Questions/builds thread.

[PJ-27]

Re: Questions/builds thread.

Very impressive, looks like it drives nicely.

I noticed your using what looks like a 1/4 jack for a link, neat idea that I've often considered, just remember it won't be up to much current.

[Ellis]

Re: Questions/builds thread.

Thanks for the interest fellas! PJ, the reason we went for a jack and not a deans or something similar is for its mountability (is that a word?). It's hard to solidly mount a deans into a chassis, but the jack socket has a screw thread and nut.

However, as you say, we have been having one or two problems with it getting hot. My dad is adamant it shouldn't. It's like a nail going through the middle, much thicker than the thinnest wire we're using for testing (our positive line, the grey one) and that doesn't get even remotely hot. Still, all can be changed and modified, so if needs be we can change it for something with a higher rate of flow.

Right now we're stopping for a refuel (dinner) and then we're off out to the workshop again. We have taken the whole thing apart. The inner bulkheads are now modified so that they can just slide in and out if necessary. All we need to do is do some unscrewing and they're out. We've also mounted some small fans into them, to try and combat the massive heat generated by the cheap drill cells. Also thinking about the lifter geometry as we go. Any pics worth taking will be posted!

[widow_twanky]

Re: Questions/builds thread.

My dad is adamant it shouldn't.

Well go tell him he's wrong! (Go on, you know you want to )

Jack plugs are used on microphone or guitars etc all of which use cables which are designed for low current and high impedence so that's essentially what the jcak plug is designed for. OK they're used for speakers which have a higher current but that problem I assume is why the SpeakON connector was developed.

If you're concerned about mounting a deans connector Robochallenge do a nice mount for them http://www.robochallenge.co.uk/Events_a ... rical.html

Andy

[Ellis]

Re: Questions/builds thread.

My dad agrees completely having been in the music business for about 106 years (producing music and playing) it's not the ultimate solution but for now it's convenient.

-adamant dad

[PJ-27]

Re: Questions/builds thread.

I'm pretty sure mountability is a word...... If not I'm going to make it one!

[PJ-27]

Re: Questions/builds thread.

On another note, what does you Dad do?

I'm interested since I'm a composer and producer and we're a rare breed!

[Anttazz]

Re: Questions/builds thread.

PJ, I'm an MTech and used to be a roadie for all sorts of huge bands. Also do studio, radio and video editting and have an entertainment company

[PJ-27]

Re: Questions/builds thread.

I guess audio engineering is close enough to normal engineering!

[widow_twanky]

Re: Questions/builds thread.

Not openly admitting your wrong is a sign of maturity. Seems your dad is very mature .

Anyways, one thing i found if you have an electric plane, it's generally easier to make two bulkheads out of wood which are the same size and the use them as supports either side of your plane which does HDPE and nylon 6 very nicely.

May help if your struggling to get two bulkheads the same hieght.

BTW looks really cool and nicely built. Very interested to see the weapon when it's finished.

Andy

[Ellis]

Re: Questions/builds thread.

Thanks for the tip. We have been bodging them into the same-ish shape with a mixture of tools. As for the weapon, after showing my dad some Robo Challenge videos on YouTube, he is the one (could it be true!?) that thinks we need a more powerful weapon than a drill-powered lifter. If I am honest, I too am very interested in seeing the weapon we come up with!

As for my dad's work, he has been in the music business professionally since he was 18, and for the past 36 years he has played and produced music for various artists. His website is http://www.parrothouse.co.uk if you're interested.

[PJ-27]

Re: Questions/builds thread.

The videos of the FW Champs don't really do it justice. It's not until you're there that you realise just how powerful some of those machines are.

[Ellis]

Re: Questions/builds thread.

We have a weapon in mind that is simple, relatively cheap, and could be quite entertaining. Not revealing anything yet, though, in case it goes horribly wrong. :wink:

Today we put everything back together into a test-ready base. No switches or LEDs in yet, just the link. We want to test it at 18v before we get into making all of the switches and lights and connections and charge ports and so on. Speaking of 18v, we made our packs up today. They are designed to be separated down the middle, so that when the thing is sealed, the fans we installed will channel air through them, and blow air out of vents in the back. We're not expecting much but it may help with cooling, since as I think I said somewhere, these cells get really hot. Pics are the most recent on the photobucket page... http://s1088.photobucket.com/albums/i32 ... elentless/

Tomorrow, or soon, we will modify the charger and charge the thing up. If all goes to plan we should get an 18v test video, stay tuned!

[PJ-27]

Re: Questions/builds thread.

Bare in mind that fights are only 3mins so you only have to stay cool that long!

[Ellis]

Re: Questions/builds thread.

Well we have the control panels well on the way to completion. Drive has it's own switch with power LED, weapon switch (not yet connected to a weapon of course) with it's own power LED, fans with their own switch and power LED, charge port with it's own LED that needs some tweaking (we want the LED to be on when charging and off at all other times. We need a diode to do that, which we missed when designing the wiring diagram, so the LED currently is on all the time) and the receiver has it's own switch and LED yet to be setup. This means that when the link is out, nothing can be done but charge the robot, which will be signaled by a red LED. When the link is in and we want nothing but fans on, say after a match, all switches and therefore LEDs are off other than the fan's (yellow LED). Same can apply to the receiver (green), same can apply to the weapon (red), same can apply to the drive (green). Everything can be fully controlled like this from outside of the robot. Should make maintenance less troublesome.

When it's all made and on the robot, we will take pics. All that needs to be done once the control surfaces are in is a modification to the charger, and we should have a fully plug-and-play 18v drive system testbed!

Pics will come in the next few days.

[blazerbotics]

Re: Questions/builds thread.

A few points to consider for your control panel. The link should only be in when in the arena or testing, you can't have it in whilst sitting in the pits to run the fans, even if you have a switch. Your charging diode/LED may upset your charger as there will be a voltage drop across them. I would avoid using fans, they fail very quickly in robots due to the shock, i would just try heat-sinking, if things are getting that hot after a fight your probably pushing them to hard.