Rotating Weapons

Hello, this is actually my first post and I'm just getting used to everything so I hope this is in the right place.

I'm looking at soon starting work on my first robot and I was just looking for some clarification on rotating weapons. I've noticed a few references to some rotating weapons being banned as well as full body spinners, but I'm looking at a traditional circular saw blade, mounted vertically. Is this still allowed in heavyweight robots? If so, what actually is allowed in terms of those sorts of weapon?

Cheers

Circular saws, chain saws, diamond cutting disks and so on do share a weakness.

Try to cut something that is moving randomly.

Currently, any spinning weapons are banned in UK heavyweight arenas. Pretty much everything you might want to use counts as a spinning weapon, the only exception is: "Full body spinning robots with an eccentric mass, are excluded from this section unless they spin over 500 revolutions per minute." FRA Build Rules, Section 11.

Also, 99% of robots do not use off the shelf saw blades, they are just to fragile. There are some that do, namely robots like SOB and Gloomy, both American bots, but there are currently none in the UK.

A final note, if this is your first robot build... don't build a Heavyweight. Start with a Featherweight, or a Beetleweight. The costs tend to spiral out of control on your first few builds and building a HW, even when you know exactly what you are doing and can call in a few favours, will cost at least £1000, usually triple that. Start with a FW or BW and then that way you can build whatever you like as we have a Class 1 arenas for Feathers and Beetles, ie: Full Combat with Insane Spinners, Flippers, Crushers etc. Much more fun!

Cheers for your replies. I remember that they aren't the most affective of weapons, but I guess it was more a sort of impulsive idea to think of sticking one on the back.

I guess if that is the case and since I've heard that about starting with lighter machines, I will probably start with a featherweight then. I did actually begin building one when I was 17 for an A Level project, but due to ill health it was never completed and ultimately I dismantled the little work I had done. I guess I could start on that one again as I probably still have a lot of the plans and research stored away somewhere.

Regardless, I know it'll be a quite a challenge but a good education for me. I'm an electrician with a strong interest in electrical engineering, I also regularly work with various metals in my spare time as I'm always creating some project or other. I obviously have some knowledge, but probably a totally insufficient amount to complete this without learning more. So come to think of it, I definitely think the featherweight option makes much more sense as a way to get more knowledge and experience.

Build a robot, even if it is just a pushing box, and get yourself to a live event with it. You will be instantly welcomed as a fellow builder and when you see everyone's designs in the pits, and fight with them in the arena, you will get more ideas than you thought possible. There are both featherweight and beetle events this month - have a look in the live events section. Learn by doing!

Hi All,

I am contributing to this thread with a few additional questions... I have been referring to the regulations for a new featherweight build. I am looking into a design which incorporates an overhead circular cold saw that uses an off the shelf tungsten carbide tipped (TCT) blade. The idea is to have a mildly effective weapon to multiple materials that can be swapped/ replaced easily.

When referring to the build regulations it is stated in section 12.3 that circular saws are allowed as long as the manufacturers specs are kept to. However in section 12.4 it states that "Commercially manufactured, hardened steel blades that may shatter are not allowed". Most TCT blades are made from a wear resistant steel that is then tempered (heat treatment that increases ductility as well as decreases brittleness). Therefore I would appreciate some clarification if this type of blade is allowed as the process of manufacturing helps prevent shatter issues as seen in past robot designs.

Also I would like to know if this type of weapon is in the spirit of the competition as I would like to use this design at as many featherweight events as is possible once built. Any feedback would be appreciated.

If your sawblade will not shatter, it should be fine. Basically anything that's not hardened steel or angle grinder discs shouldn't shatter, though make sure you check before you buy. Tempered steel should be fine, you just don't want hardened steel that will explode and send shards of very sharp metal flying in all directions. That said, it's totally down to the event organiser, so you'll want to ask them before you sign up.
Sawbots are on the up recently, seemingly inspired by the success of bots like Red Devil, Skorpios and Sawblaze, so of course a circular saw is in the spirit of the competition. :) As for what competitions you want to use them at, I'm not sure if sawblades are allowed at non-spinner events, since they're quite damaging but they don't carry a lot of inertia like most spinning weapons. A sure bet would be an Extreme Robots event (which allows spinners) or if you're in the Leeds/Sheffield area, Robodojo has promised a spinner-capable feather arena by October. Best of luck with your build!