Crystals?

[pingu2k4]

i was just wondering, i wont be at this stage for a while, but i have read the rules for robot wars, and it says you have to have 3 sets of crystals. are they expensive? and do you all make your own controls, or do you buy them? if you buy them, are they cheap or expensive?

[team_ireland]

Crystals?

You are using the word controls which can be interperated different ways.

If you mean the piece you hold in your hand then you mean the Transmitter. These as a rule have to be bought as the amount of work required to produce one would be immense and also you would have to get it CE compliant. So people buy them. They are available from http://www.technobots.co.ukwww.technobots.co.uk . As for whether or not there cheep that depends on how much money you have. Something which is 5pounds is expensive if you have no money. You can expect to pay around 100pounds for a 4channel transmitter and receiver.

You could mean what is used to control the motors. These are called speed controlers. These can be made or can be bought. Making them is very difficult and should not be attempted unless you have experience with electronics. They can be bought again from http://www.technobots.co.ukwww.technobots.co.uk There electronise range is suitable, you want to use 4 drills so use the 30amp ones. The other choice is the IBC from http://www.featherweights.orgwww.featherweights.org These are much more expensive but an all round better controler. Electronises are around 40pounds each but you need 2. IBC is around 180pounds but you only need one.

Crystals cost about 12pounds for a set of 1 transmitter and 1 receiver crystal.

[grant_ploughbot]

Crystals?

hey matthew, You do not need 3 sets of crystals but it is advisable incase of any clashes. They are usualy around £6 a set and controls will need to be bought. If you are looking at buying a controller set then you will already have a set of crystals with it. not worth splashing out on some more until you are going to an event. Contact James cooper From Robo-Challenge/Rc Wars if you are looking for cheap controllers, speed controllers or any other electrical components. When you get to the wheel stage, he sells extreamely good wheels for extreamly low prices as he makes them!
Good Luck

[maddox]

Crystals?

The electronics are the most expensive part of a robot, but once you have a dependable setup, it is worth the money.

TX and RX can be bought fairly cheap, a 4 channel non computer 40MHZ transmitter is the basic you need. We have the fairly cheap 6 channel non computer Graupner X412 for £80, with 1 set of Xtals. A set of Xtals would be around £25, but isnt needed at the start.
If you ask what is the most commonly used transmitter set in the feathers over there, you can use that brand, and can ask-at the start of your robot wars carreer- at events that someone can lend you a pair-if needed.

Now, as I told once you have a set of speedos, a TX setup and a bunch of spare parts for a drivetrain, you can build new robots without to much extra costs. Add a weaponsystem and youre in bussiness.

[pingu2k4]

Crystals?

thanks grant. is there a website for that then?

[grant_ploughbot]

Crystals?

erm, the website is not up at the moment, but if you want to email me at coop_bmx@msn.com i will pass the message onto my brother and he will reply to you asap with a list of things that would suit your needs with prices to go with them. The site is http://www.robochallenge.co.ukwww.robochallenge.co.uk . should be up shortly

[pingu2k4]

Crystals?

cool. nice site! well, i wont ask for anything at the momwent, because i have just been informed that robot wars is probably stopping in the near future!

[ewan]

Crystals?

Robot Wars may have stopped but robot fighting certainly hasnt. Look on Roaming Robots website - http://www.roamingrobots.co.ukhttp://www.roamingrobots.co.uk and go to the events section (which will be updated with more events as the year progresses). If theres an event near you this year then come along and talk to some of us. We are all too happy to give advice.

[andrewj]

Crystals?

You can get a latest copy of the rules here - http://www.fightingrobots.co.uk/ruleshttp://www.fightingrobots.co.uk/rules Theres no point in reading the Robot Wars stuff any more even though its pretty much the same.