Robotics DreamLab

[ebarker]

This is a serious question.

What if you were provided with a substantial sum of money to build a robotics lab. The money cannot be used for salaries, building, etc, but for the purchase of equipment. Examples would be a 3-D printer, mills, lathes, electronics test equipment, etc. A portion could be used to buy robotics kits and curriculum.

What would you purchase? What I'm looking for is concrete examples.

For example an answer should not be 'a lathe' but something more specific like an ACME model 12, approximately $ 5,000 with accessories.

Ultimately I want to have three spending plans. A $ 25K, $ 50K, and $ 100K version.

I can think of a few examples of equipment and supplies right off the top of my head. I have no real good idea of what machines would hit the 'sweet spot' for creating parts for FRC class machines.

Equipment examples include a 3-D printer, mill, lathe, flatbed plasma cutter, flatbed waterjet, and an oscilloscope.

Any suggestions ?