Wooden Robot Class

[PJ-27]

Re: Wooden Robot Class

In the words of the Blendtec people Don't breathe this!

I think allowing materials other than wood for things like brackets, angles, wpeaon mechanisms is fine, but like Danny said you can make bulkheads out of wood easily.
I'd say use common sense, HDPE motor mounts I imagine wouldn't be going to far, but two 20mm HDPE bulkheads is perhaps too much.

[harry hills]

Re: Wooden Robot Class

can i have a 1mm ali scoop then?

[PJ-27]

Re: Wooden Robot Class

No. No external metal.

[swanaldo]

Re: Wooden Robot Class

If there is no external metal then what will your spinning weapons be made from.

[PJ-27]

Re: Wooden Robot Class

I mean in terms of armour. We would need to make a clear distinction though. For instance if someone built a Ti spinning bar that would perhaps be taking the biscuit, but a steel circular saw that would be fine.

[Mouldy]

Re: Wooden Robot Class

Wood working tools as weapons saw blades, chissels etc

[PJ-27]

Re: Wooden Robot Class

Exactly, plus they would work well. KE weapons will be limited so that'll rule out f-off huge nasty spinning Ti bars.

[Ellis]

Re: Wooden Robot Class

How about axe weapons? An axe can produce quite high amounts of energy, but it's far more controlled than a spinner weapon.

[Mouldy]

Re: Wooden Robot Class

limited to what?... was interested... just lost interest

[daliad100]

Re: Wooden Robot Class

Going by aussie rules if it's a weapon it can be metal so I'd personally say yes to a bit of metal for a scoop.

With some thick enough wood you wouldn't need hdpe mounts for motors, although you could use some as screw blocks to hold the robot together quite nicely. By all means have a small metal/plastic box to put expensive stuff like speedos in. We don't want robots getting too broken :wink:

I think a sheet of mdf that can make about 3 Rex's Robot Challenge robots costs near enough £10 from B&Q so I wouldn't want to rule it out as a material unless we do have spinners allowed then it would be a bad choice. Although with the slow spinner speeds conventional spinning weapons and saws won't be as effective so it could be all right.

As for restricting materials, limiting it to something like mdf would be best because some old roofing joists that I have lying around would be nigh on indestructible to a slow spinner and most weapons that could be successfully build in this class (sorry Alex )

[PJ-27]

Re: Wooden Robot Class

@Dave, haha just because you don't do things by halves! By all means people can make full on spinning robots, they just can't run in non-full combat arenas.

Axe's would be fine. I'm just thinking about running in arena's other than RoboChallange. Like I said earlier, there is a clear and quite profound difference between a 6kg bit of Hardox spinning at several thousand RPM as a weapon, and a circular saw and it's this distinction I'm trying to define. As axe's are currently allowed in all arena's I saw they're good to go!

In continuation of trying to increase safety and 'Rotating' weapons in non-full combat arenas I'm suggesting we reduce the amount of metal on the outside of the robot since this could be a hazard. A scoop/wedge, although arguably a weapon, is quite a large chunk of metal to have on the outside of your bot, and for this reason I would see fit to not allow it. Besides you can make a scoop/wedge out if wood easy-peasy!

The general outcome of a build should be to be fair, not to undermine or bend the rules. By all means be interesting and innovative, but this is a community thing and someone who builds something with a somewhat tentative grasp of the rules will only be disfavored by the other builders.

[mattsdragons]

Re: Wooden Robot Class

i think if we had spinning weapons, they should be limited to under a certain size/ weight and some meterials (ie, no hardox or ti weapons)

[psycho_fling]

Re: Wooden Robot Class

As for restricting materials, limiting it to something like mdf would be best because some old roofing joists that I have lying around would be nigh on indestructible to a slow spinner and most weapons that could be successfully build in this class (sorry Alex )

was that for my ears?

mdf will be fine at the end of the day they will be in an arena and i doubt there will huge cluds of dust....plus from what the wood workshop guy says at my uni theres no actually proof mdf is hafmful to health but the dust isnt nice either way (btw i still wear a mask)

[swanaldo]

Re: Wooden Robot Class

your getting too serious about all this.....it started off as a bit of fun and i quite liked the concept but you will start implementing silly rules that will ruin it before it starts. I have a radical Idea to throw into the mix........

A wood robot should be wood only. thats the point....a wooden robot class
Robots dont have a weight limit but instead a size limit. Say 15inch wide by 20 long. and robots have to be this size...all of em.
The widest point 15 inch....the longest 20.
I am sure a good imagination can create some wierd and wonderful concepts only made from wood.
Spinners weapons made from wood. the clatter and smashy of them will creat some good damage.
Spinners run on pully systems using v-belts.
obviously some metal will have to be used i.e. motormounts and weapon mounts but a real minimal.

a size limit rather than a weight limit would free the mind to creat something good. the size will keep the weight down naturally. I would be tempted to build one but not with all the build rules you will run away with. keep it simple keep it fun.

Just my 2 pence worth anyway......carry on lads.

[mattsdragons]

Re: Wooden Robot Class

i got a spare FW pneumatic system, what about a flipper?