Rigid Robotics Build Diary - Flat Damon

[lowndsy]

So are you 4wd, one dual esc for each side?

[cjsowry]

Yep, original plan I had years ago was the chassis and pushing power of Tornado with the scoop of Behemoth. But instead of pneumatic, hydraulic powered like Panic Attacks forks. Unfortunately Luna-tic looks like a Shockwave copy now.

Ellis's (the lad that built Pulsar) Youtube videos he made when building his feather Tormenda have been really helpful.

[cjsowry]

Suppose I should add, this featherweight isn't hydraulic. Thats saved for a heavyweight of the same design. Going to start that next year. This has been a first project to learn the skills I need and to make all my mistakes before tackling a heavy.

[RogueTwoRobots]

Just for reference, Panic Attack ran electric linear actuators for their weapon. Not as powerful as hydraulics unless you buy fancy expensive ones, but much easier to implement, maintain and understand if hydraulics get too complicated

[cjsowry]

ha, never knew that about Panic Attack. Just assumed it was Hydraulics by (what I thought was the ram). With Shockwave using electric motors for their scoop I have started thinking about alternatives. I have a hydraulic shop very near, so going to pop in when I get serious about building a heavy and speak to them. But to be honest my thought always comes back to flipping over house robots.

People I speak to about my bot think I'm nutz not going Pneumatic, But I want the control Kim Davis had with Panic Attack. With CO2 its bang and big flip. I want to be able to control how high I lift my opponent. Enough to get their wheels off the ground and push away.

[lowndsy]

So it looks like I'm an idiot and bought the wrong esc. I thought I could pass both outputs of my signal mixer through the dual esc and it would just share the power, but it looks like both motors would need to be on the same side of the bot.

Back to the drawing board...

[Eventorizon]

So it looks like I'm an idiot and bought the wrong esc. I thought I could pass both outputs of my signal mixer through the dual esc and it would just share the power, but it looks like both motors would need to be on the same side of the bot.

Back to the drawing board...

Can you put up a photo of your setup? If you are using a mixer AND a dual ESC which may have inbuilt mixing you might be mixing it twice. Or even 3 times if you also have mixing on your transmitter. But I may have the wrong end of the stick but its hard to tell without seeing.

[lowndsy]

Sorted! 2X Botbitz 30A on the way, job done!

My transmitter is a pretty basic gun style (I prefer them) 3 channel unit that definitely isn't mixing. I thought the Quicrun esc I bought would either mix or at least take two channels of input, but it only has one 3 pin input and Chris a few posts up is using the same one to drive two motors on the same side of his 4wd bot. It's ok, I can always find a use for it later on.

I'll post a pic of what I have anyway, perhaps use tins of beans in place of the bits I am missing.

Steve

[cjsowry]

Video done, Its just where I'm at and explains a few things I've learnt so far. Anybody more in the know please correct me.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cm8h...ature=youtu.be

[cjsowry]

And this is how she runs at the moment.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vTqxpnpu5G0

[lowndsy]

That looks awesome. I can't turn the sound up on my work comp but I'll have a proper listen when I get home. Have you started thinking about an event to attend yet?

[cjsowry]

Was hoping I could show her off at my kids Christmas fairs in a few weeks, but not looking hopeful I can finish the weapon in time and there's the H&S aspect to work out.

Looking at Robot Wars LIVE at Manchester in April as my first official event, but wouldn't mind a few practise/test battles see how she holds up before hand. Make improvements where I need to, before it gets battered and bruised.

[cjsowry]

Also just looking at your website blog, you've got the same ESC,s but the duel means it can power two motors on the same side (left or right) they will turn the same way (4WD). so to turn left and right you will still need two of them... Sorry!

[lowndsy]

Yep, figured that out now! I was a bit confused when I saw just the one channel input, and then when you confirmed you were 4wd the penny dropped.

It's ok, I'll save it for another project and I have two of the Botbitz escs that loads of people use on the way.

[lowndsy]

Small update. Flat Damon is still very much with us but he has had a bit of a hangover since Christmas so not a lot has been done.

I am still struggling on Speed controllers, about to shell out on my third set with nothing to show for it, but I do have all the other parts I need so I can get on with the final assembly. Chassis and armour are ~8kg without electronics, so it's going to be pretty solid.

I just need to find time in the day so I can drill lots of holes without upsetting the neighbours - hopefully this weekend.