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Bolt Jr Plus UltiBox Repositioning for Lighting Access

Summary

The standard UltiBox position on a Bolt Jr Plus can interfere with placing lighting close to the robot, particularly for tabletop and product shots. By using existing mounting holes on the robot arm, the UltiBox can be relocated to an alternative position. This requires running separate power and SDI cables from base to arm instead of using the built-in pass-through cables, but provides significant gains in lighting placement flexibility.

Background

The Bolt Jr Plus has mounting holes in various positions along the arm and body, designed to accommodate accessories and alternative configurations. Moving the UltiBox to a different mounting position removes the constraint the factory position places on lighting geometry.

Trade-off: The built-in pass-through SDI and power cables can no longer be used in their standard path once the UltiBox is repositioned. Separate cables must be routed from the base to the arm. This is generally an acceptable trade-off for controlled studio environments.

Modification Workflow

This is a physical hardware modification. Verify any new cable routing for adequate slack across the full range of motion before use. Consult MRMC if uncertain about any mounting point's load rating.

  1. Identify an alternative mounting location — use the existing threaded mounting holes on the arm body to find a position that reduces interference with lighting placement.
  2. Relocate the UltiBox to the chosen mounting position using the appropriate hardware.
  3. Route separate cables:
  4. Power cable from base to arm (replacing the built-in pass-through)
  5. SDI cable for video signal (replacing the built-in SDI pass-through)
  6. Verify cable slack throughout the full range of motion — ensure no binding, pulling, or snagging at any axis position.
  7. Test the rig at low speed through full range before use.

Source

Timestamp User Evidence
2023-08-18 jtread "I have been working on a Bolt Jr. Plus for over two years and have been running into limitations with the Ultibox position. We utilized mounting holes on the robot to change the position of the UltiBox. One limitation of this positioning was that we were no longer using the pass-through SDI or power cables. We had to run separate cables from the base to the arm, but this was an acceptable trade off that allowed for us to get lighting closer to the robot."