Most underrated/undervalued tools

[spat]

Do not forget the coffee!

[mman1506]

Mini-Fridge!

[Basel A]

Originally Posted by spat

Do not forget the coffee!

I'd say coffee/caffeinated beverages are the most overrated.

[cadandcookies]

Originally Posted by Basel A

I'd say coffee/caffeinated beverages are the most overrated.

There is no replacement for actually sleeping.

[SoftwareBug2.0]

Originally Posted by cbale2000

They actually make these, at least the metric part.


Not sure if it's underrated, but you definately don't fully appreciate the usefulness of a good pair of Katapult-style wire strippers until you've used them for a while, and then had to go without them (we lost ours a while back and have had to use regular wire strippers ever since).

I've used a similar kind that also had an adjustable stop for the end of the wire to make the amount stripped off repeatable. They were great. I found them most useful for wires that were very small or for doing the same thing 30 times in a row.

[Munchskull]

Originally Posted by DinerKid

A Leatherman or other multi-tool. Especially if you are willing to abuse it a bit, it can always be used as a hammer, many flat-head screwdrivers on them are pretty sharp and can be used for scraping at things, and as much as the folks at Leatherman don't want to hear it, the knife works well for prying in tight spaces.

Gotta love a no questions asked warranty.

~DK

I could not agree more. Through robotics and boys outs I have broken two of them. Next time I am in Portland I walk up and ask for a replacement. Hence why I only buy Leatherman multi-tools.

[fargus111111111]

Originally Posted by scott.smith

Vice grips. They can hold together parts while machining, clamp to a small part so you don't have to be close to the machine, stop vibrations on some parts while milling, hold some sketchy prototype parts onto a previous robot, and much more. To me, they are the duct tape of robot building.

YES! and C-clamps, basically anything that can put a strong grip on one or more objects without the use of other tools (except maybe the screw driver now used as a handle for said clamp)

My other one would definitely be the sharpie. It is much better to mark a piece prior to cutting it than to say eh, that looks good, cut it at least 3 times and it still be too short.

[CalTran]

NI Multisim (or equivalent) for a circuit diagram and pneumatic diagram does wonders for midcompetition troubleshooting.

Also, invest in a decent ratchet crimper. Your hands will thank you.

[Michael Hill]

Originally Posted by DinerKid

A Leatherman or other multi-tool. Especially if you are willing to abuse it a bit, it can always be used as a hammer, many flat-head screwdrivers on them are pretty sharp and can be used for scraping at things, and as much as the folks at Leatherman don't want to hear it, the knife works well for prying in tight spaces.

Gotta love a no questions asked warranty.

~DK

I've never been a fan of multi-tools for robotics. The idea seems nice, but all the tools they come with are never really the right tool you need. I see more people fight with them in haste to use one, but I can usually find the right tool for the job quicker than they can get a "yeah...it'll do the job...if you really try" tool out. I'd really only find maybe the knife to be decently useful, but at that point, just get a nice purpose-built pocket knife.

[Cothron Theiss]

Originally Posted by Michael Hill

I've never been a fan of multi-tools for robotics. The idea seems nice, but all the tools they come with are never really the right tool you need. I see more people fight with them in haste to use one, but I can usually find the right tool for the job quicker than they can get a "yeah...it'll do the job...if you really try" tool out. I'd really only find maybe the knife to be decently useful, but at that point, just get a nice purpose-built pocket knife.

Then maybe we should come up with a multi tool of attachments useful for FRC. A couple different Allen wrenches, a small wire stripper, a 3/8 socket wrench, a micro screwdriver, and what else?

[Clayton Summerall]

Originally Posted by Cothron Theiss

Then maybe we should come up with a multi tool of attachments useful for FRC. A couple different Allen wrenches, a small wire stripper, a 3/8 socket wrench, a micro screwdriver, and what else?

Or you could have a toolbox with you at all times. I've, never had an experience where the robot was separated, more that 10 feet or so from the robot. ( Unless on the field ) Both teams I've been apart of has had a "Flight" toolbox, this includes all vital tools, that should be used with the the robot.

[EricH]

Originally Posted by Cothron Theiss

Then maybe we should come up with a multi tool of attachments useful for FRC. A couple different Allen wrenches, a small wire stripper, a 3/8 socket wrench, a micro screwdriver, and what else?

I'm aware of a socket that will work on multiple sizes of bolt heads--a Gator socket, I think it's called?--so put one of those in, along with a flathead and Philips drivers, a sharp blade (you can strip wire with a knife, it just takes some practice), and 3-4 really common-sized hex keys. Needle-nosed pliers and a small file should round out the assortment. Maybe a hacksaw-type blade, but if you're using that for cutting robot metal someone will probably hand you a hacksaw.

[DinerKid]

Originally Posted by Michael Hill

I've never been a fan of multi-tools for robotics. The idea seems nice, but all the tools they come with are never really the right tool you need. I see more people fight with them in haste to use one, but I can usually find the right tool for the job quicker than they can get a "yeah...it'll do the job...if you really try" tool out. I'd really only find maybe the knife to be decently useful, but at that point, just get a nice purpose-built pocket knife.

Ironically, I agree in a lot of ways. I find myself using the plyers, knives (2x), files (2x) and occasionally the bit driver. So in total 6 out of the 21(?) tools on the thing. Not too many. It's not going to replace real tools. But having a bunch of options all folded nicely into your pocket can be a big help at competition for the quick, less than ideal, fixes and tweaks.

It also depends on the tool a lot. I use a charge tti which happens to have a lot of the tools that I find useful in a pit. The bit driver is nice. We use a lot of 8-32 and 10-32 hardware, and I have a hex insert that has the appropriate sizes for those depending on which way it is inserted. Not as nice as a T handle, but better than finding yourself empty handed.

Knowing when it's to tool to grab is certainly key. I think the excitement of getting to use the new tool may be a bit of what you are seeing. Once that wears off I see lots of people who have a leatherman in their pocket and are smart enough to grab the t handle that is right in front of them.

~DK

[Marc P.]

Originally Posted by CalTran

NI Multisim (or equivalent) for a circuit diagram and pneumatic diagram does wonders for midcompetition troubleshooting.

Also, invest in a decent ratchet crimper. Your hands will thank you.

This is the closest I've seen so far, but 6 pages and no one comes up with Label Maker? Nothing speeds up troubleshooting faster than knowing literally at a glance which speed controller does what, which power/PWM/CAN/sensor wire or pneumatic tube is connected where, and how old motors/batteries/etc are if labeled at acquisition. By far the most handy, versatile, and time saving troubleshooting tool you can get.

[NShep98]

Originally Posted by asid61

The humble black sharpie, everywhere, all the time.

I'm that guy that always has two or three sharpies in my pocket (in various colors) because everyone else misplaces them. You'd be surprised just how often they are needed in and out of FRC, and how surprised people are when I seem to produce an endless supply from my pockets.