From The Ground Up (Advice Thread)

[Metal Demons]

Re: From The Ground Up (Advice Thread)

Thanks for your reply! I realised something while I was at school, how exactly will I cut metal?
So what exactly should I use to cut metal?
And will any drill do to make holes in metal?

Specifically Ali or Steel.

An angle grinder is your best bet for cutting metal - they're not that expensive, get one, you'll find yourself using it a fair bit. Saves you a LOT of time, and there are materials you'll want to use at some point which really can't be done any other way without something like plasma/oxy-gas/waterjet/laser/whatever, like hardox.

As for drills - any decent HSS bit will do it, make sure to use a center punch and WD-40 or whatever as cutting fluid. You don't need to mess about with cobalt drills or anything until you're working with pretty high grade alloys.

[Roland]

Re: From The Ground Up (Advice Thread)

Thanks for your reply! I realised something while I was at school, how exactly will I cut metal?
So what exactly should I use to cut metal?
And will any drill do to make holes in metal?

Specifically Ali or Steel.

An angle grinder is your best bet for cutting metal - they're not that expensive, get one, you'll find yourself using it a fair bit. Saves you a LOT of time, and there are materials you'll want to use at some point which really can't be done any other way without something like plasma/oxy-gas/waterjet/laser/whatever, like hardox.

As for drills - any decent HSS bit will do it, make sure to use a center punch and WD-40 or whatever as cutting fluid. You don't need to mess about with cobalt drills or anything until you're working with pretty high grade alloys.

So will a 30 quid Bosch angle grinder do the trick? Or should I go for something better quality?

[RogueTwoRobots]

Re: From The Ground Up (Advice Thread)

Works for me
(well, mine's a Black & Decker but same difference)

[widow_twanky]

Re: From The Ground Up (Advice Thread)

Works for me
(well, mine's a Black & Decker but same difference)

HAHAHA! NEVER paid 30 quid for an angle grinder!! Any cheap angle grinder will work, you may have to replace it a bit more often but mine get a lot of use and last about 18months

Andy

[RogueTwoRobots]

Re: From The Ground Up (Advice Thread)

Well I reckon mine was about £30 but I don't actually know as it was a present. Not that I'm complaining about having a more expensive model

[widow_twanky]

Re: From The Ground Up (Advice Thread)

Yep, agree Jamie more expensive models are nice but if it spins then where's the problem?

I actually splashed out last time (mainly because Focus had shut and the #10 ones weren't available without driving for an hour to get it) and got this one

http://www.diy.com/diy/jsp/bq/nav.jsp?a ... earch=true

It's got variable speed and a nice comfy grip. That said, the variable speed got moved to setting 6 (of 6) and hasn't moved since.

Really is a very nice grinder though.

Andy

[Roland]

Re: From The Ground Up (Advice Thread)

As long as it can cut carbon steel plates and doesn't always break down it'll do.

[Roland]

Re: From The Ground Up (Advice Thread)

Sorry for more questions, and thanks for your answers so far!

What program should I use to design a 3d/2d design of my robot? I know it's early, but it's fun messing about with different looks. (My first will be box shaped anyway).

Thanks. ^_^

-Roland

[Metal Demons]

Re: From The Ground Up (Advice Thread)

Really depends on whether you're just looking for visualisation and vague layouts, or accurate engineering drawings with the possibility of manufacturing parts directly from them or having someone else make them for you, possibly with a CNC machine?

Google Sketchup or whatever works fine for the first, for the second you'll be looking at learning a full-on CAD package (which I'd recommend anyway, though it's a lot more effort).

Personally, I use Autocad for 2D DXF stuff and engineering drawings, and Autodesk Inventor for 3D - everyone else here will have their own preferences though. Solidworks and Rhino3D are also commonly used.

[calumco]

Re: From The Ground Up (Advice Thread)

i havnt properly read this thread so what im about to say might not tie in with whats been already said but, personally i could never build a robot on cad or anything in a million years, dont get my wrong i've used it before but for me its about doing loads of sketches on some paper and then making a cardboard mock up to scale- and then putting all the parts in the mock up and pretty much just building on from there.

depending on the way your building either box section chassis or the bulkhead way which ever, and how your cutting your materials by hand or by machine- personally cos i cut all my stuff by hand- don't get me wrong it takes alot of hard work lol but with loadsa cardboard templates to cut around -that i made from my mock up thats just the way i prefere doing things - near enough all i have is a cramped shed with a jigsaw, welder and just other basic tools nothing special so im happy enough doing most things my self but obviously theres certain things that i can't do so i get kenny or grant to do them for me.

so its really personal preference as to how you'd go about designing your robot

[Roland]

Re: From The Ground Up (Advice Thread)

I really like the cardboard idea which was mentioned before and by you, my only trouble is that you can't erase things once they have been cut. It's like a final template, I need something for drafting ideas, to be honest I don't want to fork out a large sum of money for CAD programs when I may not actually use them very much. I'll use Pen and paper and possibly Google Sketchup (I'm on an Ibook G4 so it'll be quite slow) most likely for now, I'm leaving engineering til' when I have the experience to start building. Slow and steady wins the race.

More questions! Sorry as usual.

What are the opinions on manual arc welders? It's the type I'm going to use, but I'd like any tips you can give.
What thickness do you use for metal plating, and if it varies, why does it vary?
And finally,
What strengths of metal do you need for each part of a robot?


-Roland

[team_orr]

Re: From The Ground Up (Advice Thread)

hi

i started off with the paper/cardboard mockup, works great if your doing things on the cheap/simple,

however, having recently upgraded to cad systems i can tell that they are really useful, i started off with sketchup (good for rough ideas) then i got solidworks (good mix of all cad systems) and now have autodesk (awsome) also having recently gained access to a cnc macine its good to have detailed diagrams.

arc welders are great, and tend to be a bit cheaper than migs

jack

[dragonmaster_1]

Re: From The Ground Up (Advice Thread)

www.riobotz.com.br/en/tutorial.html

[Roland]

Re: From The Ground Up (Advice Thread)

Thanks for the tutorial. It was very educational, but it's gone and created more questions!

What thickness steel do you usually use on a featherweight?
And what type of rubber should I use as a shock absorber?
Do you guys use kevlar or is it pointless when using a featherweight?

Thanks for your answers so far.

-Roland

[Moritz]

Re: From The Ground Up (Advice Thread)

Hello

I´m trying to use as little steel as possible in my robot, because of the weight.
I´m using Aluminium 7075 to many parts instead. It´s a bit expensive, but it´s a lot lighter than steel.

Sorry for the bad spelling...