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I was browsing through previous threads about making a pneumatic featherweight flipper but after discovering the difficulty and danger I think I have decided against that idea. My next choice would be a lifter robot but I wondered if it would be possible to use some kind of motor (please give model and make) to be able tho throw opponents out of the arena without using pneumatics. I also plan to make this flipper back hinged on a relatively cheap budget.
Have a look at the Tormenta 2 and Tormenta 3. They use a heavily geared down motor to act as a lifter to toss opponents out the ring. Tormenta 2 used a dewalt drill and gearbox combo while Tormenta 3 uses a more advanced brushless motor and a 64:1 off the shelf planetary gearbox.
Tormenta 2 build thread - http://www.fightingrobots.co.uk/thre...d-diary/page25
Tormenta 3 doesn't seem to have a build thread but there are some images of the internals floating around.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y6nsj7W9LmM - Probably not the best example, but here you can see how Tormenta does a flick as it drives at the wall to try and toss opponents out.
Sewersnake/Stinger is the heavyweight machine that Tormenta 2 and 3 are based on, so look at their fights and there is also a video explaining what is inside Sewersnake. In effect its just a heavily geared down motor connected to a long arm/scoop.
There has been discussion recently of a spring-loaded weapon like Diotor's, that's wound back by a motor and released. Perhaps not the most reliable or easy to make, but neither are pneumatics.
Electric axes are done in the past, with succes.
With the right motor/gearratio combination an electric flipper is possible
Maybe it's a crazy idea, but perhaps a flywheel-powered flipper could be a thing? You know, where you have an internal flywheel that's built up to speed with a brushless motor, and then you dump that energy into a flipper through some kind of clutch. It would also have a nice internal gyroscopic effect.
Those are an absolute pig to make even for an experienced roboteer. There are only a handful of robots in the world that use that kind of system.Quote:
Originally Posted by R9000
Yeah I know the energy transfer would be quite a problem with so much acceleration, the clutch and any drive train would have to be rock-solid. Plus there's a spool-up time. Which robots use them?
Thanks for the reply. I had heavily reaserched tormenta 1 but hardly taken notice of tormenta 2. It's great to know that this idea is possible and that many have done it in the past. I'll hopefully try and take a look at some of these robots you mentioned as I think I previously seen some of sewer snake and the insides but didn't pay close attention to it. One question that I would like to ask is do you think that a cordless drill motor combined with some 6 MM chain would hold enough power to compete with some of the other flipper out there? And is it worth using 2 motors for increased power?
best regards
jamie
I don't think a drill motor would make a flipper as much as a lifter. Two motors would definitely increase the power, but you'd have to connect them carefully so they don't run at different speeds or in different directions.Quote:
Originally Posted by jamietoeg
Thanks fr the reply. Do you think that the Argos value range of motors would do it or would you go more upmarket for something like dewalts. Are chains also a good way of attaching the motors and do you know a good eBay link/store where I can buy them and sprockets?
For a weapon I would look to heavier duty brushless motors.
Do you think that would work as you would need to constantly change the direction? Would you use a relay for this and can you suggest some of these motors and where you can find them for a price preferably lower than £30 per motor? Sorry for my limited knowledgeable of electronics.Quote:
Originally Posted by maddox10
jamie
Brushless motors can't work with a relay, for those you need an dedicated ESC.
And, no, £30 won't cut the cheese
Overall for a first robot do you think it's worth just trying to build a lifter and after I'm a bit more competent trying to u se pneumatics for my second? I know you need a special brushless esc but I'm thinking that connecting the outputs of the esc to a relay would allow you to change direction by swapping over 2 wires. What motor do you think would do it and what gearbox would you go for if I was still going for an electric flipper? Sorry for all the questions😀
I'd definitely go with an all electric robot for a first, and while a simple pneumatic setup is not that difficult to build, you would need to get more experience first, and someone with knowledge in pneumatics physically guide you.