hey everyone i need some help from the team who use suitcases fot there controls. where can i find a nice economical black aluminum or hard case suit case. ive been looking at aluminum rifle cases but they are a little pricey.
any help would be fantastic. thanks.
I know 1538, the Holy Cows, in San Diego have a really awesome control suitcase. You can try and get in contact with them!
Good Luck in your search!
our team just when to a little nick nack shop and pick ours up for last year.
We’re using an aluminum case for our controls this year. It was $20 at a local Menards. Its nothing fancy, but it works and its simple.
Who you think the holy cows got the suitcase idea from? How about their team name…1538 The Holy Cows > 1266 The Devil Duckies ring a bell? HA!We love them oh so much though:D
Our suitcase is made of red and black aluminum, a little smaller than Holy Cow’s though. No need to call us though 
Easiest way to make a control case is to buy a suitcase of some type and get creative with some foam and cardboard/metal/wood or some other material to make tiny walls and platforms.
If you want a really stylish one, you should get a Halliburton. 
http://photos.project1726.org/albums/userpics/10009/normal_IMG_5691.JPG
Unfortunately, new ones are very pricey… This one came from a thrift store.
we were wanting topget a 45 inch long one but if not we’ll consider it 
The problem with a 45 inch long operator console, is that it’s 45 inches long! big pain to carry it around. Took us a couple years to figure that out.
true but if you see im my WAI im a big guy:D hopefully im the one who gets to carry it around.
It’s also a pain for whoever helps the team haul the robot around to after-season robot demonstrations…
We’ve used a digital electronics breadboard trainer that was hollowed out lst year. Worked well for us.
Lenny8,
I’m from the Holy Cows team and was the one who created the control system every year. I’m not sure where I ordered the suitcase from but I remember it was about 80 dollars online. I’d suggest checking on amazon for one, they usually have pretty decent prices. Good luck.
-Dan
Team Holy Cows
Team #1538
Electrical Engineering Alumni
Actually Johnny, we started using a briefcase in 2006. You guys didn’t start until 2007. I remember you guys having the go to the home depot in Atlanta that year to buy casters for your controller because it weighed so much. But this doesn’t matter.
Dan did do a lot of work on our controllers the past two years, but the original designers of our briefcase in 2006 were Aymen R., Iain H. and Andrew B. We went through about 2, maybe even 3 revisions that first year, but the changes made in those revisions made Dan’s job much easier these past two seasons.
The briefcase we use is:
http://www.dealsonbags.info/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=2104&category_id=3&manufacturer_id=107&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=26
We first remove the shoulder strap and cut out all the webbing inside the attache.
We use an 1/8" sheet of textured polypropylene from McMaster-Carr and the inside cover. We measure the maximum height from the bottom of the case to the bottom of the cover (I believe it’s about 2.5-3"). We make appropriate standoffs that are tapped on both sides. We use countersunk screws on both sides to secure the plastic. This provides a clean, flush bottom and top.
From there it’s up to you. How many controls and their appropriate positioning is up to you.
We prefer the textured plastic because it’s light, easy to work with, hides scratches and gives the inside cover a more professional look compared to a smooth or matte plastic. Our first version of the brief case in 2006 used an aluminum plate. This added a little weight to the controller and also looked pretty ugly. I wouldn’t recommend using an aluminum plate unless you can sand and paint it, anodize it or powder coat it.
You should also be mindful of the added height of the Driver Station this year over the IFI Operator Interface. On the same note, keep the clearance you have on the underside of the cover. There are buttons that look cool, but barely fit, if at all.
Hope this helps,
Jon