Ball Magnets

[IndySam]

Originally Posted by Alex Cormier

My team will be re-doing our ball magnet in the upcoming weeks. What we are doing is a dual roller setup. On the bottom, we are putting a square shaft at angle with dycem on it. On the top we are using the "45 - Technokats" rollers from AM. This will be awesome and already proven deadly from numerous teams.

If you are going to give a team credit for the name then you have to credit team 1018 The Pike Robo Devils and Mike Trapp. They developed the Entrapption star sold by AM and used by 45.

[kwotremb]

Originally Posted by ALTrammell818

They stated at Detroit that only certain brands were allowed. We used Duct Brand Carpet Tape during the Elims.

Basically you have to use tapes that are proven to "hold their shape" and not leave residue.

Actually it was a Scotch brand carpet tape that was supplied by the inspectors and deemed legal. As said above, we used it the entire second day. I dont think it worked quite as well, but it didnt leave the residue.

If others use this dont do it if you just have a pusher bot. We received a penalty during the finals because if you push a ball into the goals the ball will not come off and you will receive a penalty for carrying a ball. You have been warned.

Here is an example of what it is, it should be available at a Home Depot:
http://www.drillspot.com/products/29...arpet_Tape?s=1

[MarkoRamius1086]

On the subject of tapes, my team found two types of material very effective. The first was pipe insulator, very cheap and effective. The second was grip tape, the kind used in stairwells. We ended up using the grip tape, only because it was very very rugged, for the pipe insulator tended to discintegrate after awhile due to the high rpm we had our spin bar moving at.

[ALTrammell818]

Originally Posted by kwotremb

Actually it was a Scotch brand carpet tape that was supplied by the inspectors and deemed legal. As said above, we used it the entire second day. I dont think it worked quite as well, but it didnt leave the residue.

If others use this dont do it if you just have a pusher bot. We received a penalty during the finals because if you push a ball into the goals the ball will not come off and you will receive a penalty for carrying a ball. You have been warned.

Here is an example of what it is, it should be available at a Home Depot:
http://www.drillspot.com/products/29...arpet_Tape?s=1

As Kyle stated it is a terrible Idea to use it if you don't have a decent kicker!

[Chris is me]

Originally Posted by ALTrammell818

As Kyle stated it is a terrible Idea to use it if you don't have a decent kicker!

230's kicker is certainly "decent", they won a regional with it...

[Alex Cormier]

Originally Posted by IndySam

If you are going to give a team credit for the name then you have to credit team 1018 The Pike Robo Devils and Mike Trapp. They developed the Entrapption star sold by AM and used by 45.

ahh, very nice. I was not sure. I corrected my post.

[Tom Bottiglieri]

Corvette is to cars as Ball Magnet is to rollers.

Please use the term accordingly.

[BJC]

I think that as the season progresses team's ball magnets will advance and improve to the point where if you don't have one you won't be a contender, because someone will be able to do your job better than you.

That said let me share a quote from during build season.

Me-"So how well does the ball magnet work?"
Mentor Tim-"Well, it works really well going forward."
Me-"Soooo, then whats the point of having one? Couldn't we just push it?
Mentor Tim-silence
Me-silence
Mentor Tim-smirks

Anyways, the point is that I've seen a lot of ball magnets that hardly do anything. So, if your going to put the time into making one, make sure you know exactly how your going to make it and how its going to work. Don't just go at it blind. Good Luck

[Andrew Remmers]

Originally Posted by BJC

I will put it this way.

I would rather have a good ball magnet then a good kicker.

That being said depending on where your kicker kicks you limit your options.

Also by far the best ball magnet is the pincher which is generally about as wide as the robot and uses a spinning top roller to pull the ball into a clamped position. When doing this you want to make sure that you use small diameter rollers and cover it with somthing that doesn't slid on the ball (your choice). Also for best results the top roller should be spinning twice the floor speed and able to stop when a ball is possessed. Maby use a beam sensor. However, if trying this don't use a fisherprice because it will stall.

For reference, 217 67 910 27

We use a FP on our ball magnet and we have no problems with it works great! I'm not sure what the ratio to the roller is but i know we use a FP motor on the roller and we have faced no problems with it besides the wires not being properly crimped.

just my .02

Andrew

[jblay]

Originally Posted by BJC

I think that as the season progresses team's ball magnets will advance and improve to the point where if you don't have one you won't be a contender, because someone will be able to do your job better than you.

Well they also work going backwards depending on if you gear the thing properly. The trouble really occurs when you are turning. We find that if we turn too quickly the ball slips out.

If any team has found a solution to this I'd love to know how.

[Chris is me]

Originally Posted by BJC

I think that as the season progresses team's ball magnets will advance and improve to the point where if you don't have one you won't be a contender

2006:
"Can't reload? You're done." (522)

2007:
"Can't place tubes? Count yourself out!" (Several division finalist ramps)

2008:
"If you can't hurdle, you can't win." (148)

2009:
"If you can't floor load, you won't make the finals." (118, Archimedes)

Just a healthy reminder to never say never when it comes to robot functions.

Despite my posts on the matter and my inability to hold my tongue, I do believe possession is the most important part of the game. At least, for my robot. I just can't help but feel for certain robots and teams, ESPECIALLY 230, this is not a cut and dry issue where everyone should just come and say "Yeah, yeah, you NEED this, or you suck and won't make elims".

I'll shut up now, I just felt compelled to add that.

[BJC]

Originally Posted by Chris is me

2006:
Just a healthy reminder to never say never when it comes to robot functions.

Despite my posts on the matter and my inability to hold my tongue, I do believe possession is the most important part of the game. At least, for my robot. I just can't help but feel for certain robots and teams, ESPECIALLY 230, this is not a cut and dry issue where everyone should just come and say "Yeah, yeah, you NEED this, or you suck and won't make elims".

I'm sure that 230 is good, but I'm also sure that if they made a good ball magnet they would be better.

After all being able to shoot from the far zone is a great attribute, why not do it all match all leave the opposition with nothing to score with... oh, you don't have a ball magnet so it would take forever to line up... BUT WAIT, NOW YOU DO HAVE A BALL MAGNET, I want YOU on my alliance.

[BJC]

Originally Posted by Joyride_67_1902

We use a FP on our ball magnet and we have no problems with it works great! I'm not sure what the ratio to the roller is but i know we use a FP motor on the roller and we have faced no problems with it besides the wires not being properly crimped.

just my .02

Andrew

I was refering to when you are using a pincher where the rollor (fisherprice motor) has to stop suddenly. Fisherprices can't handle this because they will stall. I'm not sure if you are using this ball possession method, but if you are you must have modified the motor in some way.

[NOV8R]

As the American Express ad says "Don't leave home without one" Here's a video of our ball magnet and shooter working together. Btw, the ram light on top tells the driver when he's in possession of a ball. http://www.rambotics.com/video5.html

[Chris is me]

Originally Posted by BJC

I was refering to when you are using a pincher where the rollor (fisherprice motor) has to stop suddenly. Fisherprices can't handle this because they will stall. I'm not sure if you are using this ball possession method, but if you are you must have modified the motor in some way.

Friction-based power transfer (polycord, timing belt flipped upside down, etc) that works like a clutch when sufficient resistance to spinning is met can do this without modifying a motor.