Help with choosing parts for a first robot, please.

[dotDominic]

Hi,

I'm in the process of buying the parts for my first robot, and I just wanted ask you guys if you think this would run ok without causing damage to the electronic components/blowing up horribly. And if this combination of parts would be problematic, what are the alternatives? I'm a student taking a year out between high school and University, so I have pretty limited budget. Having said that, I'm trying not to buy parts so cheap that they will break and need replacing within a relatively short time.

2 x Black & Decker CD12C 12v Cordless Drill Driver
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Genuine-Bl...item5d559e60d0
Turnigy 2200mAh 4S 30C Lipo Pack -I've read a bit about 'over volting'. Would this battery be ok for the motors?
2 x Botbitz 85A ESC
FlySky 2.4ghz transmitter and receiver

Also, I was going to buy a FingerTech Mini Power Switch, as it was recommended in this video by Robowars Australia on Youtube. However I understand that in the UK robots need a removable link for competition. As I didn't think I'd be entering this robot into a competition, I thought the switch would be ok. Is that safe? Or would a removable link be preferable, even if the robot won't be used in combat?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LlOHMgo3Sfs

Any help would be really appreciated!
Thanks very much.
-Dominic

[Niels - Team K.a.L.M.]

First off, welcome

Secondly, even though I'm unaware how well the flysky will work, the esc's and motors should do fine.

Thirdly, Try using a removeable link from the start. Combat or not, safety is always an issue

[dotDominic]

Cool, thanks very much!
I've chosen the FlySky cause people give it great reviews, though in these reviews it's being used to control RC planes, not robots. Are there any (Not very expensive) transmitters/receivers you would recommend?

[maddox10]

I hope the FlySky failsafes on the right (all) channels.

But I support Niels in his removable link point. Adding a link to the switch isn't a big deal, and makes your machine useable for events, when it comes to that.

[dotDominic]

Actually, turns out the FlySky does not have a failsafe activated upon signal loss. So thanks for mentioning that! Are there any transmitters/receivers you recommend?

Right, I'll be sure to add a removable link then. Thanks!

[RogueTwoRobots]

Depending on how competent you feel with wiring/soldering, you can pick up an older 40MHz radio with a bunch of fancy features and then solder a 2.4GHz conversion kit into it. Gets you a versatile transmitter at the fraction of a cost of a 2.4GHz specific model with similar features. The conversion kit I use is by FrSky, and the failsafing and binding procedures on those are fantastic, as a few others will testify. I don't have the links to the necessary components handy at the moment as I'm on my phone but I'll post them up later.

[Gaseraki]

Welcome to the community.
Some one will come along shortly and recommend the cheaper orange one which works great on a budget. I favor the Spektrum series just because they haven't failed me.
My two cents is I don't know your experience with construction but if its new then I recommend HDPE. You can make a very decent featherweight with a jigsaw and and a drill. Plan everything out. You want to make sure you don't waste materials by making a chassis too small.
Definitely have a link.
Be careful with your wiring. Shorting out your robot and destroying all your electronics is very achievable at any level of experience.

Good luck. Keep us posted

[craig_colliass]

One thing you should have if you use LiPo batteries in the UK is a fuse, this can and quite often is also the removable link.
normally I the use the automotive spade type.

[tweedermeister]

I agree with Marco that the Spektrum are great transmitter wise, a little pricey though but they work great. Orange RX's I'd avoid personally as me and a few others have been experiencing issues with them lately, I can't comment on the orange transmitters but without having one myself I'd put them in the same boat as the receivers.

[dotDominic]

@RogueTwoRobots
Thanks very much for the advice. To be honest I have absolutely zero wiring/soldering experience. But it's a skill I'm obviously going to need to learn if I want to build combat robots. If you could post those links when you get the chance that would be fantastic, thanks!

@Gaseraki
I've heard about that orange one but I can't find any websites that have them in stock. Yeah, I'm totally new to construction. Previously I just thought about using MDF (I don't intend to use this first robot in combat.) but plastic is something I hadn't thought about. Thanks very much for your advice!

@Craig_Colliass
Cool, thanks! I will research into that!

[Flag Captured]

Welcome!

I have an Orange RX R620 receiver with a DX5e and it's great when it works. When it works being the key thing, as it can be a temperamental so-and-so... If you can get something a bit more reliable, definitely do - it'll save you plenty of time troubleshooting.

The parts list you've posted would be a solid start too, most people start out as 'drill bricks'. Battery should be fine, rule of thumb with overvolting is no more than 1.5x the voltage (4S lipo is 14.4v, so you're fine there). In all honesty, if you upped your battery capacity a little (maybe 3000-3500mAh) you could double up on the drills and have a 4wd pusher if that's a way you wanted to go. Tormenta 2 used 4x 550 drill motors and that had plenty of push behind it... The TZ85s are great little things too, used them in all my combat machines and never blown one yet even after taking plenty of stalled motors. I have broken two but that's because spinners happened, and are the reason we can't have nice things... (one was fixed in the end pretty easily though)

Also worth a mention, ranglebox.com stock M6 threaded bar which would be really useful for construction, even more so if you don't have a wealth of tools available! If you want to go for a decent chassis material too, look for 15-20mm HDPE, directplastics.co.uk sell that, it's great stuff, easy to work with and can take a lot of punishment. That, and it's relatively cheap.

[Niels - Team K.a.L.M.]

A dx5e by spectrum is a cheap yet 'solid' start setting you back 50 pound or so.
The dx6i is more advanced, programmable transmitter that costs a bit more but is truly worth it.

The orange rx620 receiver is one I use repeatedly. Never failed me yet. Available at hobbyking for under a tenner.

[dotDominic]

Thanks. I've found that Dx5e Transmitter on ebay: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Spektrum-D...-/361265447291

It's way less than £50, though. Has the '3 switch version' part of it got anything to do with that?

[Flag Captured]

I agree with Niels, if I had the money now I'd definitely upgrade to a DX6i or something, the DX5e has a number of problems, notably with the mixing, if you don't have an external one. It is cheap though and I've used mine on all my machines thus far.

[Eventorizon]

Bite the bullet and go straight for a DX6 or DX6i. There is a new DX6 with a fixed transmitter, its more expensive than the DX6i which is one ebay with no RX for just under £70.
A transmitter is something you may as well buy once and do it properly, given you can control every robot you ever make (pretty much) from then on with no issues.