Second Chance Robotics

Hello all

Been here for quite a while, but I'd like to start a new build thread for my new team. The concept is simple; many robots get through parts and materials, often going to waste. Why not make use of them?

Eco-friendly too!

After the mess of my old build thread, I'd like to start fresh with a whole line of new bots. As a running motiff, the names of all the robots who previously used the parts will be somewhere (Looking into laser cutting a little plaque to drill onto the side)

My featherweight (though it really didnt look the part) is living proof of this. Made from a battered old shell, drill motors from a middleweight planned 7 years ago, and a donated ESC; all held together with zip ties. Drove it down to Manchester, and took vitrually no damage. Lots of paint chips and a small bend where Drumroll hit it, but nothing a hammer and vinyl can't fix! (thanks Matt). It was running just as well as before, maybe the gears got a bit mashed towards the end, but still ran without any issues

But let's face facts, it was a bodge job.
I honestly felt embarassed talking to other roboteers about it, and didn't socialise as much as I hoped. Thank you to everyone who was polite, I think I recall Michael (Kaizen) saying he was trying to be polite about it. Team Hydra also gave a lot of great constructive criticism, it was nice to surprise them with my interesting repair methods (sawing part the wheel off to stop it catching was a highlight).

Next event is Grantham, though that currently lies in the balance. If I can go, the featherweight will enter with a new coat of vinyl to hide all the battle scars; hopefully it'll look good as new, can'y be any worse right? If I can't go, I'll likely be taing it apart and giving it either a good rebuild, or parts for another robot (trust me, it'll have a good home).

Speaking of which, the next project!
My next robot will be a middleweight of all classes. I don't want to reveal much but suffice to say, it will be put to some good use. I want to thank Ace Robotics so much for the chassis, ESC and motors; it wouldn't be possible without them. Same goes for Matt: the motors and advice are invaluable. The design is a basic aluminium slab padded out with HDPE (the panels on my featherweight fit it to the millmetre). The theme is the two middleweight revivals that never happened in 2009 and 2011. More specifically, Voodoo Chile. Always loved the design and I've been lucky enough to have been offered the clamp/lifting mechanism from Rory. I'm not 100% sure on the condition however; if it does need a rebuild I have something there for measurements and references. That's one of the weapons at least, the plan is to make them interchangeable. You see, the original Voodoo had a wheelchair motor-powered axe which didn't turn out too well. However, I plan on replicating the design but with more durable parts (Should work if my observations are correct). Hopefully I'll have both made for its first event, but we'll have to see... :D

Thanks for reading if you've made it to the end!

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I think I recall Michael (Kaizen) saying he was trying to be polite about it.

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At least yours stood up to the punishment in the arena and came out in one piece - never knock a basic robot, less to go wrong and easy to put right if something does break ;)

Hope to see Oberon (and maybe Voodoo?) at Grantham!

If I go, Oberon will compete without a doubt (I'll also bring the ant along just in case, that was half the fun at Manchester). But Voodoo, we'll see. I currently have to go out for a new drill; the last one was cannibalised for parts, and to sort out batteries. Team Chimera has some great nicads we discussed at Manchester; just a power supply to sort out.

In any case, I'll bring it along to see what can be done; it'll likely not be competing, but may as well take it. Work on it may have to wait a while due to my upcoming exams, but I should have 2 months off by July. I'll try and work on it whenever I can until then.

Ok, so update time!

I'm in a bit of a predicament.
I have two sets of wheelchair motors, one pair being more powerful/durable than the other. This I knew, but I'm debating which pair to use with the drive/weapon (wheelchair motor axe).

