Author Topic: Da Mekboyz (Read 20540 times)

Phoenyx · « **on:** July 12, 2012, 01:37:32 PM »

You know what you do with a wheelchair you find at Habitat for Humanity for less than $100 USD? You start building a robot out of it. That's what I'm doing

I've even got a name for it - Battlewagon. I'll eventually add a weapon (a large spinning drum), armour, and all required safety equipment once I get the chance, but for now I just need to get it moving at its top speed. I'm not using the included Interstate 70 Amp Hour batteries, they're too heavy and would only add weight to the robot. Instead I'm using a pair of Werker WKA12-35C SLA AGMs (only one's pictured, I still need to get the other one).

Control system is a Spektrum DX6i DSMX Transmitter and an AR6210 DSM Aircraft receiver. The motor controller is a brand new 2012 Vantec RDFR-36. Motors are the Pride Mobility units that came with the wheelchair. The weapon is planned to initially be powered by a Castle Mamba XL2 before eventually upgrading to a PERM PMG-132 once the money is available.

Offtopic: You can also see my Team Losi 22 in the picture.

haz · « **Reply #1 on:** July 12, 2012, 01:55:31 PM »

that is superb!

Phoenyx · « **Reply #2 on:** July 12, 2012, 09:11:39 PM »

I just added a second battery wired in series. It's fast, and I'm going to need to practice driving it.

Jack Daniels · « **Reply #3 on:** July 13, 2012, 03:48:12 AM »

Nice! Looking forward to seeing the progress with it.

courthousedoc · « **Reply #4 on:** July 13, 2012, 07:57:01 AM »

Quote from: Phoenyx on July 12, 2012, 09:11:39 PM

I just added a second battery wired in series. It's fast, and I'm going to need to practice driving it.

Can I see a video please?

Phoenyx · « **Reply #5 on:** July 13, 2012, 08:57:48 PM »

I'll have to find my camera.

kill343gs · « **Reply #6 on:** July 13, 2012, 09:18:05 PM »

i would recommend taking advantage of the torque of the motors and build a wedge, or at least a wedged drum in case the drum fails...

Phoenyx · « **Reply #7 on:** July 14, 2012, 08:31:51 PM »

I ran into a little snag. The gearboxes have brakes installed, and the left side's locked up.

Now we have to pull the motor and get the gearbox fixed...

Badnik96 · « **Reply #8 on:** July 14, 2012, 08:33:24 PM »

Can we get a pic of your AW too?

GoldenFox93 · « **Reply #9 on:** July 14, 2012, 08:44:26 PM »

Coolio. It definitely has that Series 1/2/3 feel to it with the wheelchair parts and everything

Phoenyx · « **Reply #10 on:** July 14, 2012, 09:03:34 PM »

Quote from: Badnik96 on July 14, 2012, 08:33:24 PM

Can we get a pic of your AW too?

I'll try to get one... Though I'm in the process of building a new one due to the first one's poor motor choices.

Phoenyx · « **Reply #11 on:** July 17, 2012, 05:21:27 AM »

I was thinking... As a joke, do you think I should take one of these:

And convert it into a US Antweight? Ever since I started serious work on Battlewagon, I've had an urge to enter a local competition with an actual Games Workshop model of an Ork Battlewagon. Of course, cue the

Jack Daniels · « **Reply #12 on:** July 17, 2012, 02:45:53 PM »

Really all depends on how many spot are available on the bracket if it is a competition...

You're gonna get some hate if you get a joke bot in and someones legit contender doesn't make the cute because the bracket is filled up.

But if there isn't really a bracket and everything is chill, sounds like a good opportunity for lulz. Play your cards well young jedi.

courthousedoc · « **Reply #13 on:** July 17, 2012, 03:27:49 PM »

By the way how's your big robot coming along?

Conraaa · « **Reply #14 on:** July 17, 2012, 03:47:26 PM »

Or you could try and straddle that thin line of funny/effective like Dr Inferno Jr and Tentomushi did

Phoenyx · « **Reply #15 on:** July 17, 2012, 07:24:21 PM »

Quote from: Jack Daniels on July 17, 2012, 02:45:53 PM

Really all depends on how many spot are available on the bracket if it is a competition...

You're gonna get some hate if you get a joke bot in and someones legit contender doesn't make the cute because the bracket is filled up.

But if there isn't really a bracket and everything is chill, sounds like a good opportunity for lulz. Play your cards well young jedi.

Quote from: Conraaa on July 17, 2012, 03:47:26 PM

Or you could try and straddle that thin line of funny/effective like Dr Inferno Jr and Tentomushi did

Got it. I won't enter it in large competitions without making it competitive like Dr. Inferno Jr.

Of course, Citadel's Polystyrene is one of the stronger plastics I've seen out there. It's no Polycarb, but in the thickness used for the hull components it's still pretty tough.

Quote from: courthousedoc on July 17, 2012, 03:27:49 PM

By the way how's your big robot coming along?

I got the issue with the left motor figured out. The brake disengaged after a minute or two of just free-wheeling the motor.

courthousedoc · « **Reply #16 on:** July 17, 2012, 09:59:45 PM »

Nice so how big will the drum be (Exactly what is large in your opinion)?

Phoenyx · « **Reply #17 on:** July 18, 2012, 04:54:48 AM »

18 inches in diameter at the very least, if not 20.

courthousedoc · « **Reply #18 on:** July 18, 2012, 06:01:16 PM »

Where does that compare to say RedRums

Phoenyx · « **Reply #19 on:** July 18, 2012, 08:41:15 PM »

Quote from: courthousedoc on July 18, 2012, 06:01:16 PM

Where does that compare to say RedRums

Similar size. It looks like Redrum has a 24" drum.

Actually, part of my inspiration for the design in the first place was Redrum (the other part was an Ork Battlewagon from Warhammer 40,000, which with a Death Roller looks a lot like a giant version of Redrum crossed with a military half-track and covered with armour plates).