"Building My First Robot"

Hi, Im Gainzy
Im wanting to build my first bot but i dont really know where to start. can anyone help me with information about what i should be using to build a robot on the cheap side as i dont want to blow alot on my first robot.
Thank You
Gainzy

Eyup didnt know u was gunna build one. A simple and cheapish bot for you would be a rambot / push bot, a basic wedge to get under opponents and push them about or a heavily armored box on wheels that you can use as a battering ram.Either with 2wd or 4wd.

Ok Cheers Tom. Can anyone give me a rough list of components and stuff i will need to collect.

Welcome to the forum Paul.

My advice would be to go down the list of topics on the forum and read all new robot threads. There is literally one that was still going just over a week ago.

This saves people typing the same information again and again. If you have any specific questions then post these.

Will have a look gary.

cheers

(Message edited by Gainzy on October 14, 2008)

Robot chassis
Armour
Drive motors
Gearboxes
speed controllers
Wheels
Radio Gear
Wiring
Removeable link
LED
Batteries
Chargers
Power Supply for charger if charger requires one.
Maybe Failsafes depending on radio gear and speed controllers

We could just talk on msn. but that would be stupid wouldnt it?

yeah we should use msn like we have for the last however many years. but where i get all that stuff? u can answer me on msn if you like.

Y didnt u tell me u was buildin one? hopefully ill have more than 1 bot at nottingham, kinda unlikely but at least u can have a play if i do.
Ill list a few places for parts on here incase sumone can use it sometime.
These are some of the websites that you might use:
http://www.fightingrobots.co.ukwww.fightingrobots.co.uk (Look in for sale section or post in the wanted section)
http://www.xbotz.comwww.xbotz.com (Motors, Speed controllers, Batteries and other services)(unsure what hes got now tho)
http://www.technobots.co.ukwww.technobots.co.uk (pretty much everything you need)
http://www.ebay.co.ukwww.ebay.co.uk (You never know what your going to find here)

Right let me try help you find some bits that might help you. ill list things that you will be usefull on a cheap build.

(Motors, Gearboxes, Batteries, Chargers.)
Buy 2 or 4 (depending how many drive wheels you want) Cheap 9.6v cordless drills like these Challenge drills from Argoshttp://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/7110333/c_1/1%7Ccat_9554618%7CDIY+power+tools%7C9554865/Trail/searchtext%3ECHALLENGE.htmhttp://www.argos.co.uk/static/Produc...at_9554618%7CD IY+power+tools%7C9554865/Trail/searchtext%3ECHALLENGE.htm . These will supply you with Motors With already attatched gearboxes, Batteries and chargers.
This might be helpful to you if you go with the drills.http://www.robowars.org/wikka/DrillHacking101http://www.robowars.org/wikka/DrillHacking101

(Wheels)
Email james james@robochallenge.co.uk he sells 100mm or 75mm wheels that screw onto the drill motors with no modifications. or make your own

(LED, Wire, Removeable Links)
All of these items can be found at http://www.technobots.co.ukwww.technobots.co.uk or go somewhere like maplin for the wire and LED and buy some connectors like the Andersons powerpole connectors and make a removeable link yourself.

(Speed Controllers)
You can pick up cheap ones on http://www.ebay.co.ukwww.ebay.co.uk just check they are a high enough Voltage and Amp rating. Or make your own Using servos and switches(very rough but can be done).

(Radio Gear)
Ebay is the cheapest option but make sure its 40MHz Yo could get 2.4GHz but you wont need that. or http://www.technobots.co.ukwww.technobots.co.uk

(Armour, Chassis)
Decide what your robot is going to be like first, Steel, Aluminium, Polycarbonate, HDPE, Allsorts can be used so when you decide what material you want we can help you locate it.


This forum is a great place to find parts for your robot just create a thread in the wanted section. sombody will have summot that you need. Your will get some right bargains on here and if you ask nicely people might be able to get you offcuts for your armour and stuff.

ohh and btw i dont know what the hell im talking about... a professional will come and help you later. or just read through the forums like Gary said.

You better be drivin steady when we go to Nottingham Gainzy, if i dont have a second robot by the saturday morning of the event ill be building one in your car while we drive there.So steady ok? I dont fancy getting a screwdriver stuck in my hand cos ur swerving through into the other lanes trying bag of sweets from the other side of the car while your doing 90 down the motorway. Ahh the good old days when you were risking our lifes for a sweet.

lmao, i remember that Download 05 or 06 cant member exact date tho, i didnt die so its ok lol.

just want to thank a John Frizell, for that draft it will prove very useful in building my first bot

(Message edited by Gainzy on October 15, 2008)

G-Man we have a team email and messenger account now: txrobotics@hotmail.co.uk . Put it on ur profile. Just put it like i have on my profile or summot.

If you want a 2.4Ghz set take a look at
http://www.robotcombat.com/store.htmlhttp://www.robotcombat.com/store.html
they are doing the 5 channel spektrum, ideal for a beginner.

its a good start, will have a fish around for some other bits too on there, quite cheap. needs to be cause am not rich anymore now i live alone, well away from ma mam.

Huh? make sure the robot weighs no more than 13.6kg. The removeable link must be easily accessible without the use of tools and also accessible even if the robot is upsidedown. also write LINK in a colour that will stand out where the link is located so it can be easily found. Make sure the LED is Visible. You will need a cradle for the robot to sit on at events, this can be a few bits of wood nailed together so the robot will sit on it without the wheels touching the bench or floor. You will need some rubber or foam or something covering any sharp edges while the robot is in the pits. Dont put your reciever too close to your motors as it can cause interference and try to twist wires together whenever possible this will help reduce interference. Read FRA Safety and rules pages before building. Ask as many questions as you want to. you will always get help here.

im thinkin of axe bot, i got my design but am just wondering, if the axe gets hit from back will it dislodge the axe or so so. cause if so im going to add extra piece on back but that means thinner armour cause of it.

what? it doesnt need protection. make it so it can swing back and hit them behind you aswell.