Team Psyclone: The Uprising (Of Build Diaries)

[TeamPsyclone]

So, I've pretty much completed the microswitch speed controllers, the servos work well.
The problem is, that the age old Planet T5 has gone kaput. The right stick doesn't work at all, so I'm considering binning it. I've checked every wire I can see, and everything seems okay, but I'll probably bring it to the next event to see if anyone knows what's up.
In the mean time, I'll be saving for a DX5e/i/whatever works, as I've already got an unused OrangeRX.

[TeamPsyclone]

An actual build update this time!

Anyway, I've got some wheels on the drills, after a few painstaking hours. Seeing as I want to save the Robochallenge Blue wheels (Unfortunately not arrived yet, been a couple weeks) for a proper build, so I popped out and got some stabilizers, a blowtorch (For attempting to weld HDPE, just strengthen the joints, and a few bits and bobs. The Stabilizer wheels' bore was too large for the drill, so I came up with an ingenious idea of taking an HDPE strip, drilling a hole for the drill motor, and two smaller for bolting the wheels on (Which is held by screws really. Might post some pics later, very tired now. Relaxing with the cat.

[TeamPsyclone]

Uhm, just curious, how long, on average, do blue wheels from Robochallenge usually take to be made/arrive? They're not urgent, just wondering where they got to.

[Max]

I'd send them an email or give them a call just to check everything is ok- around major event times they can take a very long time bit there isn't one at the moment so it seems odd it takes a couple of weeks.

[psychostorm]

They hate me saying this sooo much. Six months between my order with payment & a reminder. Half a year. So if you think yours is a bit late...

Be fair on them, though. They've got two jobs before the RC shop. Plus Robochallenge have a Gadget Show build atm but for legal reasons we don't know that

[TeamPsyclone]

So, after doing not a whole lot due to having to deal with a close friend's death and funeral, I've finally picked myself up, and tried to get Tempest up and running. With zero success.

Luckily, my cheapo E-flite style Transmitter came, and works perfectly. Got Tempest out, tried to charge the SLA with no luck. The other apparently had 14v in it, and would charge for a little while. When I tried to use it, the Electronizes just clicked at me, and the power light flashed. I'm guessing it's the battery, not the Electronizes, but any idea what did them in? I'd assume not using them enough.

If that is the case, where can I get a good balance between cheap and reliable Ni-Mh or Ni-Cd. Sla's and Li-Po's just need more experience than me to be handled.

[TeamPsyclone]

Well, I'm not dead, I've just had no money for the Robots atm, though I have been modding my Xbox. I do plan to make a beetleweight from my old Battlerat kit that was missing bits.

[TeamPsyclone]

Okay, after a long break, trying out new things (E.G. Building computers, Making a business, thinking of doing a DofE on either that or robots) and so on. Anyway, I'm saving up to build a new antweight, or carry on with my feather Shazam!

[TeamPsyclone]

So, if none of you mind, I've got pretty much the full status.
McCheapo:
On standby until I can get a nice rugged, but cheap look
Shazam!:
Nothing
Them Ants I tried to make:
Tried "hacking" old cheap servo, only stays on now.

[daveimi]

So have you been having a crack at building a feather? Do you have any pictures? How far did you get and so on?

[TeamPsyclone]

I got as far as the base chassis, before the jigsaw died. The other, McCheapo, is almost done, just needs a link, light, batteries and an ESC. Half of the robot looks like it's missing, mainly to see what I could build with the junk from the kitchen and shed. I wish't the Bang Bang speed controllers had worked, but the digital servos just pushed the switches off.

So, hopefully tomorrow, I'll have enough to get a cheap ESC, or more likely salvage one from the old RC Car.

[daveimi]

Do you have any pictures it sounds really good

[TeamPsyclone]

I don't have any at the moment, but it sounds better than it looks, unless I put it as "Two badly cut chopping boards stuck together with HDPE, drill motors bolted down with Pipe Clips* and with missing side panels." Just wanted to make a bot out of what I had spare.

*The rubber pipe holder things

[daveimi]

Keep going! It sounds dead good!

[TeamPsyclone]

So, unfortunately, McCheapo, I've realised, has to be scrapped for parts, and left as a testing mechanism. As of now, Shazam! is my main robot. It'll take a while to get it running, but I have an engineering college/school/something to get it going.