Where did your team get its machine tools?

[EricH]

scitobor 617, we had the same problem this year. We ran out of spare hacksaw blades (I wore one out in about two hours cutting steel rod), so we got some more. I forget the brand, but it wasn't Buck Bros. and the blades were white. Haven't had to replace the blades since then. If you get several packages of blades, that should do you for a while.

[Rohan_DHS]

We used our school's lathes, and drill presses, and band saw, but all the tools (like wrenches, etc) were our Teacher/Advisor's tools. I think a couple of parts were sent to OPG (Ontario Power Generation...our main sponsor), and to Rapid Refregiration, since they have the appropriate machines to do the job

[sanddrag]

Originally Posted by EricH

scitobor 617, we had the same problem this year. We ran out of spare hacksaw blades (I wore one out in about two hours cutting steel rod), so we got some more. I forget the brand, but it wasn't Buck Bros. and the blades were white. Haven't had to replace the blades since then. If you get several packages of blades, that should do you for a while.

I've hacksawed quite a few things before and I simply won't do it anymore unless there is not another tool made that will do the job. It is just plain tiring. Sawzalls have gotten so cheap these days that it is really in your best interest to get one. If you can afford a small horizontal (or even vertical, or maybe both) bandsaw that would be even better!

[[527]phil]

Our club bought a small band saw, and 2 small drill presses. But we also used my personal cnc mill. And if we ever need some really facy shmancy parts i have access to star swiss style cnc lathes.

[mechanicalbrain]

When you say we i think ME! I provided my own electrical tools solder iron, helping hand, dremel (trully the tool of the gods a must have for anyone who doesn't already have one), ect... actually were looking at going to a local navy research center to talk about using their waterjet, CNC machine, and other tools.

[AndyB]

our school had a metal shop class until they cut it because of budgeting reasons. thankfully, we were able to keep all of the machines for our robotics team.

If you have machinery in your school that is owned by the school solly for the use of robotics, then I recommend that you hold an open house to allow your school to see what you are using it all for and get them aware of robotics. Our team was in a bit of danger because our school wanted to put a printing press in where our metal shop is, but we held an open house and invited our sponsors, teachers, administrators, and parents, all to come and see what we were up to.

It can also get you a LOT of publicity.

[Daniel Morse]

Our school has a vocational technology center attached to it, and has a full machine shop (11 lathes, 6 mills, 3 CNCs, grinders, horizontal and vertical bandsaw). The catch is that only the adult mentors and specially trained students (students in the vocational machining class) are allowed to use it. I finally took the class and got my qualification this year.