SAW-US, A Build Diary

[Sportball]

Hello to you all.
I have been following the forum for the last few weeks after being inspired by the Robots Live event in Norwich. My 5yr old son is mad on Robot Wars and I thought an ant weight would be a great Father Son project.

The posts I have read have been great and I feel I have learnt so much about RC and ant weights already. I now need to put this into practise so have started spending some money.

Purchases thus far:
Spektrum Dx 5 channel from Ebay
2 x http://www.technobotsonline.com/lipo-po ... -3.7v.html
1 x http://www.technobotsonline.com/skyrc-1 ... 1-15v.html
2 x http://robotbits.co.uk/wheels-casters/4 ... od_12.html
1 x http://robotbits.co.uk/wheels-casters/3 ... od_14.html
2 x http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/6V-300RPM-Tor ... 4d02e05b3e

I was trying to limit the number of suppliers and P&P costs but this is proving difficult. Do companies like Botbits and Hobbyking charge a fortune for UK delivery?

I believe all that is left on the electronics is a speed controller and receiver.
I am considering an Orange receiver http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/NEW-2-4GHZ-OR ... 4d0922aaef
Is this the correct model?

Do I need a voltage regulator?

As for the speed controller; £45.00 +P&P for a Sabertooth 2x5A is a lot more than I was expecting, would you recommend a different model?

Luckily I work for a manufacturing company and I can easily source polycarb sheet and aluminium.

Any help is appreciated and I promise to go easy on you when / if we make It to the arena (Ha Ha).

Regards

[haz]

EDIT:
realise that I wasn't actually being helpful as that was stuff you had already bought

[Psychostorm]

Hello to you all.
I have been following the forum for the last few weeks after being inspired by the Robots Live event in Norwich. My 5yr old son is mad on Robot Wars and I thought an ant weight would be a great Father Son project.

Welcome. Lovely to see more new faces. Just one warning, it gets really expensive from here.

Purchases thus far:
Spektrum Dx 5 channel from Ebay
2 x http://www.technobotsonline.com/lipo-po ... -3.7v.html
1 x http://www.technobotsonline.com/skyrc-1 ... 1-15v.html
2 x http://robotbits.co.uk/wheels-casters/4 ... od_12.html
1 x http://robotbits.co.uk/wheels-casters/3 ... od_14.html
2 x http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/6V-300RPM-Tor ... 02e05b3eIs

I believe all that is left on the electronics is a speed controller and receiver.
I am considering an Orange receiver http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/NEW-2-4GHZ-OR ... 4d0922aaef
Is this the correct model?

Yes, but double check for us that's a DSM2 or DSMX transmitter. If it's the DX5e that'll work.

Do I need a voltage regulator?

Not if the speed controller (Speedo) has a Battery Eliminator Circuit. Only if you are using a servo or have no BEC

[BeligerAnt]

Hi and welcome!

I embarked on a similar Father & Son project with my (then) 7yo. 12 years later we're still at it - he's building his own robots and at last I get to drive my own robots

The parts you have look good, but most people don't bother with a caster at this weight. With so little mass, skidding around on the front edge of the chassis is the accepted method.

Hobbyking now have a UK warehouse so postage should be reasonable, but I haven't actually used them myself. Just make sure you select the UK warehouse. Sometimes the site can be awkward about getting UK currency and UK warehouse at the same time!

If you're confident with a soldering iron, the cheapest speed controller solution is to use the control boards from standard servos. In this case you would need a 5V regulator.

[Sportball]

Thanks for the help and yes the parts are already purchased apart from the ESC and receiver. I may be able to take some weight off the wheels when they arrive if needed.

The Spektrum is a Dx5E so will be compatible with any DSM2 I believe. I will order the Orange Rx615 as this is on ebay for £8.99.

As for the ESC I have read about the following:
Scorpion Mini V2 $59 each and out of stock in most places
or
Pololu Baby Orangutan Robot Controller B-328 $19.95 at Robot Shop
Are these basically the same as a Sabertooth? IE do they connect the same?

I did think about the servo route but it sounds more complicated.

I tried to order from Hobbyking but maybe I did not select UK warehouse correctly, I will take another look

Regards

[razerdave]

The scorpions are single channel controllers, they just need to be connected with the power wires in parallel and they will act the same as the sabretooth. You will need to cut 1 red wire from one of the RC leads to avoid 2 BEC's going to your receiver. I would say, for weight and space, you may want to check out the Fingertech TinyESC boards.

[haz]

http://www.botbitz.com/index.php?route= ... ry&path=59

These are my preferred speed controllers, like the mini's they are single channel so you would need 2.

[Sportball]

The scorpions are single channel controllers, they just need to be connected with the power wires in parallel and they will act the same as the sabretooth. You will need to cut 1 red wire from one of the RC leads to avoid 2 BEC's going to your receiver. I would say, for weight and space, you may want to check out the Fingertech TinyESC boards.

Thanks Dave, I am more worried about costs at the moment and I believe these Scorpions and Fingertechs are as expensive as the Sabertooth, I assume I will need 2off.

Does anybody make a Sabertooth 2x5 amp alternative for less money?

[Sportball]

http://www.botbitz.com/index.php?route= ... ry&path=59

These are my preferred speed controllers, like the mini's they are single channel so you would need 2.

I assume you are referring to the 6Amp ones. They are pretty reasonable, I could buy 2 of those!

[Sportball]

http://robotbirds.com/catalog/product_i ... ts_id=1737

Found this budget ESC, Any Good?