Weapons

Thanks guys,I diddent think that a hammer would work better than a axe :o
Can some one give an answer to my scissor jack question?I need to know how It would lift to see how it should be mounted.
Thanks everyone!

Ok, scissor jack lifting methods: :)

Obviously the shape of your robot affect how you integrate the mechanism into your bot but Ive done a couple of setups based on standard lifting shapes (excuse the crudeness of the drawings - but Im only half awake :P)

The basic setup that I would probably use is similar to this: http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c367/ayrshirerobotics/lift_1.jpg?t=1169006215http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c3...g?t=1169006215

The threaded rod is attached to your motor. The rod threads into the nut (which comes as part of the lifting jack mech - usually at one of the pivot ends) and the nut, which if I remember rightly has a bolt on either side of it, is bolted to the lifting arm. As the motor rotates the rod, it causes the nut to move up and since the arm is pivoting at the back, this causes the front end to rise - and you have your lifter.

Its also possible to have your lifting arm as a straight arm rather than having the angle in it:
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c367/ayrshirerobotics/lift_2.jpg?t=1169007350http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c3...g?t=1169007350

This would restrict the travel a bit, but would allow you to have a more shallow robot (if your design suits it). As to the optional part in the drawing - I reckon it would work with both a pivoted point there or a fixed point, although the nature of the lifting arm would change I think (could someone clarify this?)

The third option I sketched up is the same as above except that the lifting arm pivot point has moved to the front so the lifter operates Cassius style:
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c367/ayrshirerobotics/lift_3.jpg?t=1169007875http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c3...g?t=1169007875

Again travel is limited and it means you have to get the whole bot on top to stand any chance of lifting them. Although, the mechanism the zeobot uses gets far more travel from a similar setup, but I cant remember exactly what the arrangement is.

Hope that is of some help,
Jamie

That was LOADS of help,really apreciate the pics too ;)
One more question,does it require welding?

I dont know what resources you have to work with, but i will put a picture on my profile of how I have made Ploughbots lifting mechanism. Its more than powerfull enoughto lift two feathers, and its very quick (the lifter in picture uses a 12v gold motor, over volted to 24v, but i now use a high power drill style motor with gearbox)

Im on my PSP at the moment coz my PC cant access the internet.The pic wont load on my PSP so il get on a PC tomorrow and look ;)

By the way,I have saws and drills and sanders.
No welder tho :sad:
I need a cheap one but my ebay account has broke.Me and a freind want to get an electric welder with both of our money.

It is possible without a welder - I dont have one and I reckon I could get away without one for making a lifting arm.

I was looking on eBay also for welders, but I found the weight of them bumps up the price considerably; so Im looking at Machine Mart at the moment for them - they appear to have a good range for reasonable prices:

http://www.machinemart.co.uk/product_105_welders_accessories/index.asphttp://www.machinemart.co.uk/product...ries/index.asp

Guys I wouldnt worry about running out and buying power tools left right and centre.

A welder, whilst a nice toy, is only useful if you use it correctly. True I taught myself to weld but I always use a bolt to support a weld in some way as I am never 100% confident in my welding skills.

To be honest, If you have a power drill, a good set of drill bits, a set of screw drivers and something to cut with (hack saw, jigsaw, grinder etc) then you are pretty much sorted. Everything else is just a bonus.

What makes building bots interesting is seeing what you are able to do with the resources and knowledge available to you.

FYI my arc welder was £30 out of macro and has yet to fall to bits

Hmmmmm...what type of saw should I buy for cutting metal?

a metal cutting saw :)

really the best you could get is the slow torque metal chop saws with the coolant on them, they are probly the best, a normal metal chop saw works fine aswell, or probly the best and most verstile kind of saw is a grinder do angles chops saws cant do. but you could also use a hacksaw if your not lazy :)

Nothing like a quality hack saw with a bi-metal http://www.sandvik.com/Sandvik