Static side brush for Neato

[zardoz]

To overcome the lack of a rotating side brush, I added a "static" sidebrush to my Neato XV-11 using a brush seal, usually used for door insulation.
As we have hard floor throughout the entire appartment, this works perfectly and requires only a brush cleaning with a hand vacuum after each run.
Be sure to place the screws at the correct position, otherwise either the bumper does not work anymore or you may even damage a sensor!
The solution is probably not well suited for carpets as the brush will constantly lose the dirt on it.

Hope you like it.

See also the videos here:

http://youtu.be/fXOLinF6pFU
http://youtu.be/tllY8kQf18E
http://youtu.be/5kBvAVsECFE

[glnc222]

Interesting mod because this brush could be attached to the bottom using the bumper cover screws without altering the neato case with attachment holes, using right angle brackets or forms from hardware. Could be useful without voiding warranties. Bolt, staple, or glue the brush to the vertical side of the form and fasten the horizontal side to the Neato bottom with the existing screws. Thin plastic right angle moldings, aluminum right angle, wood right angle moldings are available. Small brass 1/2" right angle brackets instead of a long form, some narrow steel 3" wide right angle brackets, etc.
Excellent photos make this clear quickly showing the clearances.

Actually the brush has the right angle on it, using another piece remove the bristles and cut off the unused flaps; makes a strip with a right angle lip to fasten the brush itself.

[davidelewis]

Interesting mod ... I've often thought that in place of a static or rotating brush, if a small part of the exhaust air from the robot were redirected out a small angled vent at the front right edge then the flow of air would effectively acts as a sweeper (no moving parts!). Using a solenoid or angle vents This could be configured to turn on only when vacuuming along a wall edge.

[glnc222]

exhaust air from the robot were redirected

some discussion of this, partly tested towards end of thread "edge vacuum mod" http://www.robotreviews.com/chat/viewto ... 20&t=15925

[davidelewis]

some discussion of this, partly tested towards end of thread "edge vacuum mod" http://www.robotreviews.com/chat/viewto ... 20&t=15925

Thanks! Great minds think alike (and fools minds seldom differ) ...

[oscahie]

This mod is exactly what I had been thinking of for a while, if only I were not so lazy I'll definitely have to pass by a hardware store to see if I can find similar brushes...

[chris-s]

I have to find a solution that works on carpets too... still thinking and let you know as soon as received my XV-15 at the end of the week

[Wing Nut]

This mod is exactly what I had been thinking of for a while, if only I were not so lazy I'll definitely have to pass by a hardware store to see if I can find similar brushes...

I bought one the other day, but silly me, I installed it on the back door to keep creepy crawlies out

I would like to try a slightly different arrangement of bristles though - longer and almost horizontal. Something that'd look like a spinning side brush, only it wouldn't spin A bunch of long flexible bristles (pulled from a large paint brush?) attached low on the front corner(s) and facing out the side might be about as effective at nudging wall hugging dust bunnies as this design, but not risk triggering the front bumper prematurely as I suspect the hard plastic strip in the door seal might do.

I realise the strip doesn't project very far out and may not influence how close the Neato gets to walls, but long flexible 'cats whiskers' could reach even further out the side(s) and a little forward, and being very bendy, not risk of influencing the Neato's path.

[glnc222]

not risk triggering the front bumper prematurely as I suspect the hard plastic strip in the door seal might do.

A thin plastic or wood strip (maybe part of that door seal) can be attached off the bumper, across the bottom using the forward battery cover screws, and attach whatever brush fitting is preferred to the end out one side. An L-shape at the side can put the brush farther forward if needed. Might need to pivot like break-away side mirrors on cars.

If a form is cut from a plastic box a horizontal strip can be obtained with a vertical side strip along the side of the Neato to which brushes can be attached, with less obstruction to bump.

[chris-s]

My mod


[video]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zTiVrzcfEhY[/video]

[glnc222]

chris, what sort of brush is that?

[Wing Nut]

I suspect it's the standard beater 'brush', but the (phone/camera?) flash has bounced off the lighter reflective metal cylinder and silicon beater strips making it look a bit different.

[chris-s]

Yes it is the standard brush but I think he was talking about the side brush I have added.
It is a piece of the brush that was added on a wardrobe sliding door.

[glnc222]

Might be "pile weatherstrip" in hardware -- looks soft, like carpet. At Ace Hardware, Amazon, etc. http://www.amazon.com/CRL-Storefront-We ... B001G0XQP4
http://www.amazon.com/Prime-Line-Prod-T ... m_sbs_hi_2

[chris-s]

That is a sort of thing like that.
Mine had glue on the flat end.

[OntheWay]

Yes it is the standard brush but I think he was talking about the side brush I have added.
It is a piece of the brush that was added on a wardrobe sliding door.

I was thinking on something similar, but instead of 90 degrees angle to driving direction, sth like 45 or 60 degrees forward, this way it can collect and direct dust more into main brush. My concern on static brush is, it can spread stuff captured on hardfloor to carpets, especially on transition points. According to the video, lenght of sidebrush seems well-adjusted, barely touches to wall, thats great. Its bendable which is another plus point.

[Wing Nut]

I know I'm venturing off topic, but I can't help thinking a little friction wheel and cog arrangement borrowed from an Erector/Meccano set or an R/C car kit would make a side brush more effective without requiring a power source other than the Neatos motion across the floor.

A soft rubber or silicon wheel turned by friction as the floor passes underneath could, through simple (plastic?) gearing, drive a lightweight revolving brush. The brush could be the flat whisker variety seen on other robovacs. It wouldn't need to spin rapidly to be more effective than a stationary one - just enough to nudge dust away from walls and corners and into the path of the Neato's main brush.

Now all I need is for glnc222 to take this idea and retire to his basement with his long suffering Neato

[glnc222]

Great leap of imagination, reminiscent of Leonardo's drawings (since found copied from Chinese manuals). I have a suspicion those mechanical things have all been superseded by ever more battery powered improvements, and join wind-up springs as precious antiques only seen on TV. Besides, the basement was stolen by a passing UFO mistaking the robot for a distant relative (returned for lack of a side brush), so I keep everything suitable for kitchen counters.

simple (plastic?) gearing, drive a lightweight revolving brush

Should not be pursued here, on static brushes, but actually practical when the main brush instead of the floor is the drive, with a right angle gear instead of a separate side brush motor. Takes factory design of the brush mounting as a far as I can see. Any number of reasons to prefer separate motors.

[chris-s]

I was thinking on something similar, but instead of 90 degrees angle to driving direction, sth like 45 or 60 degrees forward,

If you carefully look at my pictures, you'll see the brush has an angle of 45 degrees backward, the purpose was to bend along the wall.
Finally, I put it 90 degrees and has a better performance.

[zardoz]

I was thinking on something similar, but instead of 90 degrees angle to driving direction, sth like 45 or 60 degrees forward, this way it can collect and direct dust more into main brush. My concern on static brush is, it can spread stuff captured on hardfloor to carpets, especially on transition points.

That is correct. The brush shown on the first entry of this thread IS spreading stuff on the carpet captured on the hardfloor at the transition points. As we do not have a carpet, this is not an issue in our apartment. My tests with different angles have shown that 99% of the dirt is collected and hold anyhow at the static brush itself and not forwarded to the intake. Therefore the static brush needs cleaning after every run.