From The Ground Up (Advice Thread)

[RogueTwoRobots]

http://s31.photobucket.com/albums/c367/ayrshirerobotics/UK%20Featherchamps%202010/

Jamie has been good at taking and uploading pics for various events. Check out some of his sub albums for various pics.

Yeah one thing I always enjoyed when first getting into this was seeing pictures from events, particularly bot innards, so I try to do the rounds at each event and get some pictures. I'd prefer to have more action shots but my camera doesn't seem to have an ideal setting for them and they usually end up blurred. Not been as much of an issue since I've had my video camera.

The build albums I've got on that page are quite extensive for the likes of Drumroll I and Kaizer Mk.2. Back then I used to take a photo whenever I fitted a bolt or secured a part as I considered it incredible progress! :P
Now my machines tend to go together much quicker so the more recent albums have less photos and less detail. Hopefully they're still a good resource though for people such as yourself to see different set-ups and build techniques.

With regards to the batteries; I've only ever used two Speed 900s as weapon motors before with quite light gearing, but the robot at the time used two 9.6V, 3700mAh battery packs. I don't know how much more/less current they'll draw when used in a drive train but most Nimh packs (Vapextech are a pretty good brand) will be sufficient. You would notice a difference (improvement) if you used some form of lithium batteries but I think for your build, Nimhs are the best way to go for starting off.

http://stores.ebay.co.uk/Vapextech-Batt ... d-Chargers

And as Gary has mentioned, don't worry about cooling. The Speed 900s will cope with a 3-minute battle and can be left to cool after fights.

[Laser]

I'm using 1 12v 3300mAh NiMh battery it works fine. I'm getting another one as i'm making it 4 wheel drive.
I'll just go and find the link of the battery shop and some other batterry's.

[Laser]

Vapextech http://stores.ebay.co.uk/Vapextech-Batt ... d-Chargers
Century UK http://www.centuryuk.com/Products/Tools ... s/item3549
Component shop ebay http://stores.ebay.co.uk/Component-Shop
Component shop http://www.component-shop.co.uk/

[Roland]

Ok, so my checklist so far goes something like:
6* 125mm Robo Challenge blue wheels
2*Graupner Speed 900s
2*http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/12V-3700mAh-Ni...item3353ee4e1a
1* Transmitter and Reciever (Not sure where to go yet or what I really ought to buy)
1 * skorpion xl + cooling fan? or does that go the same way as the graupners that they will cool themselves?
1*Resistor and LED
1* safety removable link
2*1:50 gears for graupner motor, where should I look?

Not going to look at pulleys until I've worked out how big this bots going to be, that goes for armour etc as well!

Please mention anything I haven't said or should change to something more fitting. Thanks guys!

Off topic - Jamie, what CAD did you use to design drumroll, and the robots in your misc album in photobucket, and how much did it cost?

[typhoon_driver]

If you are after another I have 2 6v 3300Mah vapex packs up for sale in the for sale section.

Running two drills and two speed 900s for 4 fights only took around 2Ah out of a set of lipos. More efficient than nimh but that should give you a rough ball park figure of how long your bot could run for.

Funny you mention the albums jamie, i took a look through the drumroll one. Funny seeing how far it's come since then

[Laser]

6* 125mm Robo Challenge blue wheels

These wheels don't come with nut insert.

[jonny]

i highly doubt a scorpion xl will be able to handle 2 speed 900's even with a cooling fan. i'd go for atleast 2 30 amp electronizes.

[Laser]

Best if you use 2 separate ESC's like 2 SyRen 25a

[Roland]

Yeah, I just noticed the limit was 24v on the skorpion xl! Thanks anyhow. I'll look at the others in a second.

Hm, I see what you're saying Gary but I think I'm better off going bigger if I can afford it to be honest, the longer it'll run the better.

So the 30 amp ones are borderline then Johnny, or are they advisably better?

[typhoon_driver]

you won't take much out of a set of nimh even if you run something serious. Running a mag off a set never took more than an amphour out of the batteries in hornet 2