We’re Charger Robotics (FRC 7174) and ProtoBots (FRC 8427). We’ve been given the opportunity to receive some potential funding, and we’ve been asked to put together a list of tools, equipment, and resources we’d like to have for our teams.
We already have some basic tools like drill presses, chop saws, band saws, table saw, sanders, drills, and hand tools, but we’re looking to expand and level up with some new equipment and resources!
Before we finalize anything, we’d love to get your input! Here’s the link to what we’ve put together so far: Wishlist Spreadsheet.
If you’ve got some time, we’d love advice on things like:
What to prioritize: Are there must-haves we should move to the top of the list?
Stuff we missed: Are there tools or items you’ve found super useful that we don’t have on here?
Big-picture investments: Ideas for things that will last us a long time and give us the most bang for our buck.
I’d highly recommend looking at Spectrum’s FIRST $2000 spreadsheet for tools, it includes great recommendations going from the absolute basics to big-ticket dream items.
We actually went over their list, including the $10,000 one too. A lot of the items they have suggested we already have, so that is why we are trying to curate this list for ourselves.
Current tools include, drill presses, chop saws, table saw, band saw, sheet metal bender, DeWalt drills and various other hand tools. We do not have a CNC or anything for automated manufacturing, but the tools we have sufficed our needs until now.
Now that you mention the roboRIO we do already have quite a few on hand, V1 and V2 so maybe we could use that budget elsewhere, thanks.
As for the motors we still plan on using Falcons and Krakens (we surprisingly still have functioning Falcons), with the vortexes just being on hand in case the through bore shaft is more useful in a certain mechanism. But yes, we may consider shifting our budget around to maybe get more motors.
This is the router my team uses Shapeoko 5 Pro CNC Router - Carbide 3D its also a 4x4 router, USB and only 3500 rather than 9k… we use it at least once a week in the offseason and almost daily Jan - March.
3D printers wise I always reccomend the ones I use at home and in my shop which are the eleegoo Neptune 4 max, they print in PLA, PETG, ABS, TPU and have a massive print bed. Personally I want a Bambu X1 Carbon
This looks pretty good, what addons, tools and training would you suggest we should need with this? Full honesty our team does not have much experience with a CNC router so just want to make sure we cover all bases
We currently have 2 Dremels and quite a few Ender 3 V2s. I know they are not the best, but for PLA stuff they have been decent. I do have a modified Bambu P1S which I used for more complex engineering materials which I plan on using for the team. If the budget allows we might get 2 P1S or X1C
Yup, our CNC has been one of our largest tools for prototyping and Polycarb. I would also say that a drill press is pretty nice to have around. (though the CNC can do it for some items, its nice to have both going at once).
I’ve always been a big advocate for manual machining, and we’ve found our manual mill and lathe both very useful, but I know its not something for everyone. Picking up some used manual machines would be relatively inexpensive and they last forever with practically no maintenance.
This is a link for our CNC Guide, it has not been updated in 2? years and we wrote it right before ordering the Shapeoko 5 pro we used the 3 XXL. The set up is still identical except the 5 Pro has a bit Zero where the 3 XXL does not. The steps are the exact same, I plan to have someone rewrite the guide specifically for the 5 Pro and they will update the doc soon. f(x) Robotics CNC Guide.docx - Google Docs
If you are planning on doing vision, I would include some orange Pi’s, arducams (color and monochrome), as well as some pololu 5v regulators, zinc-v’s, or the shiny new mitoCANdria for power. Also if you don’t mind spending 4$ more per battery, the TTB grasshopper nuts are a nicer option than the andymark battery hardware kit
Edit: I didn’t see the limelights but I still think orange pi’s are a good thing to have on hand
We upgraded to a Shopsabre 23 router and are quite happy with it. Various other routers all have their satisfied customers. Its probably your biggest ticket item so do lots of of homework before a decison.