Where to start?

[DW180]

Hi everyone,

I'm new to fighting robots but have been a huge admirer for a long time. I want to have ago at building my own now i am older and wiser(of sorts ), the trouble is where do i start the build from?. I have started gathering components such as motors, batteries, wheels, steel box section, etc. I have a descent grasp of electronics but am not quite so sharp with pneumatic's. Any help would be gratefully appreciated.

thanks

Dave

[archie2000]

before you start you may need to know it costs a lot to build heavies and a lot to transport them I have no experience with them but if you listed your parts someone could make a wiring diagram
good luck

[DW180]

hi Archie,

I did some re search into the HW category and i was suprised at the cost but its an ambition of mine ever since i was a kid so im going hell for leather and having a go . My materials list at the moment is very basic but am looking to develop it in the up and coming weeks. i have a working electric wheel chair, lots of steel box section sheet of poly carbonate, sheet of aluminium and a large axe head. A wiring diagram would be fantastic if anyone has one and some suggestions towards my materials list would be brill

Cheers

Dave

[archie2000]

have you any idea on a speed controller?

[team_orr]

Hi Dave,

First, welcome to the forum! The people here are genuinely awesome so dont be afraid to ask questions. You would be amazed how many people come into the sport and want to build a Heavyweight straight off the bat. While i can understand why they would want to attempt this, i can tell you from experience that its no mean feit. The costs of building a Heavyweight are quite staggering, of course it depends on your parts and design but in general your looking at a couple of hundred pounds minimum, then factor in the costs of maintaining your machine (replacing armour/electronics, varied nuts and bolts etc) and you should soon understand why so many people give up mid-build. Then theres the practical aspect of it. Do you have enough time to build such a machine? Depending on the complexity of your build it could take you anywhere from a few weeks (if you work non-stop) up to several months and beyond. Do you have the space to build/keep one? Building robots takes up a lot of space, and then when your done you need to keep it and its various fittings/chargers somewhere. Finally theres the biggest problem, do you have the skill to build it? Even rambots are complicated to build/wire up, a newcomer would soon get lost amongst the intricate speed controllers and radio gear, a lot of time would be taken up buying/breaking inadequate components because you dont know what to do/how to do it, and if you factor any kind of specialist equipment (AKA Pneumatics etc) you would be fighting a uphill battle (almost vertical i would say)

If i were you i would build a featherweight. A lot has changed since Robot Wars, the featherweights are just as entertaining/action packed as the Heavyweights, for a fraction of the cost. They are cheap and simple plus they get more interest/varied competition/fights than the Heavyweights.

Just my 2 cents...
Jack

[DW180]

Hi,

Thanks for all your views and opinions(everyone) i really do appreciate everyone's input so far and continuous input. i am a very determind person and once i set my eye on something i run with it . I now have the facilities to build a machine and have not really set a time limit so i can develop at a suitable speed for me. i haven't yet given any thought to speed controllers (what type and sort to get) but i am going to look into this further are there any specific things i should consider when looking into these?

cheers
dave

[team_orr]

In that case good luck with it, however i still think it would be apt not to go in guns blazing straight away, take your time and dont rush it. Before you make any expensive purchases make sure you run it by somebody on the forum to make sure you are getting the best possible component/deal. It would be easier to help you out if we could have more details, what is your design/budget etc?

Jack

[archie2000]

wish I took my time
scour eBay to find good deals
that way you don't end up paying £60 for £20 worth of motors

[plargen]

if you have the wheelchair speed controller you could set it up like gemini did they used 2 servos to change to move the stick........ there's a pic of it in the real robots mag

[craig_colliass]

Speaking as someone who has built a heavy as a first robot. I would say it was not the best way to start, First I would go for a feather.

But if you want a heavy then I would go for a simple ram style robot this could be weaponised at a later date if it survives!

This brings me to the next thing, with heavies that will do seldom dose do If it can break it probably will. so keep everything as tough as you can.


welcome and good luck