From The Ground Up (Advice Thread)

[Roland]

Re: From The Ground Up (Advice Thread)

Ok, so go for a fairly lower mAh then? something in the 2k to 3k region?

[harry hills]

Re: From The Ground Up (Advice Thread)

that should see you through a couple of fights.

[typhoon_driver]

Re: From The Ground Up (Advice Thread)

3k will do you fine.

[Roland]

Re: From The Ground Up (Advice Thread)

that should see you through a couple of fights.

Bit confused by that post?

So something like this then Gary: http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/12v-NiMH-3300m...item3353c52b76?

Still confused about the speed controllers too! What specs I should be looking for etc.

[RogueTwoRobots]

Re: From The Ground Up (Advice Thread)

6* 125mm Robo Challenge blue wheels

These wheels don't come with nut insert.

Yes they do, if you contact the Robo Challenge guys direct and ask for some to be made up. They don't have them available to order on their webstore though, possibly because not many people use them.
But if he's running Speed 900s he won't need the ones with nut inserts anyway.

Gary, loving how the new version is looking! Will have to have a prod about it for curiosity's sake when I see it

[Roland]

Re: From The Ground Up (Advice Thread)

The DX5 on the robo challenge site I'm a bit wary about getting since it's an old model, do they still sell the recievers for them if I were to need a back up?

[RogueTwoRobots]

Re: From The Ground Up (Advice Thread)

The DX5e uses DSM2 technology, which means any DSM2 compatible receiver should work with it. Take your pick: http://shop.ebay.co.uk/?_from=R40&_trks ... Categories

I combined mine with one of these handsets when it cost £11.99: http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Spektrum-Controll ... 3cadc35762
and got a 2.4GHz setup for £22 (which is already more reliable than the Radio Link sets)

That transmitter is very basic though, the DX5e has a lot more to offer.

[Roland]

Re: From The Ground Up (Advice Thread)

What exactly does it have to offer? I can't really see anything of importance, probably due to my pure ignorance.

I have 11 tabs open and I refuse to open another so I keep switching from Your build thread to this every five seconds to check if I need to reply to anything!

[RogueTwoRobots]

Re: From The Ground Up (Advice Thread)

You know, when tabs were first introduced, I really wasn't keen on them. I don't know why I was being so stubborn but I just refused to use them. Love them now though, had an insane number of them open when trying to compare hotels and book rooms for the upcoming FW champs!

Anyway, I've just had a quick look at the DX5e specs and it doesn't actually have that much extra compared to that transmitter I linked to (the E-Flite). They both have servo reversing functions and dual rates, although they'll probably be adjustable on the DX5e, don't think you can do that with the E-Flite. The main differences are that the DX5e has an extra channel and built-in mixing. Being used to standard transmitters such as Futaba, I found the E-Flite one to be really plasticy and cheap (to be expected at that price though) and the sticks felt very loose to move. But I tried driving Drumroll with it and it felt perfectly fine with a similar response to every other transmitter I've used. It's up to you though, I'd say the DX5e feels more like a proper radio transmitter but if you're not too fussed by things like that, then the E-Flite for £15 would do the job.

[Roland]

Re: From The Ground Up (Advice Thread)

I can't see how you've got the drum on drumroll spinning? There's nothing connecting it to the motor!

Talking of chains, would a cog and chain (What's the technical term?) Be more efficient supplying the other wheels than a belt and sprockets?

Thanks for your help so far guys, you've all been amazingly helpful and I know it's cliche but thanks for using your own time to answer my questions!

Edit: Sorry I didn't see your post Jamie! Hmm, I think also that if I get a DX5e it'll last me longer, and therefore will end up being a better buy, by mixing do you mean you can change the drive type? Or max speed of the motors?

