New Robots

Antweightsforever · Post by **Antweightsforever** » Sat Mar 22, 2008 7:48 pm

Hi Guys,

looks like the bug has bitten and Dad is now involved !

Please could you help us with some advice, at the moment we are planning to start with a simple 27Mhz 2 channel set up using an Acoms AR2 27 receiver from an old kit, with 4 x 50:1 Motors (212-106) from www.precisionmicrodrives.com or 4 of the GM12-N20VA motors suggested by Josh and then a Li-polly battery. The bit we are struggling with is the speed controller, the Ant 150 is mentioned but seems to be difficult to get now and also I?m not sure if this will work with the 4 motors and the receiver. We have been looking through the forums and various spec sheets from model shops etc but I cant be sure which controller will be best for this. The physical build and most of the robot design should be ok but electronics is not our strong point.
Any suggestions or advice with what we are planning so far would be very welcome.

Thanks
Chris Townend

Glenn Jones · Post by **Glenn Jones** » Sat Mar 22, 2008 9:21 pm

If i were you, I would purchase a 3 or 4 channel 40Mhz transmitter, just so you can use it in the future too. Because if you buy a transmitter with 2 channels now, you won't be able to put an active weapon on your robot, unless you switch it somehow simultainiously with one of your wheels.

With the rest I don't really have experience.

Glenn

Post by **BeligerAnt** » Sat Mar 22, 2008 9:24 pm

It seems that the Scorpion Mini speed controllers have all but disappeared. Also the Barello Ant100 and Ant150 boards are no longer being made.

The Barello Ant100 is still available from RobotMarketPlace "while stocks last".

The Scorpion HX looks similar to the Ant100, but is significantly dearer ($80) and out of stock at RMP.

The Sabertooth 5 is $60 and currently in stock. This looks like a good bet for replacing the Ant100/150 or a pair of Scorpion Minis.

We use the Ant100 in Antipathy and have had no problems with it. I think some people have managed to blow these boards up though. The Sabertooth board looks like it is very well protected from most sorts of abuse and includes an undervoltage cut-out to prevent Li-Po batteries from being over-discharged (a good thing! 8) )

I haven't seen the Sabertooth in the flesh, but if I were looking for a speed controller, it's probably the one I would go for.

Any of these boards should drive 4 motors without a problem. If you're new to electronics, start simple (2 motors) check everything (twice) and take your time. These boards are very comprehensive and it is just a matter of connecting the battery, motors and receiver in the correct places (and the right way round!). Read the instruction manual! - You probably have to download it.

Hope this helps...

(edited by Leo-rcc to make the links work)

Craig_Anto3 · Post by **Craig_Anto3** » Sat Mar 22, 2008 10:38 pm

Technobots also sell the Sabretooth 5, they do look good. I've not seen them Gary nice little find

Glenn Jones · Post by **Glenn Jones** » Sun Mar 23, 2008 3:04 pm

bit of a topic hack but: who build rebel? What sort of cylinder was he using? 1 inlet or 2?

tnx,
Glenn

Craig_Anto3 · Post by **Craig_Anto3** » Sun Mar 23, 2008 3:49 pm

Chris built Rebel its single input lego pneumatics, valve was controlled by by a servo

malivoirec · Post by **malivoirec** » Mon Mar 24, 2008 1:45 pm

Talking of pneumatics, I managed to get my hands on a Fischertechnik pneumatic system. I intend to make the new Inersiant a walker using two of the pistons running off 50-100 PSI (hopefully) using a lego valve. Armoured all around with 3mm polycarb. My main concern is trying to find a sutible pump as hand and foot pumps I have found are very hard to get air through the one way valve. I have found that the lego pumps available are the best to do this and I could use a cam shaft using the mindstorms package, however I will have no idea what the pressue will be inside the tank. Any suggestions?

Post by **BeligerAnt** » Mon Mar 24, 2008 4:20 pm

Back to Antweightsforever's original question:

Another possible source of speed controllers if you want to keep the cost down (who doesn't?)... Use the control boards from standard servos like the Futaba S3003. These servos are far too big for normal antweight use, but the control boards can drive the Precision Microdrives motors. Oliver has used these with some success. This is an even cheaper solution if you happen to have a couple of old servos lying around!

Craig_Anto3 · Post by **Craig_Anto3** » Mon Mar 24, 2008 8:14 pm

it may have been sometime ago but I've used standard servo's and it did ok, just won AWS6, yea may of been some time ago but built properly you could use them

Marco Roberts · Post by **Marco Roberts** » Fri Mar 28, 2008 3:23 am

I have always used speed hacked standard servos. Last time I am aware they won anything was when I won aws 13

For more recent chrono trigger came second at aws 20 with them. Good if you use them properly.

RobotWars101

New Robots

New Build