Watch this space, hoping to come back bigger and better.. well only if we can get the maooosive cnc mill working :twisted:
Will be going back to the orignal design but with a more powerful punch.
Right pretty much got the stats in my head. Could not get the mill working yesterday but when we do I might be able to take requests for parts but that's just an idea at the moment could be a year off.
Also can someone point me in the direction for the latest rules, and what are the current opinions on lipo? are they allowed and what are the limitations. I would like to use a decent brushless system but A123 won't suit my application.
Was going to link you to the rules page on the main FRA site but having read them, they haven't been updated since June 21st apparently (although they may currently be getting re-written to incorporate recent changes). The main thing missing is that HWs now need to be on 2.4GHz and FWs have to be on 2.4GHz from 1st January 2011.
Lipos are currently allowed in feathers with rules such as 2mm minimum thickness baseplate, charging box for them, bag of salt (I think?) handy incase of fire etc. I'm not too clued up on them though. Grant, Dave M or Kenny could probably enlighten you more on that.
Nice to see you coming back into it. Haven't met you before but pictures of your robots helped me quite a bit when I first started designing my drumbot. Good luck with the build
Have the lipo contained in a secure box inside the robot. You cant just cable tie them down or strap them down. Always charge them in a lipo sack. Have a container of salt with enough salt to cover the entire lipo incase of an accident.
Well I will be needing a new tx anyway so 2.4GHz it is, anyone recomend which to go for either a Spectrum or another brand with 2.4GHz module?
As for LiPo i've really been in touch american bot builders and seen their rules as they are more common over there than the UK. They seem to be ok with them, charging them in LiPo sacks and making sure they have the correct fire fighting equiptment and thats it.
Spektrum
My understanding is that for a fire you require either sand or a dry powder extinguisher to control the flames. But a damaged cell will require being submerged in salt water rather than just salt, as the water will flow where the salt on it's own cannot reach.Have a container of salt with enough salt to cover the entire lipo incase of an accident.
Jamies pretty much got it right.
Salt water is better then just plain salt if they go up,
Charge them in a lipo sack
Id suggest always balance charging them- its not a rule but its not alot of effort to do
2mm base in the robot
battery box is best- foam lined
as with anything make sure its all insulated
dont charge/ discharge above or below manufacturers spec
put a fuse inline with the lipo thats rated below its max discharge rate- (if your lipo can give 125amp put a 100amp fuse inline)
Low voltage cut off - (abit of an undecided rule at the moment as aparently there hard to find-360 has them built into the esc's)
When your done with the lipo and you want to bin it fully discharge it and pierce it, then place it in salt water.
..theres probably somthing ive forgotten, im tierd.
I was told the low voltage cut off was more of a 'nice if you have one' than an actual requirement, I'm using one on the featherweight drive but can't seem to find any weapon switches that have them built in.
The plans are to have them in a vented hard case anyway to protect the other components more than anything incase of an incident. Does a 2mm thick cardboard base plate count?
The design is going to be similar to the first MDF version of Conundrum, two main side rails slightly different design but much lower. Joined by cross members which will support the components, i'm thinking of either using 10-12mm Nylon 66 or pocketed aluminium for these. Then alittle armour on the outside to protect the wheels.
I'm alittle undecided on what to make the drum out off, until I get some parts together I won't know what weight I will have to play with but i'm thinking about something custom made.
Battery may be LiPo just for the weight saving, as I believe A123 are only really good for a current burst of 138A which my system my exceed at some point. To make sure the brushless is as efficient as possible I need to get a pack which will be able to cope and not limit the performance.
Drive motors are a conundrum at the moment as I need something like a drill motor but capable of handling high voltages which are reliable, gear box's will be custom machined like Conundrum Mk2's. Drive system isn't really planned out just the frame and weapon.
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