First time bulding a robot, any advice?

[Smirkeh]

The self-named project "TRIBUTE" is an idea to build a wide and low box with wheels with an electronic lifting arm,
the robot would be in the featherweight division because they are both small, simple and easy to build using cheap parts.

The robot would probably use three hacked drill motors to power both the chain-driven wheels and the lifting arm that's going to be a pain to design and build, it's also probably going to have a plastic/metal chassis with anti-flipper side-skirts because I thought imitating BioHazard and Storm 2 would be a fantastic idea in my head. Obviously it's going to be serious pain to construct and operate but I hope I can get all of my bases covered before I do anything stupid. 

[The Red Blur]

I don't know much about bot building, but I think it's probably better to start with something simple and easy. This sounds difficult.

[R1885]

Make it simple pal.


Other than having four wheel drive, there is no reason to chain the wheels off the drills. Just mount the wheels directly to the output shaft of the drill and all will be well.


A simpler method of getting the lifter to work would be a linear actuator. Its a fair bit slower than a drill, but its easy to set up and doesn't take up much space. Just remember that a motor at near stall will eat a lot of amps, so make sure your battery can safely provide the juice it needs.


One major thing that can help us is to provide a rough sketch of your design, doesn't matter if its pretty or not, just so long as its clear what is what. You can do this in what ever method is easier for you, just make sure its clear or nobody else can read it.

[Smirkeh]

Linear actuators?, I was hoping for a faster acting lifting arm than "usual" but if it will help save on power consumption (and provide more torque in the process) I'm open with using them, but would I want to go with 1 or 2?

[cephalopod]

R1885 basically covered what I was gonna suggest.

Chains and gearing get complicated fast, especially for a few build, so chaining your drive and running your lifter from a drill (which would need extensive gear reduction, even if it did have enough power) is probably not the best idea.

Simple 2WD with a linac lifter is your best bet. You'll only need the one.

My other suggestion would be to get onto some of the more roboteering focused forums and groups as the actual building group here isn't all so big.
If you're in the UK, the FRA Forum is a great place to get help, and there are multiple builders groups on Facebook which are pretty friendly (Roaming Robots, Unofficial Robot Wars and Combat Robotics spring to mind).

[Smirkeh]

Apparently gearing is already done in drill motors, so all I was going to do was use the chains to link the motor to the two wheels on either side.

Also, I didn't create this post just for creating things but also for the fact that RA3 is coming out in a month and I wanted a friendly place to discuss it. I was going to move to the RFA forums later on when I started actually ordering the parts needed to make the chassis as I'm currently binge-researching wherever I can to load up on as much information as possible.

[cephalopod]

Oh, yeah, don't get me wrong, drill motors are fine for drive - won't win any pushing matches but they'll get you mobile. I meant as a lifter motor, the drill isn't likely to suffice without additional stages.

Thing to remember is, how do you intend to do the chain drive?
Eg are you gonna have dead of live shafts on your wheel axles, how are you gonna keep the shafts in place, how are you attaching wheels to the sprockets etc.
It becomes a lot easier when you consider just putting a wheel on the drill motor shaft :P

[Smirkeh]

I wasn't entirely sure, When I can get back to my home computer I'll try and post pictures and sketches as it's literally all just sketches

[Smirkeh]

I wasn't entirely sure, When I can get back to my home computer I'll try and post pictures and sketches as it's literally all just sketches

https://gametechmods.com/uploads/images/2979IMG_0577[1].JPG

Here it is, sorry it took so long!

[Joelu Of Eagleland]

I wasn't entirely sure, When I can get back to my home computer I'll try and post pictures and sketches as it's literally all just sketches

https://gametechmods.com/uploads/images/2979IMG_0577[1].JPG

Here it is, sorry it took so long!

The link didn't quite work. Try putting ['img'] between the link instead, without the quotation marks. Kinda like this:
['IMG']https://gametechmods.com/uploads/images/30304157315.jpg[/'IMG']

Besides telling you that, I don't think I can be much help towards your robot building. Sorry.

[TDS]

I wasn't entirely sure, When I can get back to my home computer I'll try and post pictures and sketches as it's literally all just sketches

https://gametechmods.com/uploads/images/2979IMG_0577[1].JPG

Here it is, sorry it took so long!

The link didn't quite work. Try putting ['img'] between the link instead, without the quotation marks. Kinda like this:
['IMG']https://gametechmods.com/uploads/images/30304157315.jpg[/'IMG']

Besides telling you that, I don't think I can be much help towards your robot building. Sorry.

the [1] in the name broke the code, you have to cut and paste it, but it works.

Here's what I'll suggest for your first real robot.

1: get dimensions of everything, cut those dimensions out of cardboard and lay it out, you can also do this in draftsight or fusion360, but meat space is easier
2: 4 bar lifters are tricky geometry-wise but not undoable, again, make it out of cardboard and/or wood to figure out your geometry
3: chains/belts can be a pain in the butt because your first bot will likely not be perfectly aligned, as soon as something bends you are in trouble
4: support the output of your drill motors on both sides of the wheel with a bushing or bearing or else that plastic gearbox will likely break
5: aim to be at least 10% underweight, you won't be, but it gives you a good buffer

I'd also suggest not going the drillmotor 12/30pounder route, as it can end up being expensive, you can get a decent 3pounder together for around a hundred bucks, figure out what events you can actually make it to before dedicating to a weight class (look into buildersdb event history)

[Somebody]

Hey, I'm also first-robotting a featherweight right now. A couple quick tips and I have a ton of research I've done if you have any more questions. First point is to take however much you think you're going to spend, and just double it. At least. And have that much saved up before you're going to start buying parts. Next point is to not buy parts at all until your design is finalized. I made the mistake to try to show progress (I'm doing it for my senior project at school) and now I'm stuck with parts that I'm either not using, or forced to use because I don't have enough time to put in anything else. This costs money, and makes me sad.

