Which is easier?

**swanny** · 21st December 2012, 20:53

Which is easier to make and/or more exciting- An Axe like Terrorhurtz or flipper like Firestorm or Ripper

**Ellis** · 21st December 2012, 21:03

I don't think easiness is involved in this. All three robots mentioned are pneumatic-based. Pneumatics aren't easy, or certainly not for a first robot, unless you have prior experience.

To answer your question, I'd say a flipper is perhaps less hard. As a mechanism they're more simple than axes, and there are probably 10 flippers for every axe bot, so lots of experienced people around.

As far as exciting goes, in my opinion, an axe weapon takes it, purely because there are so many flippers.

I would suggest starting with something more straight forward than pneumatic-anything, as they aren't necessarily the answer for an exciting robot. That said, what you build is up to you, good luck and post pictures. :P

**swanny** · 21st December 2012, 21:12

thank you! i was honestly thinking flipper and me and my friend are making it and are having an argument:

I want a Firestorm style flipper and my friend wants a Ripper style flipper :L

**Ellis** · 21st December 2012, 21:20

I think a front-hinged flipper (Firestorm) is a more tactical weapon than a rear-hinged (Ripper) one. The former is consistently up-and-forwards whilst the latter is up-and-anywhere. Both types have been successful, though.

**swanny** · 21st December 2012, 21:35

my reasoning is Firestorms flipper is more practical! it just pushes them over brilliantly

**Eventorizon** · 21st December 2012, 22:16

Front hinged flippers like firestorm also have the advantage that they self right in one go, unlike the back hinged which can toss themselves maybe 5/6 times before they get back on their wheels.

We have just got out hands on some pneumatic bits for our 3rd machine and we can't decide: Axe or Flipper. An axe is harder to engineer and not as effective in terms of knock out as a flipper but looks so much better and produces more interesting fights; IMO.

**swanny** · 21st December 2012, 22:31

well all apart from Mute :P and a axe is better looking but very ineffective apart from Terrorhurtz

**Ellis** · 21st December 2012, 23:02

Pneumatic axes aren't ineffective! I'd fight Little Flipper any day of the week but I'd need a pretty big incentive to put Tormenta 2 in the arena with Little Hitter!

I personally hope you both build axes.

Search on Youtube for Mangi. It's a powerful US FW electric axe-bot. Again, it is very effective.