Feather weight

[Pugster2002]

I really want to make a feather weight but I'm not sure how I'm saving up my money if I could maby have a list of parts to build one or something like that please reply

[Max]

Hi pugster,
For a simple feather weight I would recommend:
-2 Argos 12v cordless drill motors (12.50 each)
-use the 12v batteries from the cordless drills
-2 blue marine escs off eBay ( about £25 I think)
- 2 100mm Robo-challenge blue wheels
- giantcod transmitter and receiver (£25)
- v-tail mixer off eBay (£5?)
- 10mm hdpe armour
-5 mm hdpe base

Probably looking at a minimum of £120

[Bodge Job]

Most feather weights have the same stuff in them as other robots, they have motors with a reduction gear box (makes the spinning slower, and gives it more force), going to a wheel or wheels, and then a speed controller connects the motors to the battery and receiver.
Often motors out of cordless drills are used, because they all ready come with the right reduction, and you can buy wheels that fit straight to their shafts. Or you could use the gimpson motors, which are thought to be stronger than the drill motors. The wheels can be found either on the robo challenge website, or the gimpson website. For Speed controllers (also know as ESC's) people often use electronises (simple and rugged), sabertooths (versatile but slightly weakly made), scorpions (half way inbetween the other two esc's), or some others. And for construction materials, HDPE (a strong type of plastic) is often used, as it's easy to machine because it can be cut with wood saws, and screws together with wood screws. And I think you already have a radio control system, from your servo powered ant (unless it's the wrong type)
Hope this helps.

Edit:you beat me to it!

[archie2000]

have a check through the whole featherweight section.
Loads of people ask the same question, and get loads of the same answers.
for a first fw best follow the advice you have been given argos drill motors and batteries and an electronize esc. £150 probarbly for a nice one

[shakesc]

Max's list is a good one. Its would give you the parts to make a big ant

[archie2000]

Max had a good shopping list
Alex had a good explanation of a fw
only thing is go for 10/12+mm thick armour for a real competition ready bot

[JED1999]

Can you put up a link for parts of eBay?

[shakesc]

Search for 2x Marine 50A Speed Controller ESC for RC Racing Boat

Not sure how much true control you get on these

Australians are doing interesting stuff hacking cheap brushless controllers into brushed ones

[jonny]

the control is pretty good but there is a slight pause when going from forwards to reverse. i used black ones that claimed 50 amps in both direction, very tempermental.

[plargen]

I've got 2 of the blue 1s running my 4x4 robot and i find it a bit twitchy