[Somebody]

Linear actuators?, I was hoping for a faster acting lifting arm than "usual" but if it will help save on power consumption (and provide more torque in the process) I'm open with using them, but would I want to go with 1 or 2?

Probably something to design for. I know many use one, but if you've got weight, it's always fun to do something different!

Apparently gearing is already done in drill motors, so all I was going to do was use the chains to link the motor to the two wheels on either side.

Also, I didn't create this post just for creating things but also for the fact that RA3 is coming out in a month and I wanted a friendly place to discuss it. I was going to move to the RFA forums later on when I started actually ordering the parts needed to make the chassis as I'm currently binge-researching wherever I can to load up on as much information as possible.

I would suggest the Riobotz combot tutorial.

http://www.riobotz.com.br/riobotz_combot_tutorial.pdf

Fantastically in depth tutorial, I read it cover to cover and took notes before I started designing. I ended up with 10 pages of notes.

[TDS]

Hey, I'm also first-robotting a featherweight right now. A couple quick tips and I have a ton of research I've done if you have any more questions. First point is to take however much you think you're going to spend, and just double it. At least. And have that much saved up before you're going to start buying parts. Next point is to not buy parts at all until your design is finalized. I made the mistake to try to show progress (I'm doing it for my senior project at school) and now I'm stuck with parts that I'm either not using, or forced to use because I don't have enough time to put in anything else. This costs money, and makes me sad.

I'm making a lifting arm for Ruin2 incase someone wants to grudge match it at franklin *hint hint* :)

[Somebody]

Hey, I'm also first-robotting a featherweight right now. A couple quick tips and I have a ton of research I've done if you have any more questions. First point is to take however much you think you're going to spend, and just double it. At least. And have that much saved up before you're going to start buying parts. Next point is to not buy parts at all until your design is finalized. I made the mistake to try to show progress (I'm doing it for my senior project at school) and now I'm stuck with parts that I'm either not using, or forced to use because I don't have enough time to put in anything else. This costs money, and makes me sad.

I'm making a lifting arm for Ruin2 incase someone wants to grudge match it at franklin *hint hint* :)

Is Franklin a thing yet? I want as many fights I can get for a drive that far for me. You'll be a good test for my shame hoops haha

[TDS]

I'm making a lifting arm for Ruin2 incase someone wants to grudge match it at franklin *hint hint* :)

Is Franklin a thing yet? I want as many fights I can get for a drive that far for me. You'll be a good test for my shame hoops haha
[/quote]

Well with another CNC conversion in progress (this time on a 3000lb mill) I hope to be ready for it unlike moto, but no, reg isn't open yet.
As much as I'd prefer to not wedge, a fight is a fight and I don't think I want to run the hammer "for fun" but maybe I could just turn down the pressure and/or slap extra armor over your speed controllers, a grudge match for fun shouldn't cost you a bunch of cash in parts.

Then again I still can't get out of the mindset of putting ~1k of speed controllers in a bot, lol, here's hoping I dont tap out at the slightest wisp of smoke again XD

[Somebody]

Well with another CNC conversion in progress (this time on a 3000lb mill) I hope to be ready for it unlike moto, but no, reg isn't open yet.
As much as I'd prefer to not wedge, a fight is a fight and I don't think I want to run the hammer "for fun" but maybe I could just turn down the pressure and/or slap extra armor over your speed controllers, a grudge match for fun shouldn't cost you a bunch of cash in parts.

Then again I still can't get out of the mindset of putting ~1k of speed controllers in a bot, lol, here's hoping I dont tap out at the slightest wisp of smoke again XD

You put that much in?? I have two Botbitz 30As for drive that are well hidden and a RedBrick 200A for weapon that isn't well hidden, and some equally unhidden lipos. So we'll see how that goes! Turn up the gas and do your worst. I have some ideas though...

[TDS]

You put that much in?? I have two Botbitz 30As for drive that are well hidden and a RedBrick 200A for weapon that isn't well hidden, and some equally unhidden lipos. So we'll see how that goes! Turn up the gas and do your worst. I have some ideas though...

No, I am still in 2002 battlebots mode where you needed 4+ $250 dollar victors, I cant shake it :)

Also telling me to crank it up is a dangerous proposition, ruin2's components are rated for 700psi, and thats only because the regulator will only output up to that

[Somebody]

Well I have a few pounds put towards my nice hefty plate wedge, which I don't exactly need against Ruin. And I may be picking up another order of AR400 before Franklin anyways... AR400 top plate layered over UHMW maybe?

[TDS]

Well I have a few pounds put towards my nice hefty plate wedge, which I don't exactly need against Ruin. And I may be picking up a other order of AR400 before Franklin anyways... AR400 top plate layered over UHMW maybe?

I likely won't have an answer for layered armor by then, but there is one in the books :)