Overview

[aero_storm]

O.K,

Been on the forum for about to weeks now. Thought Id post up an overview of what I am planning to build. I have been researching since december 07 but Im still a bit rickety with some concepts.

Name yet to be decided

Motors: There have been recomendations to use cordless drills - are there any I can find cheap, and will I need two (with chain drive) for a fast rammer/lifter or four?

Batteries: Overlander, Sanyo 2100 12v C NiCads. Its 595grams and provides a max discharge rate of 40 amps. It is 217 x 46 x 23 mm. Taking into account width and weight restrictions how many will a need with a) Four motors and a simple actuator (with a built in battery pack but Im going to overvolt it) and b) Two motors and a simple actuator.

Speedo: Scorpion XXL, or Sabretooth 25A. Will I be able to control the motors and an actuator with a single controller?

Actuator: A slow, cheap Chain actuator, just bolted to a hinged piece of metal. Probably TopMan services, or maybe a vent engineering one overvolted from 24v to 36v by an extra battery pack - is this last specification sound? It will be the built in battery pack, probably alkaline, overvolted by nicads or will I have to change it?

I am hoping the finished design wont look too much like wedge of doom, but that is what Im basing it on - albeit a rather primitive version.

Thanks,

Alex R

[psycho_fling]

Overview

Hi Alex

Well drill motors are a good idea but i dont think they give much pushing power from expierence. With them you get a gear box so you dont need to complicate things with chains. I you want to have 4wd go for 4 drills.

You are able to overvolt drill motors so i would go higher than 12volt, and a higher mah if you want to run all that from it i use for 2x12volt drills and a bosch 35w lifter 2x NiMH 8.4v 3400mah and they will last an event

Speedo: Id say scorpion xxl becuase you will have more options later on, also another controller is needed for the lifter an electronize switcher with micro switches if you dont have limit switches in your linear actuator. if you have limit swthces a normal drive elcrtonize speedo will work

actuator: i have never heard of a chain actuator so would need more info on that. i would stick to one sort of battery type per robot it makes things much easier. can i ask why you want to go for an acuator with a built in pack? wht does this weigh?

Your on the right lijnes though go to see you doing reserach very good skill in thsi hobby!!!!

can you give us so more info?link to the actuator site please?

thanks hope this helps

Alex M

[aero_storm]

Overview

Yeah course coming right up.........

[aero_storm]

Overview

http://www.topmanservices.co.uk/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=14_6&produc ts_id=25http://www.topmanservices.co.uk/inde...Path=14_6&prod ucts_id=25

[psycho_fling]

Overview

well looking at that it doesnt look like the norm of robot actuators due to the shape and the chain drive thing??

also i would personally for the money want more than 40kg of push

how about this? yes from the us but its just an example

you could double the votage which would then x4 the force giving upto 2.4tonnes i think that might be wrong with my clculations but on 12volt its still powerful

thats what i would call a usual linear actautor

http://cgi.ebay.com/NEW-INDUSTRIAL-LINEAR-ACTUATOR-12-VOLT-ACTUATORS_W0QQitemZ330275819674QQcmdZViewItem?hash =item330275819674&_trkparms=72%3A570%7C39%3A1%7C66 %3A2%7C65%3A12%7C240%3A1318&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14http://cgi.ebay.com/NEW-INDUSTRIAL-L...RS_W0QQitemZ33 0275819674QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item330275819674&_tr kparms=72%3A570%7C39%3A1%7C66% 3A2%7C65%3A12%7C240%3A1318&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14

[aero_storm]

Overview

So this thing is 12v? And does it have its own battery pack or does it need to be run by something? It has no specs that I can see. And how slow is it because the reason I went for the chain actuator was becaus it was 3 times the speed of the others. And if all Im doing is lifting a 13.6kg robot then surely I only need 40kg of push? What are the advantages of having any more?

So should I Double the voltage to 24v, and does this thing have a built in battery pack, or do I need a 24volt battery?

Should I use cordless drill motors? How many? Or would it be better to use something more industrial?

Thanks mate,

Alex R

[psycho_fling]

Overview

for the drive use the drills

the actuator i posted was only to show what is usually used in this hobby, yes foir a lifter 40kg is fine but if you wish to build other robots like many you may make them from older robots, so if you got one i suggested then you have more options in the fiuture

no it wont have its own battery pack i think it is better to get one like this as you are paying for a battery that might not be suitable etc

[aero_storm]

Overview

How many drills?
And how many battery packs will I need?

thanks,

Alex

[joey_picus]

Overview

2100mah should be enough for a basic featherweight, how many packs will be determined by what voltage you want to run at.

[psycho_fling]

Overview

well thats really upto you drills arent expensive but if you have 4 rather than 2 thats more weight more wheels bigger robot more weight again but probably better control

when you say how many battery packs that rather depends on the battery packs themeselves

i would personally go for either 2x 8.4volt packs or 2x 7.2volt packs with 2500mah + i would say per pack

alex

[aero_storm]

Overview

I was looking at 12 volt overlander batteries - is the figure youve given me per drill or for the whole robot inc. the actuator?

I think Ill probably use four drill motors - but Ill have to do a bit more research

Thanks Joey and Alex

Alex

[typhoon_driver]

Overview

40kg of push? I wouldnt bother. Consider that you will have mechanical loses etc associated with lifting and then there is the fact that you could be lifting more than one machine at the same time. 3 feathers on that and you will be probably be burning it out and looking for another.

My advice when it comes to robots is to overengineer as much as you possibly can.

[aero_storm]

Overview

So are there any actuator sites that I could use then? Cheap? Are two 12volt packs enough for four drill motors? Then a 24volt one to over volt the 12 volt actuator?

Does anyone know a good site for buying transmitters, 24v batteries and cheap drills?
Do drills come already geared or will I have to use chain reduction?

Thanks ,

Alex R

[psycho_fling]

Overview

try ebay for the actuators they will be 2nd hand but cheap enough and most will be powerful enough

aslong as you get a good mah for the battery packs you can run everything from both packs inc the actuator

contact either james or grant copper for a spektrum set (transmitter and reciever)

cheap drills BandQ etc just get their own branded ones cheapest there. and when you have we can help with taking the apart advice etc they come with a gear box attached no need for chains!!!!!

alex

[joey_picus]

Overview

http://www.technobots.co.uk/http://www.technobots.co.uk/

For drills, the cheap ones from Argos are generally good enough for robot purposes, theres a lot of topics in the FW archives about modifying them.