Author Topic: TRB's antweight project (Read 24820 times)

Badger · « **on:** July 20, 2011, 06:52:58 AM »

I have been thinking about making a pair of robots from cardboard, a pair of flipper, little more than the size of an xbox cotroller, if possible. I was wondering what the cost would be, what tools I would need and where to get the parts. Not for any competition, just to mess around with. Like a cheap version of AntyB, if you have ever seen that, but a more generic flipper design.

Bubbleman · « **Reply #1 on:** July 20, 2011, 07:09:57 AM »

You can get servos for around £5/$7 if you're lucky, and if you have any Lego lying around the wheels are good for actual robots. cardboard armour is ATROCIOUS even for hobbyweight robots that wont be seeing any real battles. use wood or polycarbonate. The cost varies depending on what resourses are near, although from a hobby store they are around 50p per square inch for wood, and for lexan i think (correct me if i'm wrong) its about £1.20 per square inch. Speed controllers aren't needed, as you are running servos. A good reciever would be about £20 for 2.4GHz, and you will need some batteries, AA's/AAA's are reccomended for fun, but if you are serious get a pre-made battery pack from the robot market place. You will need two seperate packs, one for the receiver, and one for the motors. around £20 for them too, depending on what voltage you run.

All in all, i would set aside around £75 for it. Go to the robot market place for the radio equipment and batteries, your local hobby store for the armour and servos, your long lost stash of lego for the wheels, and get tools from your local DIY shop. you will probably need a drill, a screwdriver, some screws and a dab of glue.
Also, you will need some basic wiring knowledge!! :P

Hope this helped.

Conraaa · « **Reply #2 on:** July 20, 2011, 07:15:57 AM »

Or instead of building one roughly the size of an xbox controller, you could build an antweight? So you could go to events with it?

Badger · « **Reply #3 on:** July 20, 2011, 07:17:53 AM »

I'm thinking of building two small flippetr to play around with, I have no intentions of going into competitions with them, so they don't really need proper armour.

Bubbleman · « **Reply #4 on:** July 20, 2011, 07:21:17 AM »

would you like you robots to be flipped and collapse with cardboard armour, or comparibly strong with wood armour?

Quote from: Conraaa on July 20, 2011, 07:15:57 AM

Or instead of building one roughly the size of an xbox controller, you could build an antweight? So you could go to events with it?

well, the size of an xbox controller could be better in the sense that he gets practise driving and building, before he challenges himself with the task of building an AW.

Badger · « **Reply #5 on:** July 20, 2011, 07:25:33 AM »

Quote from: Bubbleman on July 20, 2011, 07:21:17 AM

would you like you robots to be flipped and collapse with cardboard armour, or comparibly strong with wood armour?

I have some pretty thick and strong cardboard. ;D
And I have little tools, a hacksaw, mabey... A drill or two, will buy a soldering gun...

Also, what should I use for the flipper, a high torque servo?

Bubbleman · « **Reply #6 on:** July 20, 2011, 07:30:53 AM »

A high tourque servo would be good, just so long as it's fast too.

haz · « **Reply #7 on:** July 20, 2011, 10:23:25 AM »

first off, dont evern bother with cardboard or wood, dont you dare!! get a sheet of polycarbonate off ebay for like £4 (can be cut with scissors)
for drive get a pair of cheap £2.50 servos of giant cod ( or get them modded or speed hacked from me) and a basic 2.4ghz kit which is like £26 now, batterys are about £5 or £6 depending, and the weapon servo will be from £5-10.

build an ant, not something you can't fight

Resetti's Replicas · « **Reply #8 on:** July 20, 2011, 10:26:56 AM »

Polycarb can be cut with scissors? Does that apply to all polycarb or just one specific kind? What do you use to hold pieces of Polycarb togheter? And how big a sheet can you get for 4 pounds?

