New robot?

[aero_storm]

Hi,

Im new to this forum, but I will get down to the point right away. I plan on building a featherweight robot, A simple wedge with an actuator powered lifting arm.

I am thinking of using two of these motors
(Please help me choose which ones taking into account I want would like something of 15+mph)
http://www.boschmotorsandcontrols.co.uk/elektromotoren/suche/24v/dauerdrehmoment/10-30http://www.boschmotorsandcontrols.co...auerdrehmoment /10-30.
A few of these batteries 9how many will I need?):
http://www.overlander.co.uk/categories/default.asp?cid=2&scid=16http://www.overlander.co.uk/categori...?cid=2&scid=16
One of these speed controllers for the drive:
http://www.dimensionengineering.com/Sabertooth2X25.htmhttp://www.dimensionengineering.com/Sabertooth2X25.htm
One of these speed controllers for the Actuator:
http://www.robotpower.com/products/scorpion_XL_info.htmlhttp://www.robotpower.com/products/s...n_XL_info.html
One of these actuators (theyre a bit slow, so could I have some ways to make them faster or new ones?):
http://www.topmanservices.co.uk/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=14_6http://www.topmanservices.co.uk/inde...dex&cPath=14_6
And one of these reciever packs:
http://www.robotmarketplace.com/marketplace_rc-radios.htmlhttp://www.robotmarketplace.com/mark...rc-radios.html.

I havent yet thought about the armour or frame but my grandfather and uncle own a buisness which could machine some (Im building it with my grandfather). I have a budget of £600-£800.
Please tell me if there is anything I have missed, screwed up on totally, is too expensive for little old me, or anything telling me what poor planning I did (Well....hey.....I tried)

Thanks very much,

Alexander Reise
(Not Rice, Rye-Seh!)

(Message edited by aero_storm on September 20, 200

[psycho_fling]

Hi Alex Good to have another alex on the forum

the link for the motors doesnt seem to work but i would personally go for either some drill motors (a stripped down drill basically), some speed 900s on a reduction gear ratio or some bosch 35 watt motors

you may aswell go for an xxl scorpion for the drive motors

i have a spare actuator not very fast but you could work with it

the controller for that i could also help with, and you wouldnt need a scorpion to control that

i would certainly recommend a spektrum radio set, and if you buy a speed controller witha built in battery elimating circuit BEC then you wont need the reciver pack

your £600-£800 for what your doing is a very decent budget but i would suggest trying to get the cheapest stuff still, this hobby can be money draining over a few years

i will send an email regarding the actuator and controller

also how many drive wheels are you planning on? and designs we can see?

and btw look at http://www.technobots.co.ukwww.technobots.co.uk a online robotics store based in the UK

good to have you on the forum...

Alex Team psycho fling

[aero_storm]

Great, another Alex (it looks like we Alexs are an endagered species). Cheers for the advice, Ill try and get some deigns up as soon as possible. I was planning on four wheel drive (so two motors with a chain for the front two). Thanks for the advice on the kit. So would you recommend two scorpions? (Differential steering obviously).

Cheers

Alex R

[psycho_fling]

oh yeh and the batteries well that depends really on your motors how much you want them to be over volted by for example 2x 12volt drill motors on 18volt something like that drill motors wont have much pushing power but can still move a robot quickly
you would only need one scorpion controller
and the lifter you were talking about you could also do a simple motor to screw to mechanism method (zeobot) style i have some psare bits for this if you are open to different options

(Message edited by psycho fling on September 20, 200

[psycho_fling]

only one scorpion would be needed

alot of people are at an event today so there might not be loads of posts

[woody]

Oh no TWO of them!

Alex M has given good advice.

Id suggest you get one of these for your Radio gear.
http://robotbirds.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=3035http://robotbirds.com/catalog/produc...oducts_id=3035

Either the Sabretooth 25A or Scorpion XXL should siut you.

Roboteers tend to make things like eletric motors and actuators go faster by overvolting them ...they can usually survive short term abuse.

(Message edited by woody on September 20, 200

[banana_man]

We Alexs arent so endangered, are we?

[aero_storm]

Obviously not, yay!

(Youre alex S, im alex R, and we have an alex M). Up Alex!

[john_frizell]

Hi Alexander,

What you build first will depend on your experience (and that of your grandfather). If in doubt then build a simple one first. Good quality radio gear, batteries and speed controllers can be recycled into a more complex bot as you gain experience.
I suggest you have a look at the live events section and find the next one that is within traveling distance of you. Build yourself a simple bot (drill motor/gearboxes, no weapon), sign up as a roboteer and go and compete. There is nothing that beats being in the pits as a way to see how everyone else has solved the problems of building a fighting robot. And there are few experiences that match the buzz of driving your own robot in an arena full of others, with everyone trying to win.
A simple bot can be built in a couple of weeks. Drill motor/gearboxes are good because they are inexpensive and widely available and only need wheels to make an effective power unit. Lots of people on the forum will be glad to tell you how to get the chucks off and wheels that screw directly onto the 3/8 UNF thread exposed by removing the chuck can be bought for about £8 - 10 each. You can make the body out of anything - wood is good because it is cheap and easy to work. Ive seen one where the maker used the plastic case that the one of the drills had come in as combined mounting frame and armour.
I hope to see you at a live event soon.

[aero_storm]

Thanks Mr. Frizell ( or John or whatever you want to be adressed as). As I stated above, my grandfather works among a large engineering company (for fun really - he was retired but he went because my uncle owns it). I was thinking about trying to keep it simple, with the basic wedge and simple actuator. Maybe Ill just stick with the wedge, but Im basing the robot on the likes of Storm II and wedge of doom. I hope to be pitside to soon, and see you then!

Alex (R for those it benefits)