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Thread: How to make an antweight

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  1. #1
    Hello everyone,

    This has come up a lot on the FRA and robotwars 101 so I'm going to make a guide on how to make an antweight robot.
    So let's get started,

    The Basics

    Antweight robots have to weigh under 150g and fit in a 4 cube.
    for more info on the rules visit
    http://www.antweight.co.uk/rules.htm

    Preparing the robot

    Building an antweight can be very dangerous if you use tools incorrectly, so if in doubt get a parent to do it or supervise you.

    First of all you will want to think of the type of robot you want to build e.g. pusher, axe, spinner(not recommended for beginners) or a flipper. In this guide we will be making a pusher.

    Then start doing sketches on what you will want your robot to look like.

    Then you will need to get all your components together.

    Parts

    This is what I used

    dsm2 rx http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Orange-6ch-Re ... 27c1a4ad3e
    Spektrum dx5e http://www.horizonhobby.co.uk/aeroonlin ... 6dx5e.html
    160mah 1s lipo http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/stor ... _Etc_.html
    300rpm micro motors http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/6V-300RPM-Tor ... 3366bf48bd
    Sabertooth 2x5a http://www.technobotsonline.com/saberto ... 30698.html
    1.2mm aluminium http://www.forwardmetals.co.uk/acatalog ... mm_48.html
    2mm HDPE http://www.directplasticsonline.co.uk/H ... Black/2mm/

    Tools needed

    Saw of some sort(preferably a hack saw)
    scissors
    tin snips
    ruler
    scribe
    soldering iron and solder
    drill(hand or pillar)
    2.5mm and 3mm drill bit
    m2.5 bolts and nuts
    m3 bolts and nuts


    Let's get started

    Step 1

    I made the base out of 1.2mm aluminium to cut it I used a hack saw. I marked out an 90mm x 110mm rectangle. I then marked 10 mm from the 90mm edge and folded both sides. To fold the sides I put it in a vice and hit it with a hammer

    Here is it on my hand for size


    Step 2

    I then got all the components together, this is what they look like
    The sabertooth 2x5a with micro motors on

    The reciver(rx)



    You can either use 2 1s lipos wired in series or 1 2s lipo



    The wheels I used are Lego wheels that I modded so they screw onto the shaft of the motor directly



    Step 3


    I then placed all the components on the base to see where they would go


    Step 4

    I then made mounts for the motors out of 10mm x 45mm strips of 2mm HDPE.
    I marked out 6mm from the edge then 10mm, then 12mm, then 10mm again.
    I then got my soldering iron to heat up across the line to bend them at right angles to make this.



    I held the motor in with double sided sticky pads.

    Step 5

    I marked out 5mm from the edge a 12 x 30mm rectangle, I then cut it out for the wheels to go.


    I did this on both sides.

    Step 6

    I drilled 4 3mm holes(2 on either side) on the motor mounts to attatch them to the base. I then drilled through the plastic and into the metal. I then bolted the 2 together by using m3x5 bolts and fastened them with 3mm nuts




    Step 7

    I then needed to mount the sabertooth 2x5a. I couldn't mount it directly to the base as it is metal and it would short circuit. So I made a 2mm Hdpe base. I measured around the sabertooth, marked it on the 2mm hdpe and cut it out with scissors. I then drilled 2 2.5mm holes, where they are on the sabertooth, into the hdpe and the into the aluminium. I then fastened them together using m2.5x10mm bolts and nuts



    I then got the rx and put 2 layers of tape on the bottom of it so it couldnt short circuit, and then used double sided sticky pads to stick it on the motor mount




    Total weight so far


    Step 8

    I used double sided sticky pads to hold the battery down


    Step 9

    I used 2mm HDPE as armour. I marked out a 160mm x 90mm rectangle and cut it out with scissors



    I then marked 30mm from either end of the hdpe.
    !!THE NEXT PART IS DANGEROUS!!

    I got a pan and put some boiling water in and then put the HDPE in. I then let it heat up for 30 seconds then took it out and bent along the line to 90*. I did this on either side to make this


    Step 10

    Put the armour on your robot


  2. #2

  3. #3

  4. #4
    Hi,
    I am completely new to this, but would love to get involved and build one. I was wondering if anyone was willing to add an update to this sticky with working links, a detailed part list and a simple photographic how to/wiring? Maybe just a build out of cardboard.

    I don't want to pay for a kit, but then I don't know enough to get receivers and controls that would work together etc. Can anyone help me out? I could design a CAD frame easily enough, it is more the cheap internals for something like a flipper or horizontal blade ant I need help with.

  5. #5
    Even something like this with the other parts needed would be helpful http://www.fightingrobots.co.uk/thre...antweight-kits

  6. #6

  7. #7
    Quote Originally Posted by daveimi View Post
    Hi, there is a forum dedicated to ant weights :-)

    http://robotwars101.org/forum/

    If you chat to these guys they're well up on building ants cheap :-)
    Thank you. I see they have kits.
    The controller side of things confuses me a little i.e. how do I buy/use controllers and crystals?

  8. #8

  9. #9
    Quote Originally Posted by daveimi View Post
    When you say controller do you mean speed controller or the transmitter you hold.
    I meant radio transmitter.

  10. #10

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