Chief Delphi - Machines for an Ideal Robotics Workshop?

Quote:

Originally Posted by sanddrag (Post 774111)

An engineering college student who was in FIRST in high school.

I think good work tables/areas and good lighting is important in a shop. Also, good clamps and vises.

A waterjet can also be quite handy, but very costly.

397 has several engineering college students who were in FIRST :D Problem is, most of us are CS/CE/EE we only have two ME students, one of whom is graduating.

The tables thing is a good point, I know we lack good tables and chairs. As a result we tend to work on the ground a lot. This means that we aren't working at a good level which leads to all sorts of bad things.

Waterjets are nice, but they make a mess, Id rather outsource this.

Optimal shop: (in order of importance)

Students who are passionate
Supportive Parents and Mentors
Safe Environment (ie not having to worry about theft)
Access any time
Adequate work space (tables/chairs etc)
Hand tools
Arbor Presses (We use the ones we have a lot)
Mill (CnC and Manual)
Lathe (CnC and Manual)
Computer Lab with Solidworks/Unigraphics
High Ceilings
Enough room for a full practice field
Full practice field
Material's to build a second robot.
Wireless Internet that isn't so locked down we can't do research
Oscilloscopes
High speed video equipment
Production Quality Recording Studio (for Promo Videos)

That was the serious part, now, Id like to be located somewhere I could gain access to the AndyMark inventory anytime. I wouldn't want JVN or Karthik or Baker, competing against them is more fun.