Just starting

[zoll]

Hi there, i'm new to this community. Ever since I was young I used to watch robot wars and enjoyed it now i'm a bit older I am quite interested in building a robot like this. Only problem is I have no real technical knowledge on the robotics side of things so wanted to start off by making a very basic but still reasonable size robot and then go forward from this.

I hoped some one could point me in the right direction. Ideally a kinda of parts list would be fantastic cos although I have seen them in other threads links seem to be broken and they are slightly outdated. Also for a first basic robot how much would I looking to be spending.

Thanks in advance,

[psycho_fling]

Re: Just starting

well first welcome, this has to be the best place to get advice- my first bit of advice is to get to an event asap to see what it's all about

personally i wuld try and start out as simple as possible, by building something which can be mended easily at events

i'll list what i would suggest you need for a basic but interesting robot, this is for a lifter bot other weapons will need other parts etc

motors- drill motors b and q x2 £20 this will give 2wd drive
Sabertooth controller Technobots.co.uk £50
batterrys nimhs etc ebay £20
Transmiter spektrum set £60
materials for chassis plastic is good i have some spare which you can have

for the weapon if you have ever seem psychoflings then this is a good plave to start btw my robot lol

simple bosch motor with lifter mech that moves a metal plastic plate

i again have one of these which i could sell for £25 however you would need a controller for this £20
you also need a link, led light wire bolts etc

hope i havent missed anything.....

if you have msn say and i can add you, btw how old are you and where is your base?

hope this helps would go into more detail but i havent got the time atm

alex marler

[widow_twanky]

Re: Just starting

hope i havent missed anything.....

Wheels maybe???

[zoll]

Re: Just starting

Hi thanks for the great response, with regards to drill motors what am I looking for. I found these on ebay are they any good? Also with regards to a controller is something like this or this any good. Thanks again.

[Metal Demons]

Re: Just starting

Hi thanks for the great response, with regards to drill motors what am I looking for. I found these on ebay are they any good? Also with regards to a controller is something like this or this any good. Thanks again.

You want to get a couple of cordless drills to take apart. Those are just bare motors - you'll be wanting both the motor and gearbox from the drill. As for the RC kit, the Spektrum DX5e is what most people use as it doesn't suffer from interference and you don't have to worry about different crystals and channels...
You'll also want a speed controller for each motor, or a dual channel setup.

[zoll]

Re: Just starting

So how about these or these or as a cheaper alternative would http://www.diy.com/diy/jsp/bq/nav.js...isSearch=false be any good.

[Metal Demons]

Re: Just starting

A couple of those B&Q drills should do it, or if you want something nicer have a hunt on ebay - you can pick up naked Makitas or Dewalts (without the batteries, which generally suck for robot purposes) for not all that much, and those have nicer gearboxes and don't break as often.

[widow_twanky]

Re: Just starting

Just to point out that you need to be either on 40mhz or 2.4ghz for your radio control (although there is some debate about phasing out 40mhz)

The Spektrum DX5e is a very good package and does what you want it to and comes with the receiver. If you get the DX6I it's also a good package but you'll need to get an AR500 receiver for it.

Andy