Scooba 230 Dis-assembly

[vic7767]

The dis-assembly has not progressed so I don't know the type of sensor used in the bumper.

[vacuumboy98]

Hi guys! I was a bit bored this morning so I decided to take apart my Scooba 230. If you take your Scooba 230 apart then there will be some gluing to fix it. Well the Scooba 230 is a bit more simplistic inside, I saw there was actually a weight in the scooba to help hold it down. If there are any questions or you want me to take more detailed photos please tell me. Thanks, Patrick.

[vic7767]

Nice pictures! It would be helpful to explain how you got it apart.

[vacuumboy98]

Oh, I had to pry everything. Lol. I'm a kid and that's how mostly get everything apart. There are a few philips screws where the fill tank is. All you have to do is remove the silicone where it seals to the tank, and cover. You should see some screws behind it. Then to get the wheel motors you take off the wheels, and then unscrew the two screws on both sides. Then all you have to do is pull everything apart with a dremel tool to help drill the places where it is clipped on. For now all you should do is take the bumper off. Anything else will ruin your robot. Sorry if my writing is bad, it's past my bed time. Thanks, Patrick.

[chris-s]

@Patrick > it would have been great to have a tuto, explaining in the right order differents steps of disassembling.

[vacuumboy98]

Oh, Ok. I really did not take it apart in a specific order though. I could do another dis-assembly with my other scooba 230. But do not do this dis-assembly if you want a fully functioning Scooba after you take it apart. This was for the heck of it. Sorry for not having instructions. Thanks, Patrick.

[piokrza]

Hey Patrick, I think that you didn't show us all the internal parts, did you? I see only one bladder - is it for clean water?

[TechGuy]

... But do not do this dis-assembly if you want a fully functioning Scooba after you take it apart. ...

So the Scooba 230 is a disposable Scooba and cannot be taken apart for service. Can you re-seal the 230 with silicone? I know it will not be pretty... But at least is functional... I hope!!!

[vic7767]

I've learned that in order to dis-assemble the 230 will require using a new term. Instead of dis-assemble replace the word with "Destruct".

[chris-s]

My 230 has been returned to i-robot service for repairing.
I hope that they can repair instead of changing the whole robot.
It is strange that it is impossible to open and close the case for service.

[vic7767]

It's not impossible to open the case but instead of using screws iRobot used some type of strong adhesive to join the plastic parts. It may be that a heat gun might aid in dis-assembly. I just don't want to destroy another 230 trying to find out.

[vacuumboy98]

No. There is only one bladder. The dirty tank is the robot itself. Yes. I did destroy this robot. I just threw it away afterwards.

[chris-s]

So, in that case, I wonder how i-robot can do some repairing of the 230
I'll try to have some explanations when they will send me back my 230.

[piokrza]

Look like it consist only three motors: first for right wheel, second for left wheel and third for vacuum/pump (seems like both ends of the motor shaft are used).

EDIT: There are 4 motors in total - one for R & L wheel, one for vacuum and the other one for pump. Source: BiT test of 230 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rhe_APesQr4

[vacuumboy98]

iRobot told me that they cannot repair the Scooba 230's. Instead they replace them.

[chris-s]

Wow !! That is not a good affair for i-robot

[mfortuna]

Irobot has never really repaired robots directly, they always send replacements. Some robots get refurbished and resold. It may be Irobot (or the company that does the actual work) tear apart the 230 to reuse internal parts that get put in a new case. Only if it is cost-effective.

[Roombascoobatastic]

Thank you so much for these awesome photos! I have been dying to see inside this enigmatic little guy. I wish there was a way to add weight in there somehow to increase brush and squeegee contact with the floor. I was thinking maybe a balloon filled with some cement or something.

[piokrza]

Another way of "disassembling".

[Roombascoobatastic]

yikes, I had to shield my little scoobies' sensors for that one.