Purchasable Tricks and Easy Fixes

[nnfuller]

So I have been helping budget for our next season, and I was thinking that maybe the CD community could help. I wanted to create a list of things that can help a team during the build season. My favorite example of this would be the plastic air tanks that arrived mid season last year. I was wondering if there were other links that solve common problems.

These problems might include but are not limited to:

• Weight Savings
• Chain Tensioning
• Non-Traditional Gearboxes
• Wheel Sources (Not Andymark or IFI)
• Sensors
• Tools

Thanks for the help!
Nathan

[JesseK]

I have to warn you that there are many red herrings in any sort of list you'd get. There ain't no such thing as a free lunch -- but there are cheap lunches. For example, I'm willing to bet my BBQ pulled turkey lunch today that many, many hours were spent searching for an air tank that would fit the needs of a team within our rules before the white fiberglass ones were actually found. Many other 'tricks' (such as the Dark Soul Chain Breaker) have caveats like "#25 chain is the ficklest $#*! chain you'll ever use -- 1 degree out of alignment or 1/4" too much slop and it's guaranteed to come off!".

That being said, the Dark Soul tool worked great until we lost it, heh. We're going to get a new one soon. The caveats: #25 chain is the ficklest $#*! chain you'll ever use. The sprocket teeth are so shallow that even the slightest imperfections in your robot production process will show up at the most inconvenient times.

If you need thin, strong boards that can hold the weight of a robot (like ramps for 2007), then honeycombed fiberglass may be a good fit. We've also use it for our electronics boards since 2007. This year we might use something different. The caveats: it shears very easily, so use wide washers at every mount point; it is not meant to be a structural member that can withstand impacts, so the weight it carries should be light during all interactive times of play.

[Jon Stratis]

I'll also caution you that any list you come up with may not be valid next year - rules always change. Last year was the first time those plastic air tanks are a prime example - last year was the first time they were legal. I know (from personal experience as an inspector) that they were a huge pain during inspections. Speaking personally (I have NO insight into the GDC or what they're thinking on the rule book), I wouldn't be surprised if that specific rule changes again this year to help make things run a little easier... It's just a nightmare for both inspectors and teams to trace those plastic air tanks back to specifications and show that they are rated for the appropriate air pressure.

[EricH]

Originally Posted by JesseK

If you need thin, strong boards that can hold the weight of a robot (like ramps for 2007), then honeycombed fiberglass may be a good fit. We've also use it for our electronics boards since 2007. This year we might use something different. The caveats: it shears very easily, so use wide washers at every mount point; it is not meant to be a structural member that can withstand impacts, so the weight it carries should be light during all interactive times of play.

Corrugated plastic, properly supported by frame, is similar, but maybe a bit tougher. You still need the washers (the plastic crushes a bit), but it can take a pretty tough impact. 330 used it for ramps in '07.

[sanddrag]

Originally Posted by EricH

Corrugated plastic, properly supported by frame, is similar, but maybe a bit tougher. You still need the washers (the plastic crushes a bit), but it can take a pretty tough impact. 330 used it for ramps in '07.

As did 696 with great success. Good stuff.

[Chris is me]

A neat little known product: IFI sells pre-punched C-channel and gusset plate that basically looks like Vex on steroids. If I was on a team with a bit of cash and no mill, I'd certainly strongly consider it as a general frame material.

[George C]

We had great success with some new (to us) products last year:

Garolite sheet available from McMaster Carr. We used it for paddles on our gripper. Easy to work with, very strong and a lot cheaper than carbon fibre

Constant force springs available from McMaster Carr. Helped counterbalance our 3-stage elevator

Igus linear slides available from Igus. Used in our 3 stage elevator and our mini-bot deployment system.

I echo the comment on step drills, plastic air tanks and UHMW plastic spool and cam-type chain tensioners.

