ideas are cheap. what next?

[Bacon Wizard]

There must be gazzilions (no, really!) of people like me, of all ages.

Ok, NOBODY is quite like me. But what I'm getting-at, is I've never built a robot but really want-to, and that probably covers the entire fanbase, plus many who've never heard of robot fighting.

I've got tons of ideas, some of them are even sensible and might work. But I don't have a tool-shed, nor a ton of money. There are specific engineering skills to robotics which I don't have, although I have a reasonable brain on me.

I suspect this also represents a large section of those who are at the fringes of this activity.

So how about something to get those people into the arena?

Is there a way of tool-shed and resource sharing? A way for people to find each other and team-up?

This forum seems like a good start in itself, but if folks like me are to stop being back-seat drivers and learn that our naive and grand ideas were.. well naive and grandoise! Then that education needs to be made via being soundly trounced by more experienced bots and their teams.

Personal ads section for lone-ranger wanna-be roboteers maybe?

[typhoon_driver]

A good way to get started would be something like what jamie and tony are selling, the scot bots kits

https://www.facebook.com/ScotBots/app_194374697299935

As proven at the champs, more than tough enough to mix it up with the spinners and a good base to add a basic weapon to. I'm sure either one will be along to promote themselves but £275 is about what you would spend getting a basic machine together as it is.

[PJ-27]

Where are you based?

Most people start a build diary and upload, drawings, CADs (computer and cardboard), pictures and their musings. Then most other forum users very helpful and will tell you what's a good idea and what's not.
The other option is to look at other people's build diaries and see what they did and how it worked out.

There are a few tried and tested design considerations that most people stick to, unfortunately being adventurous can be expensive!

[Bacon Wizard]

I are in Shrewsbury, Shropshire. Not my fault. (Love it really)

I'm already beginning to see how my ambitions may become financially painful. Thanks for the advice

[psychostorm]

There must be gazzilions (no, really!) of people like me, of all ages.

Ok, NOBODY is quite like me. But what I'm getting-at, is I've never built a robot but really want-to, and that probably covers the entire fanbase, plus many who've never heard of robot fighting.

I've got tons of ideas, some of them are even sensible and might work. But I don't have a tool-shed, nor a ton of money. There are specific engineering skills to robotics which I don't have, although I have a reasonable brain on me.

I suspect this also represents a large section of those who are at the fringes of this activity.

So how about something to get those people into the arena?

Is there a way of tool-shed and resource sharing? A way for people to find each other and team-up?

This forum seems like a good start in itself, but if folks like me are to stop being back-seat drivers and learn that our naive and grand ideas were.. well naive and grandoise! Then that education needs to be made via being soundly trounced by more experienced bots and their teams.

Personal ads section for lone-ranger wanna-be roboteers maybe?

Where are you? Have you ever met any of us in real life? Have you ever told any of us in real life that you want to build a robot?

You see, you say you want us to help but you're not making that clear to us. We 're not mind readers. We can't help those who won't help themselves.

The teaching & general design help happens between here & the live events.
Practical advice you have to ask politely your nearest team at the live events
For teammates there's always the Wanted forum.

This is a piece of university level education for you. It's SELF learning. No hand outs No past exams papers Nothing. All driven by you. Whether someone does the machining or not, You're doing the leg work.

I know what you're saying. I've been there myself. Just saying.

[Bacon Wizard]

No, to most of your questions. But coming to this 'ere forum was my first step, so I can find out where and when events are, and do there very things you mention, and to seek the aforementioned help. Although I'm not looking for everyone to do it all for me, just want to know what's out there.

I love edumacation. I love challenges.

[ady]

Their are plenty of robotslive events within an acceptable travel distance from shrewsbury. Talk to roboteers they are good at offering advice and knowledge, get something on paper share your ideas with others which will help with the do's and dont's.
It can be costly to get started but once your up and running its not so bad (and the enjoyment outweighs the cost)
If your struggling to make your own parts etc.... Their are people like Mario or robochallenge who can do fabrication work at good rates. build a fw first their great fun just check out the recent robochallenge event on youtube!

I preferred running a fw than a hw personally

[Bacon Wizard]

Ideal, thanks. I am in the process of turning my scribblings and knocked-up on MSpaint (I use it as a notepad) ideas into something a bit more useful, so that I can do exactly as you suggest. The fabrication may be invaluable.

[daveimi]

I'm the most naff person in the world at hammering, sawing straight, drilled holes being the right size and lining up and so on. But I can share with you my pearls of wisdom.

- Build a FW Rammer to get started. Trust me on this.
- Read all the build diaries.
- Read through the FW help threads. All of them.
- Get some Gimson's / Robochallenge Motor/Wheel drive setup and a Sabertooth for your first robot. Build around these.
- Get to some live events and chat to people in the pits.
- Don't rush, have 12months of reading and building for the first robot.
- Buy your own cheap tools. You can get packs of spanners, screw drivers etc for next to nothing from Tesco. My drill and angle grinder were a tenner a piece from BnQ.
- Get a £7 workmate. All the workbench you'll ever need for a featherweight.
- Anything delicate or elaborate will get battered in the arena. Only Metal or Thick Plastic will work for a body/shell etc.

[Bacon Wizard]

Thanks for this

[maddox10]

Worst case, take a long weekend, en come over to the House Of Chaos. Not the first roboteer taking a stop here, and have a lot of building fun.

[Bacon Wizard]

wow, that's a very generous offer, and one I will most certainly take you up-on at some point. I will trade you bacon knowledge for bot-building knowledge, how does that sound?

[maddox10]

Me Hungry.

[john_frizell]

If you look around you can often get power drills cheaply or for free. This is because the battery pack is usually the first thing to go and it is hard to get replacement ones so people buy new drills. People on this forum will be glad to tell you how to get the chucks off them and extract the motor and gearbox. Buy a pair of red wheels and you have the motive power for your robot.