Starting the build

[aero_storm]

Hey,

My Grandfather and I have purchased some parts (and are trying to purchase others), made the plans, talked the talk but after the Balsa Mock up..........Where do we go? We actually dont know. So it may be a simple question but my limited knoweledge and experience of robots cant answer it.

Thanks,

Alex

[joey_picus]

Starting the build

It depends what you have already...Id get something constructed that moves under radio control first, thats what Im planning with mine anyway. Get your speedos and batteries and motors and such and screw it all to a bit of handy plastic or plywood, and ensure that you can get something to work and drive around like that. Then Id go about building a different body for it all to go in, and hope that its strong enough (throwing it out of a second floor window should be an accurate simulation of anything you may encounter in the arena)

Good luck

[typhoon_driver]

Starting the build

I generally dont start with one part in particular.

Just a pick a part and go....swear a bit.....come up with a solution.....swear somemore....solution number 2.....Hoorah!

But seriously if your balsa wood mock up fitted everything as it should and you are happy with the design then I would start manufacturing the chassis. If you are going for a frame with armour bolted on then start with the frame, if you are going for a monoque (armour and chassis combined) then start with the base and go from there.

[teamhunt]

Starting the build

We started Hunter with the Base plate.
Then working on motors, chassis then electronics.

[calumco]

Starting the build

a word of advice if your making a robot with a frame which will then have armour bolted on it,

unlike me with my first build, make sure the base of the chassis is built so its not wonkey! if i put the chassis on the floor with no wheels in it, it was like a see-saw.

my first build was a major bodge job.- but it still was useable, and ive learnt from my mistakes, i started my new robot 2 days ago, believe me this one is flat! and it wont be a bodge job.

and i agree with gary there will be plenty of swearing when things dont go your way, but eventually youll get there.

ill put a picture of my robots chassis base on my profile so you can see where ive started from. the chassis on the right is my old bodge job robot chassis and is what the new chassis on the left will end up looking like- but with a few changes.

the 2 rectangles at each top corner are where the wheels will go and the middle area is for the batts, actuator and speedo etc

(Message edited by calumco on November 22, 200

[aero_storm]

Starting the build

O.K Cheers. Im sorry that the question is a bit stupid but thanks anyway.

Alex

[teamhunt]

Starting the build

I take it your new robot will be a flipper, Calum?

[Gaseraki]

Starting the build

my first featherweight I built was terrible. I was 15 and wanted to try feathers after antweights.
It had MDF bulkheads and hardboard armour.
Yeah hardboard!
It was also stupidly long and had drill motors. Its massive front wedge was cut off quite early on. Spinners were allowed in the arena back then.
I then used a piece of 1mm ali to make a new front scoop and that got shredded by arghhhh.
I guess what I am trying to say is unless your engineer experts, your first go will most likely be terrible. In my situation it was first 3 goes :S

[aero_storm]

Starting the build

Um...............Thanks?

Alex the terrible robot builder signing off............

(Im just joking - I need straight answers )

[geeza]

Starting the build

Marco is right, you will learn more about how to build better but putting something in the arena and getting it broken, than is possible to explain on the forum.

[calumco]

Starting the build

matt- it will have a electric front hinged lifter, compared to the last one which had and electric back hinged lifter.