Skipdiving Robotics

[RogueTwoRobots]

Nice pair of bongos. Got a similar set myself but haven't played them for a few years. Got a bongo cajon recently though that's pretty cool

[daveimi]

Hey tweedmeister its 2mm ally after 2mm steel was too heavy and then the 3mm ally version was too heavy too lol. Just started with a square sheet, drilled the holes and bolted it on. Then hammered the scoop over and took it back off and hacked open the corners for some wheel holes :-)

I was wandering a craft fair and thought those bongos were awesome so invested :-) my girlfriend is tearing her hair out at the random stuff I bring home. Been getting better at playing them but cajons look like the next purchase! Was trying to decide whether your post was a metaphor for something rude or whether you genuinely play the bongos lol.

[daveimi]

Well another bit of an update, finished the beetle off. Bought some Botbitz and couldn't get them cabled and running right so have gone back to my old sabertooth that's showing it's age. If I'm still fighting in 2016 in the Beetles I'm going to buy another Sabertooth as it's taken a beating for 4 yrs in every robot I've built and has never let me down. Power with the Lipo is good although they are temperamental, no where near as robust as the Nimh packs but at quarter of the weight I can live with it. I own a 70's landrover and a mega old picasso and won't buy a new car till the current one hits 300k miles or so, so am really into things that will go the distance. Not really feeling it with these lipo's, can see these becoming a consumable item near enough. Have been umming and arring about the spinners for ages, decided I'd have a go at the champs with the best robot I can make by myself and see how it fares. If it comes home in bits again there will either need to be a spinner-less class or we are able to develop weapons / armour that snag or I may call time on it. The beetle thing has got me fighting most months this year it's been awesome but also the most expensive in terms of written off parts as every event has some sort of half kilo 15k contraption fighting there. Going to finish heavy off over christmas.

Have some pictures and video below, pretty much ready for the end of Nov really and not much else to report. Christmas is going to be sorting out heavy ready for spring to see if the EO's will let me go. Pictures to follow of the heavy once I've gotten a bit further and it looks half respectable.

As ever, thoughts welcome.

Pics and vid:

[Flag Captured]

To be fair, Fhqwhgads 1 was a random 20mm piece of wood and 2mm hdpe and that stood up, it's more design than what materials you use* - this looks fairly spinner proof but I reckon that wood will get chewed up. Nothing's going to get through it though haha.

Maybe try and put some corner pieces on for extra strength?

Edit: also a bit of luck... But still

[daveimi]

Yeah just wanna fight my robot, push people about, get rolled over n hammered on a bit not get completely shredded at each event. Not saying better design won't help etc. But ultimately for me every event being full combat is unsustainable.

[mrsam]

Looks great!

I agree with Matt, nothing's going to get through that wood, it'll make lovely sawdust when my 13k drum has a nibble though

When you say you couldn't get the botbitz to work right what did you mean?

[daveimi]

Totally my own fault, had connected it all together so the power came in from the battery, through the link and then split into each speedo. Connected motors and receiver, had laptop on with cable info for the receiver and speedo and it was all together spot on. Triple checked it for correctness and continuity as was petrified of lipo. Plugged up and stuffed the link in...BANG and lots of smoke. I know it will be the wiring shorting somewhere. So had a rewire from fresh. Started again and it powered and ran and then randomly popped again. I'm degree trained technician so did the usual methodical problem solving, swapped out my old loom n receiver and tried methodically working thru changing components. Same gear works great on sabertooth but plug botbitz in it pops n smokes. I've kept them.to one side n gonna have a look at others at the champs. Was mystified to be honest, suspect some weird compatibility problem, both becs giving to much power, so on n so forth. In no way is it the controller n definitely me wiring to cock somehow.

[RogueTwoRobots]

What voltage lipo are you using and did you have both BECs connected at the same time?

[Albear]

Hey Dave!
Spent an afternoon reading this thread and its fantastic to see how your ideas and skills have progressed! Plus, its been somewhat entertaining seeing bigger and faster machines whizzing across your kitchen only to see pics of the next day and the big holes and dents all over the place! But hey, thats why we do this i guess lol. Must say your latest offering looks great, keep up the good work! Hope the see you arena side sometime

[daveimi]

Hi Jamie yes both becs were connected n your gonna say that they shouldn't have been lol. And thanks Albear I'm a naff builder there are loads better threads lol I'm just low budget recycler of random stuff! Welcome n give us a shout if you need any help.

[mrsam]

Both BEC's shouldn't have been connected but i've never heard of esc's blowing due to that, usually it just causes your rx to die. Sounds to me like you shorted something, if possible put up a pic of the wiring loom, maybe someone will see something you haven't.

[Albear]

And thanks Albear I'm a naff builder there are loads better threads lol I'm just low budget recycler of random stuff! Welcome n give us a shout if you need any help.

Meh, im not going to be any better to be honest. Its all about the joys of building and the thrill of fighting i guess! Or at least, i hope to find out! Thank you, will do! If you need any team members id be up for skip diving lol

[daveimi]

Lol your welcome to come to the beetle champs in Birmingham etc. at the end of Nov if you wanna learn. It was people talking me thru stuff in the first place that got me reasonably au fait with it all so I could have a first few attempts.

[daveimi]

[Albear]

Looking good! Planning on any side skirts?