areas also act as exit points for water as the small pumps throughout the interior pumps it out, allowing Max to be able to move through water and swim (though too much time spent submerged will damage the pumps-- she's still working to eliminate that in the future).

[2] Motors:
Small motors, some visible on the outside, help maximize her range of mobility with her automail. Sensors relay information to them from Max's nervous system, allowing only the motors that are needed to fire and move the limb like muscles in a real leg. There are more motors towards the joints which move the gears and parts within them quickly to prevent any sort of delay in them.

These motors do contain electrical sensors that have been waterproofed, and if something happens to those sensors, the motors will not fire, rendering the leg immobile.

[3] Suspension Hubs
Visible on the back of the knee and the back of her heel are the suspension hubs, which contains the suspension and wiring for those to allow a minimal shock impact when landing and gives more spring when sprinting and running (matches her normal spring on her other leg). The suspension also helps with the balancing and wear on the automail joints, limiting it to bare minimum.

[4] Cap:

The cap on her knee is currently a modification-in-progress. Max intended on creating a small projectile weapon in the cap of her knee, but due to design flaws, she's put it off to dig a little deeper and try redesigning her idea to be practical. So at the moment, the cap acts as a second shield for the joint in her knee, taking the brunt of any force she may take dropping to a knee while also protecting the motor that needs replacing inside of her knee (it hasn't caused any major problems yet, but after repairs to the suspension system, she has to make a little more money before she can replace that motor. It's next on her to-do list).

Interior Make-up

Sensory Wiring

In order to send the synapses and signals from her nerves to the rest of her leg, there's specially made wiring that carries those signals to designated motors, telling them which ones need to run and which ones need to slack. There's no delay (this took years of perfecting) so it's just like a normal limb responding to the brain. These wires are the thinnest, allowing for many to be woven through the inner workings of the leg and limits any chance of them tangling among something else.

Inner Motors

There are plenty of motors throughout the limb, especially around the joints. These motors are a little bigger as they need more power to move the components of the joints to move the leg. There are smaller motors that act as relays for the sensory wiring, moving the small pistons within what would be the muscles on a real leg, and works the pumps that keeps water out.

Pumps

Close towards the ventilation areas lies small pumps that help pump water out if Max's automail if it should ever be submerged. Downside of these pumps: they are easily clogged and easily over-run due to their small size, so this limits how long Max can remain in water. In muddy situations and rain, this isn't much of an issue. There are also small holes here and there that gives a little more room for the water to exit.

Pistons

Pistons located within the "muscles" aid in the stabilization and movement of the other components

Suspension

The suspension is made up of a combination of springs and pistons and give a little more range of movement to the limb and joints

Maintenance

Maintenance for Max's automail is both simple and complicated at the same time. Once a month, depending on how much wear and tear there has been while she's out dust mining, Max takes a day to inspect her automail with the help of one of the other mechanics at her shop. This includes taking note of parts that need replacing soon, any upgrades needed, tightening screws and bolts, oiling the pistons and joints, and checking the links between her nervous system and the limb. However, the joints and pistons have to be oiled a little more often, generally equally out to twice a month minimum. The pumps are also cleaned once a month.

However, if there is any damage present, then it takes a little longer. Many compoments have to be removed, and when she was younger she could do many of the repairs herself, but now she enjoys the aid of one other mechanic, and it's thanks to them that she's still going-- Once she forgot a screw, and when they found it they tracked her down and the two of them put it back together before anything bad could occur. Since then, she asks for their help during routine maintenance and repairs.

Benefits and Drawbacks

Despite the praise that her automail designs receive, Max makes sure to tell everyone the pros and cons, and they do effect her as well. More so for the fact that her leg is designed more so for combat than most of the models she puts out.
Pros Cons

Maximum mobility
Despite the limb being made up of many mechanical parts and metal, her leg remains as flexible and mobile as a real leg. It also eliminates the draw backs of a real limb, eliminating the chance for crippling wounds.

More reliable
Unlike real limbs, Max's automail can take quite a bit of damage before anything could really happen to it, and the strength of them varies depending on the type of alloys used in their make-up. Max's is a combination of a light-weight steel alloy and titanium with some aluminum parts.

Durable
Because of the metal, her limb can withstand quite a bit of force and brutality.

Affected by Weather/Pressure Changes
Because of it's metallic makeup, Max's leg is heavily affected by weather. Pressure changes that occur when it rains or snows can sometimes limit Max's mobility. She has a high tolerance for pain, but the pain that sometimes comes with the weather change is more than even she can handle. When she can't bite it back or swallow it down, she does get sick from the nausea and it can affect how well she functions. Unfortunately, there's not much that can be done to help this.

Water can also rust the metal without proper treatment and care, and the pumps on the inside are easily clogged.

In hot temperatures the metal can heat up and irritate the skin, sometimes even burning it if careful precautions aren't taken. When it's cold outside, the metal can get too cold and can cause hypothermia and frostbite around the skin.

Highly Painful to install
Even though it has its perks, automail is extremely painful to attach and install as connections have to be made between the wiring and the nervous system and the signals have to fire before anything else can be done. Scarring is also common where the skin and the metal meets, and without proper care during the healing process infection can set in and completely throw back any progress made.

High Maintenance
Because of the amount of parts in the limb, her automail is extremely high maintenance, whether it's just small things or major tuneups. Moving parts have to be oiled, motors and pumps kept clean, and joints smooth and without too much wear. Another draw-back is when making any upgrades or repairs, if even one piece is forgotten it could be devastating.

Description
After four hours of staring and referencing and studying and planning, I've finally fleshed out how Max's automail works, essentially. If anything changes or is added, I'll update the info (still uncovering some of the kinks!)

