Wooden Robot Class

[RogueTwoRobots]

Re: Wooden Robot Class

Best bet might be to re-watch all of Series 1 on Youtube. There are only six episodes and you'll have the house robot intro screens plus multiple camera angles to work from. But on the whole I think the S1 design of Dead Metal was very simple, just a hexagonal(ish) baseplate with wheels, the arm and a couple of thin metal spikey bulkheads.

[PJ-27]

Re: Wooden Robot Class

Has anybody tried, or know of a robot that uses a crank mechanism to move an axe?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crank_%28mechanism%29

I want to turn the constant rotational motion of a motor into a reciprocating motion, and then probably via a rack and pinion into the forward and back motion of an axe.
I think most of the parts can easily be salvaged from 'bitz' but I'm pretty sure I'll have to have a reduction on the motor itself.

Anyone know of any calcs for axe length, weight, travel etc... I think a guide to an axe-bot was posted on here recently linking to the Aussie forum which may have included these.

I plan on putting this in a wooden robot by the way!

[Mouldy]

Re: Wooden Robot Class

i think mortis used a crank mechanism... its been about 9 years since i last saw it though... swanny might be able to tell you though as i believe he owns it now;

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HeesKY3559o

[PJ-27]

Re: Wooden Robot Class

Mortis was my first thought too, but if you watch the video closely the axe doesn't always complete a full motion (it sometimes retracts early) which would lead me to believe its not on a crank. I'll drop swanny a line though.

Plus Mortis cost a bomb!

[daliad100]

Re: Wooden Robot Class

A lot of crank based mechanisms are fastest mid stroke and have 0 velocity at the end of their stroke so make for a weak weapon.
You might need to combine it with something kind of like the mechanism on Gabriel so you get it up to maximum velocity and let it fall the rest of the way to get a harder hit.

[psychostorm]

Re: Wooden Robot Class

I'm quite sure Mortis didn't have a crankshaft on the axe. It obviously has that cam though.

I reckon that the Mortis axe was servo driven/closed loop system. Hence why it occasionally stopped mid way through the arc, he hasn't pushed the stick far enough.

[PJ-27]

Re: Wooden Robot Class

Good thinking guys. At the end of the swing it'll be getting ready for the return so will have little power. I'm thinking have the pivot point quite far from the ground (like Thor), and the end of the swing touching the floor, that way if a robot is at any point in the movement it'll still have some velocity.
Stealing the Gabriel cam though is a good shout (Sorry Craig!), that is a seriously neat design and would solve the problem.

[mattsdragons]

Re: Wooden Robot Class

if you saw suprize (i think thats how its spelt) at kidderminster, you could see how effective wood is as armour, that thing would not break!

[PJ-27]

Re: Wooden Robot Class

Despite some great initial enthusiasm from quite a few people this idea suddenly died a swift death.

I think this was due in part to a potential lack of spinners, interest from EOs or place to run them. People being picky over the rules and even a health scare mid way didn't help either......

None the less taking inspiration from Calum's super quick build and people's recent thoughts on the forum I am going to carry the torch and make a wooden robot! (Time and expense pending)

If anyone else wishes to join me then please do. We have 2 potential Robo Challenge events coming up within which there will hopefully be time for a wooden robot fight, if not I'll simply enter BitzaWood along with Bitza 2 into the Uk Champs, not because I want to win, but because I enjoy building and fighting robots and making them out of wood makes that ever more possible.

My rules if you want to join are as follow:
Standard FW rules with the following exceptions -
It must be made out of wood! All armour and structure. I'll promote the use of MDF.
Weapons can be metal, but I promote the use of wood working tools, circular saws, chisels etc..
No large amounts of metal are allowed to be exposed so, no metal flipper arms or wedges. But you can have metal axes, spinning weapons etc.

[harry hills]

Re: Wooden Robot Class

fine, i'll get on it later today.

[psycho_fling]

Re: Wooden Robot Class

well im ready

[Leonardomayo]

Re: Wooden Robot Class

I'm game. I was discussing a wooden robot with my Dad on Friday and I resolved to make one then!
But are we allowed a small metal box inside to contain expensive stuff? ESC's and the like. I don't mind my drill motors getting smashed in but I draw the line at expensive electronics.

I am going to carry the torch and make a wooden robot!

Just don't do both at the same time. That could end badly. :P
Also do you guys think a sabertooth 2x12 esc could handle 2 12v drill motors?

[PJ-27]

Re: Wooden Robot Class

By all means have everything inside a metal box. As long as everything protecting and holding your robot together is wood.

12a a side should be fine for a drill motor, just fuse appropriately. I plan on using a 2x12a Sabertooth too.

[Leonardomayo]

Re: Wooden Robot Class

Oh good. That's one thing taken off of my shopping list!

[tweedermeister]

Re: Wooden Robot Class

hmmm, once I get the hdpe shell for minor tom done i might have to make a wooden one so I can enter it here, would I be able to put everything in a small hdpe box for protection ( esc's, rx, etc ) ?