Salt Flats / Salt Environment - Corrosion Risk Needs Review¶

NEEDS_REVIEW ENVIRONMENT RISK

Summary¶

A client request to use Bolt on salt flats was raised in the WhatsApp chat. No complete operational answer was extracted. Treat salt flats as a high-risk corrosion and contamination environment until MRMC or experienced operators provide a tested prep/cleaning protocol.

Adjacent beach/desert threads give useful field guidance for sand and grit, but salt flats are worse than ordinary sand because salt dust is both abrasive and corrosive. This page should remain NEEDS_REVIEW until MRMC or an experienced operator confirms a salt-specific prep/cleaning procedure.

Symptoms¶

A client is requesting a Bolt or track shoot on salt flats and you need to assess the corrosion and contamination risk before committing.
You are concerned about salt dust entering track rack/pinion joints, linear guide bearings, electronics, or cable connectors.
You need a post-shoot cleaning protocol after the rig has been exposed to a salt environment.
You want to know whether physical ground covering or platforming is mandatory to prevent direct salt contact.
You are looking for guidance on lubricating and protecting track in a desert or salt environment without creating sticky oil films that attract grit.

Stable ID¶

ISSUE-ENV-002

First Reported¶

2022-06-16 - Korey asked whether operators would take Bolt onto salt flats or whether the salt would be too concerning.

Risks To Assess¶

Salt contamination of track rack/pinion and precision rails
Corrosion of exposed steel, fasteners, feet, and mechanical interfaces
Salt dust entering electronics, fans, connectors, and cable entries
Post-shoot cleaning requirements
Whether protective ground covering/platforming is mandatory
Heat expansion/contraction of track and rack if shooting in desert sun
Grit binding in THK/linear guide areas if lubricant attracts dust

Current Community Status¶

[NEEDS_REVIEW] 2022-06-16 - User: Korey¶

Question found; no complete salt-specific answer extracted. Nearby reply: "Salt is scary and also high temperatures."

confidence_score: 0.32

[LIKELY] Sand / desert protection guidance applies, but is not enough for salt¶

2022-11-05 - Niko / Peter Constan-Tatos

The Bolt arm/body are relatively sealed for gritty factory environments.
Track is the main vulnerability.
THK sliders have dust seals but should be wiped clean frequently.
Avoid heavy oil/grease on exposed rails in gritty environments because it attracts grit.
Use a cloth with a little WD40 for cleaning/wiping, not enough to dilute grease inside bearing blocks.
Clean rack with a soft brass brush where practical.

confidence_score: 0.68

[LIKELY] Use physical ground covering / wrap / platforming¶

2022-08-23 / 2025-03-13 / 2025-05-22 community field reports:

Industrial pallet wrap was used to protect areas on a sand/rock set.
For sand/grass/rocky terrain, use a properly built platform or "Jonesy deck" / steel sub-frame with tracking boards.
On soft ground, allow time for the platform to settle and warn VFX that plates may not match if the base shifts during the day.

confidence_score: 0.7

Field Guidance Until Confirmed¶

Avoid direct salt contact if possible¶

Do not place track, feet, power distribution, or cable joins directly onto salt. Use a sealed/covered deck, boards, or a grip-built platform and keep the robot/track physically isolated from salt crust and salt dust as much as practical.

Cleaning priority after salt exposure¶

Blow or vacuum dry loose salt/dust before wiping wet.
Wipe exposed rails, rack, pinion areas, fasteners, feet, and cable entries.
Inspect track rack joints and linear guides for grit before the next move.
Clean and dry before packing, then re-check after transport.
Lubricate/protect only according to MRMC guidance; do not leave exposed sticky oil films where salt/dust will collect.

Needs MRMC confirmation

This page combines community sand/desert guidance with salt-corrosion caution. It is not yet an official salt-flat operating procedure. Treat any salt-flat job as a special-risk environment requiring prep, cleaning time, and post-job inspection.

2022-06-16 02:04 - ~ Korey: Client wanting to do a video out on the salt flats with the Bolt. Would you guys do it? Or would the salt scare you

Media Text / Description¶

Media 1: 2022-06-16 02:04 - ~ Korey: Client wanting to do a video out on the salt flats with the Bolt. Would you guys do it? Or would the salt scare you

WhatsApp Excerpts¶

2022-06-16 02:04 - ~ Korey: Client wanting to do a video out on the salt flats with the Bolt. Would you guys do it? Or would the salt scare you
2022-06-16 02:46 - ~ Lennard: Yes .. so only relative and level work? Is that correct?
2022-06-16 02:48 - ~ Niko: Salt is scary and also high temperatures

Official Documentation¶

Flair Classic Manual — Ch.1 Introduction: Safety — p.15

Flair 7 Manual — Ch.1 Introduction: Safety — p.1