Surgical tube is wonderful stuff. Many strengths at McMaster Carr and elsewhere

[BJC]

Some great things we always use:

- echo the Dark Soul chain tensioner: We have 2 or 3. We always use seemless chain and hardly ever lose chains. (Not one all last season.)

-Surgical tubing: Used for counterforce, passively springing something, and battery straps(<-this works really well) among other things. We always have this on our robot usually serving multible functions.

-Polyurthane belting: this is the choice material for convayer belts such as 2009. However, it is also great for powering rollers in other applications and can act as a mechanical clutch if desired. In 2011 this powered our claw as well as provided the grippy surface for the tubes. It also allows for figure 8 belts which can make it better then chain in some applications. We also always have some of this on our robot every year.

-lexan: This has a variety of uses not the least of which is an electronics cover. We always use this for decorative body panels however, do to its flexable nature it is also VERY durable in the 1/8 - 1/4 size range. We also used 1/8 as the entire bottom half of our claw in 2011 and It never broke once. It is also quite light which makes it a pretty great building material in the correct applications. We definatly use this every year on the robot.

-velcro: its great for things that are often taken on and off the robot. We use it especially for bodypanels.

-Zipties: Especially the high strength ones. In 2008 we held togeather our elevator with zipties for the remainder of competion after it was sheared off by the overpass in elims.

-1"x1"x1/16" L brackets: You can't buy them, however its great to have a bunch pre-made. Every year we usually have a couple of these on the robot. They are also great for prototyping. The first thing freshmen make in the shop is always these, and they always seem to get used up.

Good Luck, Bryan

[AlecMataloni]

If you don't already use them, the Anderson Powerpole Connectors are a MUST HAVE for any team's wiring! They make replacing motors, speed controllers, and other important electrical components parts much easier, faster, and safer.


Here's a guide from the FIRST website related to them. At the end, it tells you where you can purchase the connectors and the related crimping tool. http://www.usfirst.org/sites/default...pole-Guide.pdf

[Chris is me]

Originally Posted by AlecMataloni

If you don't already use them, the Anderson Powerpole Connectors are a MUST HAVE for any team's wiring! They make replacing motors, speed controllers, and other important electrical components parts much easier, faster, and safer.

We successfully received sponsorship from Anderson Power Products last season and got our connectors all for free. This has been more useful than I could have imagined. We have a single, asymmetrical electric "plug" on our robot with connectors attached to each other that allows us to remove our electronics board from the robot with one click. I would recommend it especially to teams without a practice set of electronics.

[Peter Matteson]

Originally Posted by Chris is me

A neat little known product: IFI sells pre-punched C-channel and gusset plate that basically looks like Vex on steroids. If I was on a team with a bit of cash and no mill, I'd certainly strongly consider it as a general frame material.

We have a mill and welding capability yet we use this on many of our robots to save time. FYI IFI calls it SuperVEX in house.

[remulasce]

Double stick tape was influential in keeping sensors, motor controllers, and joysticks attached where they should be, while also serving as a structural component in minibots and our "borrowed" minibot deployer.

[Gary.C]

Originally Posted by remulasce

Double stick tape was influential in keeping sensors, motor controllers, and joysticks attached where they should be

Yup try out 3m's VHB. It's real good stuff

http://solutions.3m.com/wps/portal/3...apes/VHB-Tape/

[Garrett.d.w]

Originally Posted by Gary.C

Yup try out 3m's VHB. It's real good stuff

How strong is 3M's VHB tape (on a scale of 1-10... 5 being duck tape)?
Is durability with this tape a major concern?

Oh... and has anyone tried to get this stuff donated to them before by 3M?

[remulasce]

The stuff is ridiculously strong. 9 or 10. The minibot deployer was mounted on a plywood base, which is what we taped (and bolted) to the robot. When we undid the bolts and tried to take it off, the plywood failed before the tape- there were large chunks of wood still stuck to the robot, where they had been ripped out of the board by the tape. For a quick and easy way to put together prototypes and then not have to worry when the "prototype" makes it into competition, the stuff is matched only by zip ties.