[jonny]

Re: From The Ground Up (Advice Thread)

i beleive you mean sprockets and chain compared to belts and pulleys not sure what one would be best but i beleive you can get a higher amount of teeth on a pulley for the diameter than a sprocket.

i am firmly against tabs, mainly as i can't use expose with them (one of my favourite features of a mac) but also as it insists with opening 12 small web pages that i've visited recently instead of opening google (my home page). the opening of 12 mini web pages often crashes my computer aswell

[typhoon_driver]

Re: From The Ground Up (Advice Thread)

Jamie what was that combo you used to convert your 40meg system? Wouldn't mind using my old futaba system at the champs

[RogueTwoRobots]

Re: From The Ground Up (Advice Thread)

It was the Corona DIY conversion kit: http://www.giantcod.co.uk/corona-24ghz- ... 05857.html

It used to come with an 8ch receiver but that's no longer supplied with the kit (hence the kit being cheaper) so you have to buy it separately. There are three available:
4ch: http://www.giantcod.co.uk/24ghz-corona- ... 03381.html
6ch: http://www.giantcod.co.uk/24ghz-corona- ... 03382.html
8ch: http://www.giantcod.co.uk/24ghz-corona- ... 03383.html

I had some powering up issues with mine but I believe that to be a faulty receiver, as the Nipper guys used the same system without any problems, but once it was powered up, it worked well. For the relatively low cost it's certainly worth a punt though.

Talking of chains, would a cog and chain (What's the technical term?) Be more efficient supplying the other wheels than a belt and sprockets?

Yeah as Jonny has mentioned, it tends to be sprockets with chains and pulleys with belts
I consider both chains and belts to be pretty efficient in terms of transmitting drive. Chains are less forgiving, so if you try to push something that's too heavy there could be a risk of stressing out part of your drive system, whereas pulleys and belts might act like a clutch and slip, relieving some of the stress and protecting your components. Belts and pulleys are the lighter option although sometimes it's cheaper to buy chains and sprockets. I'd say either arrangement would work for your drive.

Edit: Sorry I didn't see your post Jamie! Hmm, I think also that if I get a DX5e it'll last me longer, and therefore will end up being a better buy, by mixing do you mean you can change the drive type? Or max speed of the motors?

Yeah I'd say the DX5e will probably be more durable and last longer so may be worth the investment (still got my £120 radio from eight years ago that works a treat).

Each axis of movement on a transmitter is one radio channel, and each side of drive on your robot uses one channel. Conventional tank-style steering is where the left-hand stick forward/back moves the left-hand side of the drive forward/back and likewise for the right stick/drive. So to drive forward, you push both sticks forward. Mixing allows you to have your drive controlled from just one of the transmitter sticks, much like a computer gaming joystick. So pushing the stick forward moves the whole robot forward, pushing the stick left turns the whole robot left etc.

The max speed of the motors is something that can be changed using the Dual Rates function (or Hi/Lo function as it seems to be called on the DX5e). Normally you set the rates to a percentage of the full power - say 50% - and you can toggle it with a switch, so for example you can turn it on during a battle and cut the top speed of the motors to 50% should you need a bit less speed and more control.

[Roland]

Re: From The Ground Up (Advice Thread)

Sounds like a plan! Almost everything prepared. What I'll do is buy the majority of stuff I need and then get back to speed controllers later. Unfortunately I can't go to the FW championship this year because I'm in Greece! Hope everyone has fun though.

thanks again everyone.

[RogueTwoRobots]

Re: From The Ground Up (Advice Thread)

Off topic - Jamie, what CAD did you use to design drumroll, and the robots in your misc album in photobucket, and how much did it cost?

Sorry, clocked this earlier but completely forgot to reply. The CAD program I use is called Solid Edge, and the copy I have is an academic version obtained through uni. It cost £5 for the license, but naturally the full commercial version will be much more expensive.

One of the main industry-standard CAD programs is Solidworks. I used to have a copy but lost it when my laptop broke, but I would say it is better than Solid Edge. Again it is very expensive to buy the full program but you could either download it...ahem..legally....or get someone to do it for you and put it on a disc. But if anyone asks, I didn't tell you that :wink: