Team Saint Robot Builds

[craig_colliass]

Hi Dave

The answer is yes, the stress on the transmission is excessive, using an axle Bot is driving like you want to break the transmission, as if your life depends on it!!
The hubs have to be over engineered, the transmission through the speed controller and batteries have to be over spec just to survive. everything has to be securely mounted or padded out and damped down to stop the robot from shaking to bits!

If the wheels are from a mobility scooter then I would probably protect them as much as possible.

[daveimi]

Ok thank you Do you use live axles on your thwack robots or dead axles?

[craig_colliass]

I found out what the problem was for the drive failure this coupling has never failed before I will now carry a spare!

IMG_0517.jpg

Also you can see a before and after, the bearing cap had failed on Saint, this is something I have been meaning to sort out for ages and I have decided to modify the bearing to help with reliability.

IMG_0518.jpg

The axle used on my robots have both live and fixed heavies are fixed and feather is live.

[craig_colliass]

As always a big thanks to John and all the Robot Wars Crew for a great weekend roboting, This time Joseph (my eldest son) came along with me, as Zack was “revising for his GCSEs” I believe him.

This time I took Saint, Cherub, Seraph, Tron and the kettle.

As Zack wasn’t there I had to do some driving, and I suddenly remembered why I let Zack drive. Saint hit everything and occasionally the other robot. The fights were scrappy and hard I loved it, I think Saint saw action 5 times during the weekend and only had one failure when the split link on a chain failed one time.

Cherub didn’t miss a beat. It kept coming back for more and I think it only got flipped out once. By its team mate, thanks John.

Seraph was the worst performing robot the main problem being the motors cut out when you use full forwards or backwards with left or right if the control stick is in the corner, the robot just dies I have tried the usual things changed radio systems and adjusted throw but no difference with this fault, It started when I fitted those Botsbitz 85A speed controllers with a v-tail mixer! Any ideas welcome.

Tron was boringly reliable, and with the LiPo battery has enough power to push most of the other robots about.

Kettlebot just keeps going all I had to do was tighten up the screw that holds the lid, as it had worked loose other than that it kept the crowed amused. Oh and made friends with a bread bin. (That was a sentence I thought I would never write!)

Just a privilege to meat old friends and make new friends too. We are looking forward to the next one.

Craig
Team Saint

[shakesc]

motors cut out when you use full forwards or backwards with left or right if the control stick is in the corner, the robot just dies I have tried the usual things changed radio systems and adjusted throw but no difference with this fault, It started when I fitted those Botsbitz 85A speed controllers with a v-tail mixer!

What code are the TZ85 running?
There is a thread with code that stops this problem when running with dx6i's

[SamO]

You need to reprogram those Tz85's Craig, what your describing is quite a well known problem. We had to do it last for Endeavours ESC's. It seemed a pretty straight forward process to us

[craig_colliass]

I am glad a solution has been found. Is anyone going to Guildford who could do the modification there?

[craig_colliass]

With reference to the 85a speed controllers do I need the new programming control, and would anyone have it at Guildford

[razerdave]

Having the new code will fix most issues, but you can adjust the rates on a DX6i to compensate. However, if you want full power, I suggest getting the code changed. Dan Laybourn, SamO, John Lear have all reprogrammed their controllers, worth asking who's coming . It does require soldering wires on to program it though.

[shakesc]

Nope , you can avoid the wire soldering. I bought a processor clip for reprogramming makes life a lot quicker.
I can bring it to Guildford

[SamO]

I'm going to Guilford, could do them there but would prefer to do them at home TBH. Could collect them and then post them once there done? Drop me a PM

[craig_colliass]

Have you ever taken your robot out of the back of the van/car and thought "I really must tidy the old robot up a bit!" well that happened to me so I have decided to change the rubber armour retaining strips (colour coded)


IMG_0536[1].jpg

One side is done the other blanked out ready for fitting

[daveimi]

~Wo it's colour coded! You only normally get that on the GLX models! :-)

[craig_colliass]

Still doing bits to tidy Saint this time its the hub caps.

The old plastic hubcaps got a bit worn and even started to crack a little!

IMG_0540.jpg

I didn't have any green plastic the right thickness but had some white HDPE left over from the Gabriel biuld so that's ok.

OH by the way, the saw you see in the picture has been brilliant, it dose not clog up and with the big blade it cuts straight even with me using it. I got it from Argos.

IMG_0539.jpg

[daveimi]

That saw looks good! And the yellow spike look like the real mccoy! lol