Here is a shot at some of the costs you are asking about. Here are my assumptions:
- Use kit transmission, whatever it ends up being
- Use 12T (or whatever) sprockets from kit
- Not using 22T (or whatever) wheel sprockets from kit; likely will need to purchase new ones that give the desired gear ratio
- Upgrade kit wheels to plaction wheels
- Use 4 Jaguars for controlling manipulators
- Buy 4 Victors to control 4 CIMs in drive
- Use Kit frame with dead axles
- Use 1 Fisher-Price motor + gearbox from KoP
- Use 1 Denso motor from KoP
- Buy 2 RS-550 manipulator motors using Banebot planetary gearboxes
- 1 pneumatic manipulator: use Festo solenoid from KoP if provided, use Bimba free cylinder order if provided
$156: 6x 4" plaction wheel (6" FIRST wheels can be had for $7 each)
$60: 12x 3/8" ID 1.125" OD bearing
$96: 8x Sprocket
$50: 2x CIM motor
$360: 4x Victor controller
$28: 4x 40 Amp fuse for PD board
$15: 6' of 3/8" sch 80 pipe for axle spacers (is what AndyMark uses)
$129: 2x Banebot P60 64:1 gearbox
$15: 2x RS-550 motor
$24: 2x pool noodle set
$20: 3/4" x 24" x 48" Plywood for bumpers
$54: 4 yards of bumper fabric from Seattle Fabrics
That adds up to not quite $1000. Shipping for that would be something like $50-100 if you ship ground and combine orders. (ground shipping is fast with AndyMark) If you want a spare Jaguar, spare Banebot planetary gearbox, and a couple of spare motors, that is another $175-200.
I'm not brave enough to speculate on the cost of other assorted mechanical materials for actuators, but those costs seem to add up quickly for our team.
I think $1500 is just about as low as you can go for 4 CIM 6WD with any sort solid manipulator.