I have a blank space we are setting up for our build space. It is approx 500sqft. (We are hoping on other options but as of now this is what we have.) As a rookie team we are looking for new tools but have the basics to get us started. I’d love suggestions on things we will need in the shop? Links and pictures welcome.
Good news! 500 square feet is more than we get. 
If I were outfitting a new shop right now, here’s what I’d get:
- A bunch of shoebox-ish-sized plastic storage bins with lids. Organize your average-sized parts in them.
- Some tackle boxes for organizing the small crap.
- Some plastic shelves that you can set up and tear down easily. Works great for your pit too.
(Noticed how organization is top of the list? Trust me, it’s easier to start good than to get good.)
- Basic hand tools. Wrenches, sockets, screwdrivers, allen keys, drill bit set, files, files, a couple more files, deburring tool.
- Two good, identical hand drills, and at least one extra drill battery. (This way, you don’t have to hunt for a battery as much.)
- A chopsaw with a metal blade and hearing protection. (Great for cutting square tubing, but it’s loud. Plan accordingly.)
- Two hand riveters, a bunch of one size of rivet, and at least six drill bits sized for that rivet. (We standardized on the 5/32" rivet in 2014 because that’s what VEXpro uses on their gussets. If you need different grip ranges, get them–but someone would have to sell me on different diameters.)
With some smart use of COTS parts, this will get you to a sturdy structure for whatever the robot has to do out of square or rectangular tubing and sheet metal gussets (think VEXpro’s Versaframe), or angle aluminum if you can’t swing that. I’ve done variations of this setup with a few different teams, and it’s led to four blue banners over the years. It’s when we’ve tried to get fancier that things seem to go off the rails!
Welcome, and good luck.
COT parts??
COTS: Components off the shelf. Read the game manual from last year; this is how FIRST defines robot parts that you purchase vs. manufacture yourself.
Quick reply to tools recommended for a new FIRST Robotics Competition team build site (as recommended to the new Chinese teams for 2016)
Things to avoid in all cases!
• Adjustable wrenches (tends to damage corners of hex fasteners)
• Welding equipment (process is difficult to do well and repairs at an event become difficult)
Basic Minimums – Level 1
• First aid kit
• Safety glasses for everybody
• Hex wrenches (may need SAE and metric sizes) http://www.homedepot.com/p/TEKTON-Inch-Metric-Long-Arm-Ball-Hex-Key-Wrench-Set-26-Piece-25282/205539289
• Screw drivers (flat and cross-recess) http://www.homedepot.com/p/DEWALT-Screwdriver-Set-10-Piece-DWHT62513L/202710566
o Large
o Small
o Mini – for some of the electrical work
• Hand files (coarse and fine) http://www.homedepot.com/p/Husky-File-Set-3-Piece-22103HDN/203243960
• Pliers http://www.homedepot.com/p/Husky-8-in-Self-Adjusting-Slip-Joint-Pliers-48020/203288181
• Side cutters http://www.homedepot.com/p/Xcelite-4-in-Oval-Head-Semi-Flush-Diagonal-Cutter-MS54V/205692245
• Needle-nose pliers http://www.homedepot.com/p/KNIPEX-Heavy-Duty-Forged-Steel-8-in-Long-Nose-Pliers-with-61-HRC-Cutting-Edge-and-Multi-Component-Comfort-Grip-26-12-200/100668989
• Snap ring pliers http://www.homedepot.com/p/GearWrench-Combination-Snap-Ring-Pliers-1715D/205594173
• Locking pliers (do not use in place of proper wrench) http://www.homedepot.com/p/Husky-Locking-6-5-in-Long-Nose-7-in-and-10-in-Locking-Plier-Set-3-Piece-96850/203429493
