View Single Post
  #1   Spotlight this post!  
Unread 11-12-2011, 22:02
ajlapp ajlapp is offline
Registered User
AKA: Anthony Lapp
None #0118 (Team RUSH and Robonauts)
 
Join Date: Sep 2001
Rookie Year: 1996
Location: Ortonville, MI
Posts: 648
ajlapp has a reputation beyond reputeajlapp has a reputation beyond reputeajlapp has a reputation beyond reputeajlapp has a reputation beyond reputeajlapp has a reputation beyond reputeajlapp has a reputation beyond reputeajlapp has a reputation beyond reputeajlapp has a reputation beyond reputeajlapp has a reputation beyond reputeajlapp has a reputation beyond reputeajlapp has a reputation beyond repute
Re: Tips on loosing weight (Not spam)

Team RUSH hasn't used pneumatics in their robots since 2004 and this has been a tremendous weight saver in my opinion.

Initially we stopped using them because we thought the package available at the time was too heavy for the utility you achieved. We would often have one or two systems that were candidates for pneumatics....this didn't justify adding the ~8 lbs. needed for the compressor, tanks, hose etc, etc. Of course we discussed eliminating the compressor for some designs, but in the end we just eliminated the whole system.

Originally I hated that we didn't have access to pneumatics...each year I would lobby for it. Now that I recently started helping a new team, I find myself lobbying them to eliminate it to save complexity and weight.

Of course a lot of teams are able to integrate all motors and a complete air system while staying in weight, but it's a very liberating feeling heading to scales with 8-10 lbs. to spare.

Now that the systems have become more open and lighter I'm sure we'll take a serious look at going back.
__________________
Anthony Lapp
FIRST Engineering Mentor
Owner/Operator 221 Robotic Systems
221 Robotics Systems - Quality Hardware, Made in the USA
RobotOpen
anthony@221robotics.com
Twitter us: @221RobotSystems
Team 1 --> 94 --> 68 --> 221 --> 857 --> 27 --> 118
Design Engineer/Fabricator and 17 year vet
Team Rush (FRC27) and Robonauts (FRC118)
Reply With Quote