Wooden Robot Class

[RogueTwoRobots]

Re: Wooden Robot Class

Having butchered my old bar-tooth drum for Drumroll II, my plans to use it in an MDF bot have been scuppered. So figured sorting out a new design was in order. I was planning on using a saw blade at first, but having read James and Grant's comments (and understanding their reasoning) I figure it'll be easier to just cut a disc out of some steel plate. There's a hint of familiarity kicking about here....

[attachment=0:1rwcfhfo]paws_cad.jpg[/attachment:1rwcfhfo]

Going to nick the name Paws from my planned beetle (it can be Paws Jnr). Still planning on using a Speed 900 to spin it. Won't be a huge amount of kinetic energy in the disc, should be like Pussycat in the sense that it'll be fast and shreddy, more akin to a sawblade. Any objections, speak now or forever hold your peace

[dragonmaster_1]

Re: Wooden Robot Class

Looks a bit like Kitty

[PJ-27]

Re: Wooden Robot Class

Awesome idea Jamie. Are you going to the Fleet event?

Actually who else is going/bringing a wooden robot?

[Anttazz]

Re: Wooden Robot Class

Think i remember Jamie saying he's not making it, midweek and an 8hr drive away are a big deterrent. We'll be testing them the weekend before though

[RogueTwoRobots]

Re: Wooden Robot Class

Yeah, I know a FW Pussycat replica has been done before but Kitty hasn't come out to play in a long time, and my version's more for fun and smashing up than for serious competition

And as mentioned by Tony, the Yeovil event is a no-goer for me, which is a pity as it sounds like it will be good fun, but leaves me free to focus on the champs. I don't know how many wooden robots will be going to the champs (just yours and mine so far PJ!) and not sure if there'll be enough free time to battle them as a separate class, but can always just throw it into whiteboards if need be.

[Leonardomayo]

Re: Wooden Robot Class

Hopefully I can join the battle aswell if mine gets finished in time!
Bought some of the material today. Walking back with a 2.4m of wood got some odd looks, admittedly.

[typhoon_driver]

Re: Wooden Robot Class

Just been reading this thread with interest. Think I might look to make something. It's looking less likely that i'll be at the champs and more likely I'll end up at the yeovil event instead (work permitting of course!)

I'm thinking of using the chainsaw chains from my drag racer and running them around the outside of a wooden chassis bot. Of course the sprockets on each corner will be metal and the chain itself will be metal but the rest of the construction bar a metal box in the middle holding the delicates, will be wooden. Anyone got any issues?

O and the machine will of course be built to FRA rules, Power light, weight limit of 30lb etc

[craig_colliass]

Re: Wooden Robot Class

I'm thinking of fitting a sanding disc to the front It won't kill your robot but it should reduce splinters

[Leonardomayo]

Re: Wooden Robot Class

I'm thinking of using the chainsaw chains from my drag racer and running them around the outside of a wooden chassis bot. Of course the sprockets on each corner will be metal and the chain itself will be metal but the rest of the construction bar a metal box in the middle holding the delicates, will be wooden. Anyone got any issues?

To keep the parts contained when it gets trashed? :P
Also do you mean flush to the outside of the robot, or a frame a la series 6 grand final Tornado?

[ewan]

Re: Wooden Robot Class

If there's a couple of wooden 'bots at Yeovil I wouldn't mind building one. Only if the spinner rules are sorted though, seem to remember earlier in the thread it was sounding as though any spinner would be allowed as long as the frame was wood? Not exactly in the spirit of a cheap fun robot, I reckon US 'Sportsman' rules would be more applicable (with specific spinner limits)

[ewan]

Re: Wooden Robot Class

^Further to that I think Jamie's design looks brilliant, but maybe that should be a roundabout limit for spinners (<500g <3000rpm perhaps)

[typhoon_driver]

Re: Wooden Robot Class

It will be flush with the chassis. I wouldn't use a metal frame as it's not in the spirit of the class. No idea if I'll time to make one but I would love to.

My opinion on the spinner front would be to limit weapons to wood working tools such as saws etc and for those to be limited to their design rpm. Granted tests will have to take place on what works but with the robochallenge arena there is a good opportunity to do the testing

[PJ-27]

Re: Wooden Robot Class

I don't want to limit spinning weapons because it just puts people off.

If someone does make some monster metal spinning weapon then firstly no one will want to fight it, and secondly it won't last 2seconds if it's held together with MDF. It'll just destroy itself.

I've bought my MDF, hopefully get the chassis built in the next few days.

[ewan]

Re: Wooden Robot Class

I don't want to limit spinning weapons because it just puts people off.

This is the opposite to how I'd feel.

Also MDF is a silly material to use for anything structural- were you to mount a spinning disc on a bulky plywood frame, perhaps with a couple of metal braces as your concept rules appear to allow, then you could get away with weapons nigh-on as powerful as your standard featherweight, not really in the spirit of a budget knock-around class.

wood working tools such as saws etc and for those to be limited to their design rpm

This however does seem a bit of a restriction. I reckon the middle ground of only permitting low-powered spinners (determined by rpm & mass), irrespective of what they're spinning is a fair compromise

[Bodge Job]

Re: Wooden Robot Class

I have been interested in this class for a while, and also what to know about what people think about spinner rules/regulations (if theres any) as its somthing I could easily make with out to much planning... And I have a peice of 2mm steel, which I think I could make a spinning blade out of, and the thinness should keep the Kenetic energy down, would people be ok with that weapon? It would only be going a few thousand rpm?