Weapons

I need a weapon for my bot. I want something quite simple to build that wont bankrupt me and that can dish the damage :P
Maybe a spinning bar?
If so,how would I go about making one and where do I get the supplies needed?
Ive also been told that lifters are quite easy and can be acomplished with a drill motor.I really had my heart set on a lifter but If its really hard or expensive then il forget it for the mean time.Any suggestions?
Bear in mind I dont have a welder :sad:
Thanks

If you have your heart set on a lifter then youre pretty much in luck - they arent too difficult to build - infact a spinning bar is harder (many factors to get right, such as weapon strength, secure attachment to drive mechanism, plus the fact its kinda dangerous to test it in your kitchen) whereas a lifter can be built from existing parts and can be tested anywhere safely. Two options - one would be getting hold of a car scissor jack (£5 from a breakers yard) and attaching the threaded rod to a drill. Gives plenty of strength to lift a feather and it moves at a reasonable speed as well. Other parts of the scissor jack can be used in your lifting mech as well.

The other option is an electric window mechanism (the type which has a range of teeth on them - http://www.innerauto.com/includes/images/Inner_Auto/Honda_Parts/Honda_Parts_New/Honda_Window_Reg.jpghttp://www.innerauto.com/includes/im...nda_Parts_New/ Honda_Window_Reg.jpg). These have been used successfully in several feathers (although its been a while since) and can again easily lift a 12kg bot. Theyre available again at breakers yards or even on eBay - thats where I got mine to form the srimech mechanism on one of my new feathers. You dont need the whole mech as shown in the picture either, just really the motor, the 1/4 gear part and - if you want to utilise it as part of your lifter - the long arm attached to the 1/4 gear too. The fact that these usually have the drive mechanism contained as well means theyre less likely to fall apart.

Hope that is of some help :)

Lifters are extremely easy to build, ive built one using a drill motor and the zeobot lifter mech off technobots

Jamie you have mail :)

The siccor jack method seems easiest :)
How does it lift a bot tho? Wouldent they have to drive ontop?

(Message edited by HellsPlumber on January 15, 2007)

Also,could you suggest a simple and cheap damaging weapon? Incase they can selfright or are invertable ;)

http://www.robowars.org/wikka/ElectricAxeWeaponshttp://www.robowars.org/wikka/ElectricAxeWeapons
Maybe a little heavy for a pommy robot, but its cheap and easy to build.

Thanks. :)
do those axes do alot of damage or just a dint or to?

It depends on the armour of the robots its against. Its starting to get very, very difficult to damage the new Hardox robots with any form of weapon!
It will depend alot on the shape and weight of the axe head aswell. You could even use a more powerfull motor to make the axe hit harder.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BsC5gON85Uwhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BsC5gON85Uw

I dont know about doing too much damage, but it deffently gets everyone on your side. And its a lot of fun.
I wouldnt want to use a bigger motor. Youll either end up with the current draw being too high or putting in too much torque and not being able to keep your robot on the ground. Lighter weapons would fix that but then you wont be doing as much damage or be as entertaining.
And Ive found that hammers do more damage then axes or picks.