On one hand, I could use the beefier motors for the drive, but this means my weapon's more likely to break and will have less power; I can kiss self-righting goodbye (though it killed the last Voodoo). It'll still have a nice amount of power to it however the sudden acceleration and potential gear grinding when it hits something may be an issue (Probably fixable with some programming). Still quite a viable option though, I would much rather have a nice drive and weaker weapon than Vice Versa. Another thing to consider is the fact I have no idea where the bigger motors can be bought with the gearbox (They were bought off somebody who recently quit building robots, then donated to me, thanks again!). So knackering the gearboxes by running past its limits ain't ideal for currently irreplaceable motors.

Hey look, I've decided now :)


More on the drive, I've elected to mount my wheels at the back, as that helps with running invertible and will help me ride off of opponent's wedges. May even pull a Hobgoblin, and throw some castors on the top to ensure the wheels are on the ground upside down.
Speaking of Hobgoblin.....

Let me welcome the newest part for this robot. Pending payment, I shall be using the wedge on the front; it has a nice gap in the middle, not to mention 6mm of almost untouched Hardox glory.

Laying it all out, all the parts come from (Including all known owners in order):
I'll probably be expanding this as time goes on, then lasercutting the finished product onto a panel

Battlekit chassis - Team Ace, Katch, Team Ace
HDPE armour - Harry DT
Cytron ESC - Katch, Team Ace
Clamp/Lift mechanism - Tom Armitage, Calum Jones, Harry Hills, Rory Mangles
Drive motors and wheels - Katch, Team Ace
Weapon ESCs - Jarvis Callister
Weapon motors - Matt Smith
Wedge (pending payment) - Harry Hills
Batteries (pending testing) - Team Chimera

I'll forever be thankful to everyone, it's a true example of the kindness in this wonderful community. Not just the parts, but all the invaluable advice I've received in the 18 months of doing this. And sorry for being a pain at times :p

Oh, and middleweight 2......

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I would much rather have a nice drive and weaker weapon than Vice Versa.

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This. I had the same dilemma with Kaizen in so much as I could use either the 500W motors for the drive and have a weaker CIM motor drive the weapon or have the CIM motors doing the driving (which would have meant I could have had it rolling by now) and use one of the 500W motors for the weapon.

This list looks good, just gotta get it built now? ;)

So progress??

Well sort of. After realising my previous setup with the motors mounted below the chassis wouldn't work, it threw me back to square 1. Plus this time has given me the opportunity to rethink the robot in general. For starters, it'll only be running the wedge for Chatham, as that's the most competitive/durable setup possible. Secondly, I've opted against mounting the motors at the far rear (Already started cutting the corners off, hence that chunk missing) because that would leave me extremely exposed to an attack, not to mention give me awful manoeuvrability and bugger-all grip. Not good right?

My new setup will put the motors inside the chassis, requiring only a pair of rectangular slits in the thin alu, plus making it a world more competitive. That'll mean trimming an inch or two from the motor mounts (literally nothing else will fit inside if not), but a really easy job. Secondly, the wedge will be mounted on a line of L brackets, obviously more acute. I may mount the brackets on a slab of 25mm HDPE

(Thanks Danny)

to provide some shock mounting, but that all depends on time/work involved/how actually necessary it is. As for the array of nasty spinners signed up, a big-ass M10 threaded lance should do the trick - hoping to act as a remote-controlled locking bar.

You may have seen the HDPE panels bolted to the side (previously my beloved featherweight Oberon, though designed to be bolted back together), which will give me some kind of protection against the opponents. Mainly they're designed to protect the eyewateringly expensive

to-replace side rails from damage (may just cut new Hardox panels where it gets damaged). The electronics are currently on the dining room table, which beg for some use. The solution? Well...
Decent thickness stainless steel, low-to-the-ground lip around the edge, almost ready to go, and a large thwacking arm: why a saucepan of course! Thus Cunning Pan is born!

Most of the work to do will actually be done in about 12 hours give or take; so expect an update tomorrow (technically today, but A Mamma Mia marathon happened :p).

Should have it running by the weekend, I want to get most of the work done before school starts again (and exams).

Thanks for reading!

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