First Time Bot Builder/Buyer

[xtreme]

Hi, Im Tom.
Im looking to build or buy a combat style robot. i have never had a bot but i have always wanted one since watching the first series or robot wars, now i have a job and i can start saving. im looking to build/buy a simpleish bot with most likely a spinning weapon as i have herd thats the most simple weapon choice. anyone any ideas what sort or price i could pick one up for or would it be alot cheaper to build it myself? and is there any websites or forums that have used bots for sale. any weapon or no weapon would be ok its not that i prefere spinning weapons but it seem to be the easy option if i do end up having to build one.
i would buy one in need or repair or part built but i realy suck at electrical and radio stuff but id be ok with the chassis and body etc. it would be ideal to buy all the insides of a bot ready to go just wanting popping into a chassis but i know its very unlikely.
thanks for looking.

(kinda rushed this post so sorry if it dunt make much sence ill fix it later)

[aliboy]

im looking to build/buy a simpleish bot
First you will have to decide what weightcalss your bot is going to be In , for you i would go for a 12kg featherweight , the only other popluar option is the 100kg heavyweight , but the cost alot of money.

with most likely a spinning weapon as i have herd thats the most simple weapon choice

A simple bot for you would be a rambot , a basic heavily armored bot with 2wd or 4wd. A spinning weapon is now way easy for a first time builder , they can be difficult to build and also very dangerous to operate !
And also due to recent rule changes it will be hard for you to find an arena to fight in with a spinning weapon . Its better to go simple with your first bot.

anyone any ideas what sort or price i could pick one up for or would it be alot cheaper to build it myself?

There are not many featherweights that go on sale , maybe rarely it happens. Some people on this forum have companies that will build you a robot ,
they are James Baker of X Bots and James Cooper of RoboChallenge , they can build a bot for you but no idea about the price .Building your own is the most popular option as it lets you design whatever you want and you gain experience while building that you can carry on to other robots

but i realy suck at electrical and radio stuff

I suck at that aswell so ill let more experienced roboteers talk about it

i started off from a zeobot kit, from technobots got me started, first off it was a ram bot then i put a lifter in to it

you could buy all the bits i think ewan does a nice package from gimson robotics, and then the chaepist armour would be wood,

check my website gives some more info about my expierence

http://www.psychoflingteam.co.ukwww.psychoflingteam.co.uk

hope this is of use
alex

[psycho_fling]

by the way im not an expierenced roboteer but in 2 years of being in the sport ive built 3 feathers

[typhoon_driver]

Tom,

1) Start with a featherweight (12kg)
2) Go for a ram bot. This will allow you to understand the radio gear, the electronics, and the general principles of bot building.
3) As for the electronics, as long as you understand the difference between a parallel and a series circuit you should do ok!
4) ASK ASK ASK. There is a huge wealth of knowledge on this forum and you will save yourself a hell of a lot of hastle if you arent sure about something.
5) Most people have websites on their profiles detailing how they got started and the build etc afterwards. Read as many of these as you can.

Finally, welcome to the club and best of luck!

[storm]

Tom - where are you based ?

Youre more than welcome to come along to one of our shows and catch up with whats going on and get up close with some of the machines.

Ed
http://www.extremefightingmachines.comhttp://www.extremefightingmachines.com

[bobblebot2]

Hi Tom, welcome to the forum.

A lot of good advice has been given already, however if you want to buy a robot then http://www.ebay.co.ukeBay often has old robots on it.

--
Mike
http://www.bobblebot.co.ukhttp://www.bobblebot.co.uk
http://www.antweights.co.ukhttp://www.antweights.co.uk

[ewan]

Hi Tom,

Good to see another keen builder-to-be
Your best starting bet would be to go for the featherweight (12kg) class. Think of them as an affordable alternative to heavyweights but still perfectly able to pack a punch and feature all the range of weapons the heavyweight class has to offer. Its your choice whether to look out for old bots for sale, pay someone else to build one or to engineer a machine from scratch, Id say the latter is perhaps the more rewarding option, but best of luck with whatever you choose.

You shouldnt let the electronics put you off. Its simply a case of learning by example in most cases. Try to get to a featherweight event http://www.fightingrobots.co.uk/discus/messages/10/10.html?1176477542(check the events list) and see what other people have done with their machines. Also dont hesitate to ask questions on the forum to help you on your way.

As Alex pointed out Ive got a starter package of featherweight components that might be just what youre after to get you on your way. Have peek at my website ~ http://www.gimsonrobotics.com/shop_robot-kits.htmlhttp://www.gimsonrobotics.com/shop_robot-kits.html

All the best, Ewan

[xtreme]

what sort of price would i be able to pick up a used ready to go featherweight or heavyweight robot for? u know just so i can have a play about changin things befor i build one. that obsidian that sold look a nice piece of kit would have loved a shot at that. i have a subaru rc car ill hammer sum nails through it and see how that does me (only jokin).

[RogueTwoRobots]

Hi Tom, welcome to the forum!

To give you a rough idea:

Looking at my feather, if I was going to sell it (afraid it aint for sale! ), I would be looking for around £250 without radio gear. Thats adding up the component and material costs, plus a little extra for the actual manufacture of it - and that would be for a four wheel cordless drill drive machine with nicad batteries and Electronize speed controllers. Compared to some machines, mine is on the lower end of the scale price-wise - if it had a working weapon it would no doubt cost more. (although this doesnt mean £250 is the least you could do if for - for example, finding cheap sources of materials or components can help lower the total cost)

As for heavies, I dont really know the going rate for them as such (dont have one myself), but the few that have popped up on eBay over the past few months seem to have been around the £500 mark if I remember rightly

(Message edited by K_C_R on April 14, 2007)