GoldenFox93 · « **Reply #9 on:** July 20, 2011, 10:30:20 AM »

Quote from: TheRoyalBadger on July 20, 2011, 06:52:58 AM

I have been thinking about making a pair of robots from cardboard, a pair of flipper, little more than the size of an xbox cotroller, if possible. I was wondering what the cost would be, what tools I would need and where to get the parts. Not for any competition, just to mess around with. Like a cheap version of AntyB, if you have ever seen that, but a more generic flipper design.

Anty B? I remember this one. Didn't it fall under the Floor Flipper in its first antweight battle?

haz · « **Reply #10 on:** July 20, 2011, 10:32:46 AM »

1-3mm can be cut with scissors, 4mm with tin snips 6mm + saw.
i dont get the second bit, polycarb is polycarb?
i have hot glued them, folding and bolting is stronger, what i like to do is have 6mm sides so i can tap threads in to them, and screw the 1mm base and top.
mine was a a3 sheet

Resetti's Replicas · « **Reply #11 on:** July 20, 2011, 10:54:24 AM »

Thanks for the answers. I don't have a working saw so I wanted to be absolutely sure the polycarb I bought could be cut by hand, that's what I meant by "types".

Badger · « **Reply #12 on:** July 20, 2011, 11:07:47 AM »

Quote from: haz on July 20, 2011, 10:23:25 AM

first off, dont evern bother with cardboard or wood, dont you dare!! get a sheet of polycarbonate off ebay for like £4 (can be cut with scissors)
for drive get a pair of cheap £2.50 servos of giant cod ( or get them modded or speed hacked from me) and a basic 2.4ghz kit which is like £26 now, batterys are about £5 or £6 depending, and the weapon servo will be from £5-10.

build an ant, not something you can't fight

Yeah, cardboard is too weak, thinking of using wood, we have plenty nicely cut pieces in our attic. May also use polycarb, will consult with father this weekend.

And I will want to fight it/them, just in my own home, against each other. No need to make it competition ready, I will never fight in one, unfortunately.

And that '2.4 GHz kit' is the controller, right?
Costs so far!

haz · « **Reply #13 on:** July 20, 2011, 11:54:38 AM »

you wont need a soldering iron for this robot.
why wont you fight in competitions??
where do you live?

Badger · « **Reply #14 on:** July 20, 2011, 12:06:56 PM »

Quote from: haz on July 20, 2011, 11:54:38 AM

you wont need a soldering iron for this robot.
why wont you fight in competitions??
where do you live?

1. But how do I connect the various wires?
2. Because I'm happy battleing them with friends at home, and my dad CBA to take me to robot events, and even then I wouldn't be competetive. =P
3. Leicestershire (UK)

ty4er · « **Reply #15 on:** July 20, 2011, 12:09:14 PM »

Why not get your friend to take you there or something?

haz · « **Reply #16 on:** July 20, 2011, 12:09:58 PM »

its servos, no soldering required

Badger · « **Reply #17 on:** July 20, 2011, 12:13:45 PM »

Quote from: ty4er on July 20, 2011, 12:09:14 PM

Why not get your friend to take you there or something?

None of my friends do robot evens, but they enjoy the models as I do.

I found a dead Killalot RC model in a cupboard, along with the controller. I got excited, as using the killalot controller could knock off £25 off one of the bots. Unfortunately, I realised that the reciever is in the killalot model. Still, it has four buttons, which is useful.

Quote from: TheRoyalBadger on July 20, 2011, 11:07:47 AM

And that '2.4 GHz kit' is the controller, right?

haz · « **Reply #18 on:** July 20, 2011, 12:18:46 PM »

yes, the 2.4ghz kit is the transmitter and reciver.

rc cars and toys are sod all use im afraid

SKBT · « **Reply #19 on:** July 20, 2011, 12:24:13 PM »

PWM (the signal that servos and other hobby grade rc equipment use) is not compatible with AM toy radios. Your RC toy's guts would not work with servos because of this.