Re: What would you buy if you could?
 

The things I'd probably buy:

-A better interface for the window motors. Imagine an AM Shifter, but with only one shaft (which interfaces with the output of the motor) and the holes to screw the window motor to one plate (or both, if there are matching units in the KoP). Stick a half-inch shaft in the middle of those plates, and we're in business. That's something I can bolt on just about any part of our robot and not have to worry about those black hubs (or the things stuck in them) wiggling one way or the other.

-Encoder (or pot) hooked to a shaft. It'd weigh more than just incorporating one into a custom design, but I'll suck it up more often than not in the absence of fabrication abilities.

-A mechanical brake. Not for any definite purpose, mind you; I just know I'm not the only person who has yearned for the ability to make something that spins stop spinning.

Re: What would you buy if you could?
 

While the reprap machine is cheaper the Contex can print in color, and has an
integrated bead blasting chamber. Now if money was no object I would love a pair of Craftsman AXS 13 drawer toolboxes complete with custom paint to match
our team's colors, billet aluminum casters, internal tool charging caddy, and cold cathode accent lighting. http://tinyurl.com/6klfyj

Re: What would you buy if you could?
 

XPS 720 H2C - Windows Xp 64X

My Components
Intel® Core™2 Extreme QX6850 (8MB,3.67GHz Factory overclocked)
Genuine Windows Vista® Home Premium Service Pack 1
4GB Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM at 800MHz - 4 DIMMs
500GB - Seagate 7200RPM, SATA 3.0Gb/s, 16MB Cache
Dual Drives: Blu-ray Disc Combo (DVD+/-RW + BD-ROM) and 16x DVD+/-RW
24 inch UltraSharp™ 2408WFP Widescreen Digital Flat Panel
nVidia GeForce 8800 GT 512MB
AGEIA® PhysX® physics accelerator
Sound Blaster® X-Fi™ XtremeGamer (D) Sound Card
Bose Companion 3 Series II Multimedia Speaker System
SteelSeries 7G Gaming Keyboard (ships separately)
Razer Lachesis Laser Gaming Mouse (ships separately)
Dell Bluetooth Wireless Media Hub + VOIP Stereo Headset
Dell Media Card Reader included in Dell Bluetooth Package

For my birthday, please?

Re: What would you buy if you could?
 

There's lots of things I want that can already be bought on the internet... I just want them to be cheaper. I love the stuff that Banebots has been coming out with though.


Have you looked into disk brakes for bicycles? I believe 1540 (?) used one on their 2008 robot:

Re: What would you buy if you could?
 

oh. my. GOSH! that is so simple! i love it. How is the tension applied to the brake, piston or another motor?

Re: What would you buy if you could?
 

I have usually seen it done with a short-throw pneumatic cylinder...

Re: What would you buy if you could?
 

Here's to that!

We too used a piston actuated bicycle disk-brake. Worked great!

Other things I might add:

-Cheap hubs for the Colson Wheels (yeah you can buy these, but they aint cheap)

-A lighter alternative to 80/20 for linear motion (possibly with bearings). It would sure make building elevators a lot easier and lighter :o

-Cheap carbon fiber tubing.... (aint gonna happen :( )

-A cheaper alternative to Berco-Flex for treads (possibly one that was an off-the shelf component rather than a customized part). Snow-mobile treads are cool... But not long enough... :(

-7075 aluminum gears and sprockets. Come-on AM, 6061 just ain't gonna cut it.

-Improved BaneBots. We'll actually get this one! Yay :D

Re: What would you buy if you could?
 

I've heard good things from FIRST teams about FN Sheppard

Re: What would you buy if you could?
 

Those bicycle disk brakes are pretty inexpensive, around $35-$45. for the cheapies:

http://www.rei.com/category/40001152

http://www.blueskycycling.com/cat-brake-disc.htm

Here are some electric brakes: http://207.56.183.208/brakes.aspx

Re: What would you buy if you could?
 

I'd like to buy the world a home and furnish it with love,
Grow apple trees and honey bees, and snow white turtle doves.
I'd like to teach the world to sing in perfect harmony,
I'd like to buy the world a Coke and keep it company.

Re: What would you buy if you could?
 

Hahaha. You made my day.

Re: What would you buy if you could?
 

There seems to be some confusion about the intent of this thread. I think it's about "what new product would you buy if someone started making and selling it?". Some people seem to think it's about "what would you buy if you had they money?"

Re: What would you buy if you could?
 

Titanium C-tubing for robot frames, no one makes that...

Re: What would you buy if you could?
 

Squirrel is right in that my intent was for things currently not made that if they were made for you you would purchase. I do like a couple fo the tangents as we too have been looking for a good mechanical brake. The bike brake idea is one we have tossed around but never tried. Thanks for the posts on that.

Re: What would you buy if you could?
 

most teams have the money to purchase these, but electric solenoids. Now FIRST just needs to allow them, I don't want to use pneumatics all the time.