• Electrical pliers and strippers http://www.homedepot.com/p/Klein-Tools-Kurve-Wire-Stripper-Cutter-11055/100630708
• Combination wrenches (open end/box end)– several of each common size will be needed http://www.homedepot.com/p/Husky-SAE-Universal-Wrench-Set-10-Piece-HSPW10PCSAEN/203203983
• Set of socket wrenches with a ratchet drive (may need SAE and metric sizes) http://www.homedepot.com/p/Promotional-Socket-Set-52-Piece-770002/204505322
• Hacksaw w/ several different pitch blades http://www.homedepot.com/p/HDX-10-in-Standard-Hacksaw-12150/204748830
• Tape measure, and ruler http://www.homedepot.com/p/Stanley-PowerLock-25-ft-Tape-Measure-33-425D/100019154
• Combination square http://www.homedepot.com/p/Johnson-Combination-Square-420EM/100353836
• Scissors http://www.homedepot.com/p/Wiss-8-1-2-in-Home-and-Craft-Scissors-W812S/205034015
• Set of drill bits http://www.homedepot.com/p/DEWALT-Titanium-Pilot-Point-Drill-Bit-Set-29-Piece-DW1369/202279644
• Swivel head rivet tool (optional if rivets are to be used) http://www.homedepot.com/p/Arrow-Fastener-Twister-Rivet-Tool-RHT300/100135850
• Bar clamps http://www.homedepot.com/p/DEWALT-Medium-and-Large-Trigger-Clamp-4-Pack-DWHT83196/205086878
• Mallet (prefer dead-blow) http://www.homedepot.com/p/Estwing-45-oz-Dead-Blow-Hammer-CCD45/202183856
• Ball-peen hammer http://www.homedepot.com/p/Estwing-16-oz-Sure-Strike-Ball-Peen-Hammer-with-Hickory-Handle-MRW16BP/203075910
• Staple gun http://www.homedepot.com/p/Arrow-Fastener-T50-5-in-Heavy-Duty-Staple-Gun-T50/100021099
• Dustpan and broom http://www.homedepot.com/p/HDX-Angle-Broom-with-Dustpan-750-441HDXRM/204357161
• Trash can http://www.homedepot.com/p/Rubbermaid-Roughneck-32-Gal-Black-Round-Trash-Can-with-Lid-1778013/100656030
Highly Recommended
• Chop saw (consider hearing protection) http://www.homedepot.com/p/Ryobi-14-Amp-10-in-Compound-Miter-Saw-in-Green-TS1345L/205105634
o Blade for wood
o Special blade for non-ferrous metals – works well for aluminum
• Drill press – variable speed http://www.homedepot.com/p/JET-15-in-16-Speed-Woodworking-Bench-Top-Drill-Press-354165/203695066
• Cordless drill w/ extra battery and charger http://www.homedepot.com/p/DEWALT-20-Volt-Lithium-Ion-Cordless-Brushless-Compact-Drill-DCD790D2/204210639
• Shop vacuum http://www.homedepot.com/p/RIDGID-6-gal-Wet-Dry-Vacuum-WD0670/205144661
• Digital caliper http://www.homedepot.com/p/General-Tools-Fraction-Plus-6-in-3-Mode-Digital-Caliper-147/100651811
• Set of Straight, Left & Right tin snips http://www.homedepot.com/p/BESSEY-Aviation-Snips-Set-3-Piece-D16-Set/205848745
Advanced – Level 2 - when budget allows
• Everything in Basic plus any/all of the following (portable equipment is advisable if workspace commitment is unsure)
• Taps and tapping wrench (size depends on need) http://www.homedepot.com/p/TEKTON-Inch-Tap-and-Die-Set-39-Piece-7558/205544444
• Band saw (consider assortment of blades with different tooth pitch and blade size for straight or curved cuts in various thickness of various materials) http://www.homedepot.com/p/Ryobi-9-in-2-5-Amp-Band-Saw-BS904/100593258
• Dremel-type hobby tool with assorted attachments (cutoff discs, grinding wheels, sanding discs, burrs) http://www.homedepot.com/p/Dremel-3000-Series-Variable-Speed-Rotary-Tool-Kit-3000-1-25H/203040434
• Circular saw (consider hearing protection) http://www.homedepot.com/p/Ryobi-13-Amp-7-1-4-in-Circular-Saw-CSB125/205216317
• Corded hand drill http://www.homedepot.com/p/DEWALT-3-8-in-Pistol-Grip-Drill-Kit-DWD110K/100634626
• Corded variable speed jig saw http://www.homedepot.com/p/Bosch-6-Amp-Top-Handle-Jig-Saw-JS260/202691138
