[PayneTrain]

I think a good low budget item for any team is 1-inch aluminum angle of a moderate thickness (like 1/8 ?). If you do all of your fab in-house like we do, you go through a lot of 1-inch angle. Find a welder or bolt it together, you can create a sturdy frame that will hold up to high impacts. this will also create a structure that will be low to the ground and house all of your electronics. With this, lexan, and a good roller/belt system ,you can create a decent conveyor as well.

Buy stock gearboxes for the lift and launcher where you can. Use kit wheels on the launcher. Do whatever you can. if you aren't experiencing success with the launcher, work towards building a robot capable of dropping the bridge and balancing on it. If you are building wide, you could be invaluable in small regionals.

It's not going to be easy, but if you're determined, you will go out there and build a robot, it will run, and you will never forget the process and the friends you have made for the rest of your life.

And you're a rookie with no experience going up against teams that have been around the block enough to notice the bricks on the front of every house. Don't just have fun, go up to the veterans and see what they do. Ask for help, even though it will find you if you need it.

Godspeed.