Feather weight crusher

[psycho_fling]

hi all

i think for when i wan to build a next robot in a while, id quite like to build a crusher, something that can really pose a threat to others. just wondering how do you build a fw crusher? what parts are need? prices? and any safty stuff?

thanks alex

[dragonmaster_1]

Feather weight crusher

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kc6PmRQn_nohttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kc6PmRQn_no
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pcxku4u_DQUhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pcxku4u_DQU

[maddox]

Feather weight crusher

Just creative thinking.

[RogueTwoRobots]

Feather weight crusher

Ive only recently started a crusher but the design for it has been up in my head and I have had most of the parts for it since October 2005.

My advice would be to first of all get your power source (linear actuator, electric motor/gearbox or other) and design around it. When I bought my linear actuator I came up with plans to have it mounted in the robots base (like Razer) as I figured itd be about 20cm long so wouldnt take up much room, and have it on a 3:1 or 4:1 leverage ratio.

That went out the window as soon as I got the linac, realised it was 40cm long and a 3:1 ratio would only give it about 115kg of crush. So I played around with the parts and now have the linac mounted vertically in a way that its 1:1 and giving the almost full 400kg of crush.

The CAD of it is on my profile and theres some pics of the prototype here: http://s31.photobucket.com/albums/c367/ayrshirerobotics/Snakebite%20-%20Build/http://s31.photobucket.com/albums/c3...e%20-%20Build/

As Mario said, the best way to do it is creative thinking, as thatll achieve the most unique look to your robot. Having the parts on hand to move around to find the best fit/determine the shape of your robot makes life easier and if, like me, you can stare at a pile of parts for 30 minutes or more just imagining all the ways it could go together, or how awesome itll look once its finished, youll be able to produce a pretty cool and effective machine.

Basic parts list:

Base - needs to be strong, particularly where the actuator mounts (unless you attach it to the chassis). Im using 4mm 6082 aluminium with a strip of 4mm hardox running the width of the robot where the actuator attaches.

Weapon drive - most likely a linear actuator, ebay will be your best bet for a cheap one, anything less than 400kg force probably wont be enough to do any damage.

plus he usual, batteries, motors, speed controllers, armour, and something to control your weapon. Im just using a servo microswitch system at the moment but the battleswitches on Gimson Robotics would probably be fine (I think youd need two)

Only safety stuff I can think of is links on both the drive AND weapon and a securing pin/device to lock the arm in place to prevent movement while in the pits - the usual FRA rules really.

Ill have my crusher at Robochallenge Thinktank in December; if youll be there youre more than welcome to poke and prod it (it wont bite you, just other robots! )

[dragonmaster_1]

Feather weight crusher

Looking good Jamie. What are you making the claw out of.

[tough_as_nails]

Feather weight crusher

I started designing again on my featherweight crusher Firestarter
I also prefure to start designing in CAD. The callenge for me is to build a hydraulic crusher with 1T tipforce. But mechanical might be easier.
Heres a picture from a first scetch. Will post an update soon.
http://www.metalskullrobotics.nl/firestarter.jpghttp://www.metalskullrobotics.nl/firestarter.jpg

[RogueTwoRobots]

Feather weight crusher

Not 100% sure yet, for the moment its gonna be 4mm aluminium from the actuator pivot to the rear pivot and 2mm stainless steel from the actuator pivot to the tip (with it being bolted to and overlapping the ali at the actuator pivot point) so that the tip in total is 4mm stainless.

Id been advised though that using two bits of hardox (probably 4mm) instead of the two bits of steel/ali mix would be more likely to stand up to the impacts from spinners that the claw may (and most likely will) take, which is true, but itll have to depend entirely on weight as two bits of hardox at the size my claw is would be a good 3kg

Jeroen, that bot looks pretty slick - I like

[psycho_fling]

Feather weight crusher

how would you go about building the claw or crushing arm?

[psycho_fling]

Feather weight crusher

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/linear-actuator_W0QQitemZ180166771152QQihZ008QQcategoryZ2 9783QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItemhttp://cgi.ebay.co.uk/linear-actuato...8QQcategoryZ29 783QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

is that the sort of linear actuar i would need? and what stroke is best?

alex

[dragonmaster_1]

Feather weight crusher

As Jamie has said you will need one with at least 400kg of force.
http://www.linak.com/Products/?id3=1http://www.linak.com/Products/?id3=1
I think the one Jamie has is the LA29 or one very much like it. Mine is the LA34.
Keep looling on EBay for something like these.

[leorcc]

Feather weight crusher

Of course Tony has the nastiest one Linak can deliver.

[dragonmaster_1]

Feather weight crusher

Yep but it makes for one very long featherweight

[john]

Feather weight crusher

any photos of ur new robot tony? also whats the name of it

[dragonmaster_1]

Feather weight crusher

Pic on profile armour not fitted yet. Name The Dragons Claw.

[Guest]

Feather weight crusher

I am NEVER going in the arena with that machine looks awesome!