What is in you dream FIRST robotics team shop?

[IndySam]

Andy Baker clone.

[thefro526]

CNC machines to make new complex parts and the ability to weld. And if we're really pushing the envelope, I want a trap door that goes right into the andymark storeroom so that we can get parts instantly.

[Billfred]

Assuming we can't clone Baker (or Copioli, or JVN, or any other mentor), my dream shop would have the following:

a) Clean, unlocked bathrooms (you laugh, but...)
b) Suitable internet access, including making sure CD is unfiltered. (This was an issue on 1618 early on; fortunately, it was unblocked quickly once the request went in.)
c) Enough white-board space to ensure we can write things as we desire without having to worry about erasing immediately.
d) Storage for several old robots, and decently-organized materials.
e) Doors wide enough to allow a robot with bumpers to fit through easily.
f) A real water fountain, one that puts out a stream of water about as thick as your pinkie finger. When it's easier to drink the water, people drink the water.
g) A fridge for storing team drinks. (We use the teachers' lounge across the hall for this task.)
h) Enough computers to do what we need to do, and enough space away from them when we need kids to focus. (This we have.)
i) Enough carpeted space to build the relevant field elements.
j) Enough tools to assemble a robot well. (We're not there yet, but we're slowly growing our resources.)
k) A large-format printer. (I used the University of South Carolina's for making 1618's last two robots' side panels, and it really has about the perfect combination of cost, flexibility, and visibility to do the job. I imagine we could also have some fun with monocoque, if we chose.)
l) The ability to allow a pair of vetted mentors to come in and run meetings without a school employee present. (Burnout kills, y'know.)

I may think up more later.

[Katie_UPS]

Massive server space, a comfy programming corner, (as everyone else said) maid service, an automatic can recycler (how awesome would it be to have a robot made out of recycles mountain dew cans!?!?), even better welding stations, Replicas of the most successful FIRST robots (so rookies can see how they work, and so we can figure out some engineering tricks...), food, and a massively awesome organization system, a feild, and many things that I prolly forgot.

[Andrew Schreiber]

My dream shop would simply be one that is well laid out and had some a mill, lathe, band saw, and an arbor press all logically placed so that when in use material is not having to be held across a doorway. A decent amount of the proper hand tools with ample storage space for them (labeled storage!).

Also on my wish list:
Students who are willing to learn.
Parents who are supportive.
School Administrators who support us.
A place for students to do homework (college mentors included ... cough uh me cough)
Some place where Flint's finest don't show up because an alarm somehow got tripped.
Room to set up half a field.
Internet access allowing us to access everything we need.

[Cooley744]

right now our team would really like a plasma cutter!

[dtengineering]

Originally Posted by IndySam

Andy Baker clone.

You are so right that a good person outranks a goood tool any day! Give a team some bright, enthusiastic, responsible students, a few dedicated, competent mentors and they can take care of the rest with hacksaws and a cordless drill if they have to.

Of course once you've got the people... well... the rest just makes it more fun! To add to everyone else's list:

Panel Saw, Table Saw, Compound Mitre Saw, Jointer, Planer, Bandsaw, CNC router (we build a lot of stuff from wood)

Bead blaster, belt sander, disc sander, wire brush, grinder, buffing wheel. (Polished aluminum looks better, don't you think?)

Big honking vent fans. (we have used polyester/fibreglass composites in the past... a bit stinky)

A bucket of unobtanium and a cold beverage for the mentors at the end of the night.

Jason

[artdutra04]

... always one more thing then we have right now.

It's that idea that has always kept us pushing harder in our fundraising efforts, without making everything look like pie-in-the-sky ideas.

Right now on our short list are DROs for our Bridgeport milling machine, a TIG welder, and the homemade powder-coating oven; just recently we approved the funds to buy a vinyl cutting machine. Other recent additions to our shop also include a used 36" inkjet plotter, an arbor press, and keyway broaches (still saving up for those hex broaches though ).