Quote:
Originally Posted by Xifilzer
Our team just recently completed our 3rd FRC Season, as a team we have adequate funding, a drill press, bandsaw, belt sanders, the whole ryobi handtool layout, dremels, etc. So far we have always used the machines in our shop to make our parts and only waterjetted or welded very few components such as sideplates (on a drivetrain).
For next year we are in a debate whether we move towards waterjetting more parts, and then assembling it, or if we stick to our current means which does also involve CAD before and during the build process.
The reason this debate exists is because we believe that waterjetting will give us more precise parts which will help us build a better robot, which means more awards, winning, which enables our team to get more money, have a better reputation, etc. But on the other hand we want to keep our current method because it allows kids to get close and personal with tools and encounter problems and learn really deep and intricate concepts when it comes to why mechanisms work, forces, etc that simply cannot be taught via simply assembling a robot. We also believe that our current method is more fun, even though the final product may not be something similar to the high quality of a NASA team.
Please give us your input regardless of which side you stand on, we would like to hear whatever you guys have to say!
Thank you for your time,
Sincerely,
Xifilzer
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Waterjet resources aren't the instant step to make you build good quality robots. What makes a robot are the sound fundamentals of design and iterative process. It is a good step forward in ensuring build quality doesn't affect the performance of the robot as much.
1648 has transitioned from a team who fabricated all of their parts in-house with manual machines to one that heavily utilizes waterjet components (Thank you KSU and Georgia Tech!). The transition entailed not just a more detailed CAD, but a fundamentally different design methodology, as we switched from using 8020 framing and gussets towards sheet metal, plates, and tubing. If you wish to transition towards using a waterjet more, be sure to have your students and mentors have the CAD skills and discipline to have up-to-date CADs. Don't be afraid to make revisions and cut the parts out again; I've had to recut parts on the waterjet before because my kids changed some dimensions of parts from additional testing and iteration.
If you have any questions on how to integrate a waterjet in your iterative prototyping process or in general, please feel free to pm me!