Main Exterior points

[1] Ventilation:
Spread throughout the exterior design are areas covered with a mesh over cloth (to keep dust, dirt and debris out) that allows the interior motors to take in air and helps keep the metal from overheating in the hotter months. These areas also act as exit points for water as the small pumps throughout the interior pumps it out, allowing Max to be able to move through water and swim (though too much time spent submerged will damage the pumps-- she's still working to eliminate that in the future).

[2] Motors:
Small motors, some visible on the outside, help maximize her range of mobility with her automail. Sensors relay information to them from Max's nervous system, allowing only the motors that are needed to fire and move the limb like muscles in a real leg. There are more motors towards the joints which move the gears and parts within them quickly to prevent any sort of delay in them.

These motors do contain electrical sensors that have been waterproofed, and if something happens to those sensors, the motors will not fire, rendering the leg immobile.

[3] Suspension Hubs
Visible on the back of the knee and the back of her heel are the suspension hubs, which contains the suspension and wiring for those to allow a minimal shock impact when landing and gives more spring when sprinting and running (matches her normal spring on her other leg). The suspension also helps with the balancing and wear on the automail joints, limiting it to bare minimum.

[4] Cap:

The cap on her knee is currently a modification-in-progress. Max intended on creating a small projectile weapon in the cap of her knee, but due to design flaws, she's put it off to dig a little deeper and try redesigning her idea to be practical. So at the moment, the cap acts as a second shield for the joint in her knee, taking the brunt of any force she may take dropping to a knee while also protecting the motor that needs replacing inside of her knee (it hasn't caused any major problems yet, but after repairs to the suspension system, she has to make a little more money before she can replace that motor. It's next on her to-do list).

Interior Make-up

Sensory Wiring

In order to send the synapses and signals from her nerves to the rest of her leg, there's specially made wiring that carries those signals to designated motors, telling them which ones need to run and which ones need to slack. There's no delay (this took years of perfecting) so it's just like a normal limb responding to the brain. These wires are the thinnest, allowing for many to be woven through the inner workings of the leg and limits any chance of them tangling among something else.

Inner Motors

There are plenty of motors throughout the limb, especially around the joints. These motors are a little bigger as they need more power to move the components of the joints to move the leg. There are smaller motors that act as relays for the sensory wiring, moving the small pistons within what would be the muscles on a real leg, and works the pumps that keeps water out.

Pumps

Close towards the ventilation areas lies small pumps that help pump water out if Max's automail if it should ever be submerged. Downside of these pumps: they are easily clogged and easily over-run due to their small size, so this limits how long Max can remain in water. In muddy situations and rain, this isn't much of an issue. There are also small holes here and there that gives a little more room for the water to exit.

Pistons

Pistons located within the "muscles" aid in the stabilization and movement of the other components

Suspension

The suspension is made up of a combination of springs and pistons and give a little more range of movement to the limb and joints

Maintenance

Maintenance for Max's automail is both simple and complicated at the same time. Once a month, depending on how much wear and tear there has been while she's out dust mining, Max takes a day to inspect her automail with the help of one of the other mechanics at her shop. This includes taking note of parts that need replacing soon, any upgrades needed, tightening screws and bolts, oiling the pistons and joints, and checking the links between her nervous system and the limb. However, the joints and pistons have to be oiled a little more often, generally equally out to twice a month minimum. The pumps are also cleaned once a month.

However, if there is any damage present, then it takes a little longer. Many compoments have to be removed, and when she was younger she could do many of the repairs herself, but now she enjoys the aid of one other mechanic, and it's thanks to them that she's still going-- Once she forgot a screw, and when they found it they tracked her down and the two of them put it back together before anything bad could occur. Since then, she asks for their help during routine maintenance and repairs.

Benefits and Drawbacks

Despite the praise that her automail designs receive, Max makes sure to tell everyone the pros and cons, and they do effect her as well. More so for the fact that her leg is designed more so for combat than most of the models she puts out.
Pros Cons

Maximum mobility
Despite the limb being made up of many mechanical parts and metal, her leg remains as flexible and mobile as a real leg. It also eliminates the draw backs of a real limb, eliminating the chance for crippling wounds.

More reliable
Unlike real limbs, Max's automail can take quite a bit of damage before anything could really happen to it, and the strength of them varies depending on the type of alloys used in their make-up. Max's is a combination of a light-weight steel alloy and titanium with some aluminum parts.

Durable
Because of the metal, her limb can withstand quite a bit of force and brutality.

Affected by Weather/Pressure Changes
Because of it's metallic makeup, Max's leg is heavily affected by weather. Pressure changes that occur when it rains or snows can sometimes limit Max's mobility. She has a high tolerance for pain, but the pain that sometimes comes with the weather change is more than even she can handle. When she can't bite it back or swallow it down, she does get sick from the nausea and it can affect how well she functions. Unfortunately, there's not much that can be done to help this.

Water can also rust the metal without proper treatment and care, and the pumps on the inside are easily clogged.

In hot temperatures the metal can heat up and irritate the skin, sometimes even burning it if careful precautions aren't taken. When it's cold outside, the metal can get too cold and can cause hypothermia and frostbite around the skin.

Highly Painful to install
Even though it has its perks, automail is extremely painful to attach and install as connections have to be made between the wiring and the nervous system and the signals have to fire before anything else can be done. Scarring is also common where the skin and the metal meets, and without proper care during the healing process infection can set in and completely throw back any progress made.

High Maintenance
Because of the amount of parts in the limb, her automail is extremely high maintenance, whether it's just small things or major tuneups. Moving parts have to be oiled, motors and pumps kept clean, and joints smooth and without too much wear. Another draw-back is when making any upgrades or repairs, if even one piece is forgotten it could be devastating.