Team Thrifty /Fifty Build Diary for Bitza

[PJ-27]

This is our build diary for our first robot, named BItza, so called because its made of bIts-of-this-and-bits-of-that

The theme for the robot is to re-use as much stuff as possible and spend as little money as possible.

I'll try and keep this up to date but firstly here are some early chassis photos. CAD designs to come soon. (Made in ProDesktop for anyone that went to school in the last 10 years!)

The chassis is made up of various types of steel, bolted and stick welded together.
The wheels and drive train are from a lawmover.
The motors, gearboxes, batteries and chargers came from 2 Argos value cordless drills at £9.99 each.
The ESC are two 2nd hand Electronize 15amp.
As for weaponry we plan on adding a flywheel made from a err... flywheel at some point but for the mean time I think it will stay a rambot.

[attachment=2:1cy2xgrk]1.jpg[/attachment:1cy2xgrk]
[attachment=1:1cy2xgrk]2.jpg[/attachment:1cy2xgrk]
[attachment=0:1cy2xgrk]3.jpg[/attachment:1cy2xgrk]

[PJ-27]

Re: Team Thrifty /Fifty Build Diary for Bitza

It has been a while since I have updated this but there have been quite a few changes in that time!

The plan for this build was to make a robot for under £100 (hence Fifty/Thrifty). And so far we are on budget! The plan has changed and we are now aiming to make a Rambot Featherweight, instead of a spinner.

Here is the budget so far!

Drill Motors £20 (£10 each)
ESC 30amp £35
Radio Gear £15
Chopping Boards £20

Total: £90

The frame is made from scrap steel that was lying around the workshop. The wheels and mounts are from an old Lawnmower and the batteries are from old RC car's we owned. 7.2 NiMh 3K mAh.

Unfortunately the batteries are completely different in makes, previous use and rate of discharge. They just have the same stats and yesterday one of them shorted out while in the robot for reasons I can't find. So a bit of a step back unfortunately.

For charges we are using the ones we happened to have with batteries, which are rather old and charge incredibly slowely....

None the less though the build is coming along quickly! We do need to have a weight in though. Any suggestions of how to do this accurately?

Here's a photo of the robot so far!

[attachment=0:2g80c7zu]Bitza with Armour.jpg[/attachment:2g80c7zu]

[harry hills]

Re: Team Thrifty /Fifty Build Diary for Bitza

looks like my kind of robot

[PJ-27]

Re: Team Thrifty /Fifty Build Diary for Bitza

Quick update;

We have added some bike tread to the wheels, since we had some issues with too little ground clearance and minimal traction.

The radio tray has been re-designed to sit deeper in the robot to help keep it safe. This will also allow us to have a much deeper angle on our front scoop.

The tails on the chopping boards have been removed (see above photo) since we found they can be prone to snapping, and wouldn't want our entire armour breaking off if we were to land on them.

The Rx for our 2.4Ghz system has stopped working on us, in the process of replacing it.

Making up some spare battery packs from the drill's NiCad packs, better than nothing!

Designs have been made to give the robot some ears to stop it resting on it's sides without wheels, and designs for the scoop have been made. Rather close to the weight limit, so hoping we can do whats left within it!

[PJ-27]

Re: Team Thrifty /Fifty Build Diary for Bitza

Made some more progress with Bitza.

Today we added the scoop on the front. Unfortunately due to the impending weight limit we couldn't use as sturdy a metal we could have hoped for.

The scoop is supported by 4 thick steel guides which are bolted to the robot's main chassis, which will help take the main brunt of impacts.

Still waiting for the new Rx to arrive (since the old one broke) and seem to have a bug whereby the robot is moving very sluggishly despite the batteries still putting out a voltage above their rating.

[attachment=2:bvhztuqb]Bitza with scoop 5.jpg[/attachment:bvhztuqb]
[attachment=1:bvhztuqb]Bitza with scoop 4.jpg[/attachment:bvhztuqb]
[attachment=0:bvhztuqb]Bitza with scoop 3.jpg[/attachment:bvhztuqb]

[PJ-27]

Re: Team Thrifty /Fifty Build Diary for Bitza

[attachment=0:1ajk2bsd]Bitza with scoop 1.jpg[/attachment:1ajk2bsd]
[attachment=1:1ajk2bsd]Bitza with scoop 2.jpg[/attachment:1ajk2bsd]

[G-DogG187]

Re: Team Thrifty /Fifty Build Diary for Bitza

its looking awsome mate good job

[swanaldo]

Re: Team Thrifty /Fifty Build Diary for Bitza

I also think you have done a great job....I like the fact you have made it from bits and bobs. True roboteer attitude.

[PJ-27]

Re: Team Thrifty /Fifty Build Diary for Bitza

Cheers! It'll be interesting to see how bits and bobs holds up in the arena.... Unfortunately we didn't happen to find some scrap Titanium.....

[gchachanidze]

Re: Team Thrifty /Fifty Build Diary for Bitza

When will you put up the CAD for the robot?

[PJ-27]

Re: Team Thrifty /Fifty Build Diary for Bitza

Oh yeh! Forgot about that. I don't have it, my team mate made it up. It's changed quite a bit but I'll try and get a hold of it.

[gizz]

Re: Team Thrifty /Fifty Build Diary for Bitza

Yeah nicely done guys. Looks much more competitive now aswell

[psychostorm]

Re: Team Thrifty /Fifty Build Diary for Bitza

Looks great & fairly original too. Nice to see something not come out of a CNC machine nowadays.

Two points though -
Is that scoop Ali? My 3mm Ali has bent under hit from a spinner. My 8mm has distorted slighty also but they were both flat panels so...
You'll probably need a back panel - it's a bit too open.

[PJ-27]

Re: Team Thrifty /Fifty Build Diary for Bitza

It's a lot more rustic than we originally intended, but that's to be expected. Originality was what we were hoping for, its out only strength!

Yeh the scoop is ali (the side of a dish washer.....) Think of it as ablative armour....

The trouble is we hit the weight limit a lot earlier than we thought we would (how do you guys do it!) so our intentions for something more sturdy got interrupted. To be honest hearing that 3mm ali didn't just get obliterated by a spinner is good news!

As for the open sides they were partially intended, with the thinking of the less to hit, the less to get hit! As it turns out not having sides is a great (and necessary) weight saver!

[Laser]

Re: Team Thrifty /Fifty Build Diary for Bitza

I like the idea of using a side of a dishwasher as a scoop and your robot looks good for a beginer.
Just one question, How much is the ground clearence? As it doesn't look very big from the pics.