• Table saw with a 10” minimum blade http://www.homedepot.com/p/Ryobi-10-in-15-Amp-Table-Saw-RTS10G/205216309
Expert – Level 3 – must have solid financial and facilities support (be wary of electrical requirements)
(only consider upgrades if the need supports programming machines and need for multiple parts)
• Manual vertical milling/drilling machine with digital X, Y, Z readouts http://grizzly.com/products/Mill-Drill-with-Stand-and-DRO/G0759
o Could upgrade to CNC mill
• Manual lathe http://grizzly.com/products/8-x-16-Variable-Speed-Lathe/G0768
o Could upgrade to CNC lathe
• Compressor for pneumatic tooling (pop rivets, die grinder/cutoff tool, brad nailer, stapler) http://www.homedepot.com/p/Porter-Cable-6-Gal-150-PSI-Portable-Air-Compressor-C2002/203162815
Read the rules several times once the game is released and plan to have fun and create a lot of energy within your team during the build/competition season.
And a few sturdy work benches…it is nice to have a good sized metal type vise on one of them, to hold parts when you are working on them.
Second the bench vises.
I’m going to go against the flow here and advise against the chop saw/ miter saw/ cold saw. They make a lot of noise, and hearing protection for the one person isn’t really enough. Especially in such a small area, the entire team will look at the operator with “angry eyes” every time they cut things; they are extremely loud.
Instead, I find that a bandsaw is far less scary to handle, cuts almost as fast, and is far more versatile. The only disadvantage is that some can’t handle longer pieces of tubing, but a solid hacksaw can cut the tubing to near the finish dimension and you can finish on your bandsaw. Make sure to get a bandsaw that is relatively large; tabletop ones will work, but the extra power is really handy.
A belt/circle combination sander is really handy for finishing things to final size and cleaning up bad edges made with saws.
A tabletop mill is also a good option if you have the money. I recommend a model like the Harbor Freight 44991. These are very handy for spacing out holes precisely and making bearing holes and such.
Don’t forget to buy tooling for your mill as well, such as a drill bit set, a machinist’s vise, endmills, (maybe) a boring head, and other various knicknacks.
If you still have money left, get yourself a small 7x12 lathe. Handy for making parts with hex shaft, putting holes in the ends of hex shaft, lightening gears, and other various jobs.
We cut all our longer pieces of extruded aluminum using a vise and hacksaw…we cut smaller stuff with a small benchtop band saw.
A hand held jig saw (saber saw) is also handy for cutting shapes of wood, metal, etc. Get some clamps to hold the material to the work bench.
Actually COTS stands for “commercial off the shelf” and it’s a very common industry term. It is, as you say, used to describe a part or component or piece of software that you can get from somewhere else, usually commercial sale of a mass produced item, and just start using, as opposed to fabricating a part yourself or having it custom made.
One other suggestion, if you’re having to outfit a whole shop: Look at discounted gift cards. I personally use (and sell) on Raise.com, where Lowe’s gift cards go for a pretty steady 8-9% off of their face value.
This is pretty far out of most bookkeepers’ comfort zone, so I’d talk to them well in advance to handle their (legitimate) concerns before trying this. But if you can swing it, it might save you a couple hundred bucks over the season between shop equipment and hardware for the build.