NameThatPart - Revision history

Chklnk: /* Composites */ More safety and issues with CF

2024-04-14T23:26:23Z

Composites: More safety and issues with CF

Chklnk: Relegated acrylic, added carbon-fiber

2024-02-03T22:57:28Z

Relegated acrylic, added carbon-fiber

Chklnk: /* Metals */ AR clarification

2023-03-06T04:27:14Z

Metals: AR clarification

Chklnk: /* Types of steering and locomotion */ Removed link, didn't render as planned

2022-06-26T23:59:38Z

Types of steering and locomotion: Removed link, didn't render as planned

Chklnk: +Steering and locomotion

2022-06-26T23:57:17Z

+Steering and locomotion

Chklnk: /* Parts for moving */ Wheels, gears, belts, chains, direct drive

2022-06-10T05:55:13Z

Parts for moving: Wheels, gears, belts, chains, direct drive

MarkR: /* Plastics */

2022-04-26T10:57:34Z

Plastics

MarkR: EVA Foam

2022-04-10T16:42:08Z

EVA Foam

MarkR: /* Composites */

2021-12-12T19:55:45Z

Composites

MarkR at 11:03, 29 September 2021

2021-09-29T11:03:14Z

@@ Line 23: / Line 23: @@
 **'''Safety:''' Use appropriate protective gear to avoid inhaling glass fibers when cutting or handling this material.
-* [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carbon-fiber-reinforced_polymers CFRP]: Carbon-fiber reinforced polymers are extremely strong and light. CNC milled carbon-fiber panels are common for weight savings in insectweight classes. It's also possible to buy professional 3D printing filament with continuous fiber, and there are many chopped carbon fiber filaments on the market.
+* [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carbon-fiber-reinforced_polymers CFRP]: Carbon-fiber reinforced polymers are extremely strong and light. Flat carbon-fiber panels are common for weight savings in insectweight classes. It's also possible to buy professional 3D printing filament with continuous fiber, and there are many chopped carbon fiber filaments on the market. However, flat sheets and panels are far stronger and as a result are commonly used.
-**Unlike the glass fibers in G10, carbon fibers ejected from damaged CFRP can short-circuit electrical components in your combat robot.
+**'''Safety:''' Use appropriate protective gear, including gloves, to avoid inhaling carbon fibers when handling this material.  Discard damaged panels.
 * Aluminium / aluminum composite panel aka "Dibond" or "Alupanel"

@@ Line 4: / Line 4: @@
 === Plastics ===
-* Polycarbonate: This material that is typically optically transparent which makes it ideal in situations where you need to see into your robot.
+* [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polylactic_acid PLA]: A thermoplastic often used in 3D printing. It is moderately strong but its ease of use makes it a popular choice.
-* PLA: Polylactic acid is a thermoplastic often used in 3D printing. It is moderately strong but it's ease of use makes it a popular choice.
-* ABS: Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene is also a common plastic used in 3D printing. It is stronger than PLA but can be more difficult to work with.
+* [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acrylonitrile_butadiene_styrene ABS]: Also a common plastic used in 3D printing. It is stronger than PLA but can be more difficult to work with, and offers no advantages compared to PLA except slightly lighter weight.
-* Nylon: This plastic is often used in 3D printings and its flexibility allows it to make very durable parts but more preparation is needed to use it successfully.
-* Delrin / Acetal: This low friction high durability plastic can be used instead of aluminum in some cases. Its much lighter but not as strong.
+* [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nylon PA, or Nylon]: Frequently milled or 3D printed to make strong, flexible robot combat chassis and components.
 * HDPE / UHMW: These high strength plastics are often used as armor. They tend to deform and bend instead of cracking or completely failing.
-* EVA Foam - a lightweight foam useful for things like wheels that will take damage. Could also be used for internal padding. Available in sheets of various thickness or cylindrical "dowel" .
+* [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polyoxymethylene POM] (Delrin, Celcon, acetal): This low friction high durability plastic can be used instead of aluminum in some cases. Its much lighter but not as strong.
-* Acrylic sheet / PMMA / Perspex / Plexiglass - this material is sometimes used because it is easy to laser-cut into nice shapes. Available in many colours, looks very nice and often used for signage. Not generally recommended for robot combat as it shatters easily. Could be used for non-combat parts such as safety brackets, cradles, jigs or cosmetic parts. Might be useful for sportsman / plastic classes where it's not going to get hit by a high-speed weapon.
 === Metals ===
@@ Line 25: / Line 41: @@
 *** S7: Shock resistant alloy that is suitable for impact weapons.
 *** 4041: Strong and easily hardened alloy. Often used as welded steel tubing in frames.
 === Fasteners ===
 List of common types and what they do
@@ Line 53: / Line 58: @@
 === Other hardware ===
 * [[Magnets]] - Rare Earth or Electromagnets can be used to increase the apparent downforce in a bot giving it an advantage.
 * Threaded rod - just a rod which is threaded along the full length so you can put many nuts on in different positions to e.g. hold parallel parts.
@@ Line 87: / Line 91: @@
 = Types of steering and locomotion =
 ===Tank steering===
 Wheels or treads on the left and right side of the robot can be spun in different directions. Very common since it allows great freedom of motion. Sometimes called skid steering or slip steering (there may be excess friction as wheels or treads slide). Tank steering allows the driver to turn in place without traveling, called zero-turn steering or turreting.

@@ Line 22: / Line 22: @@
 **Mild Steel: Low Carbon steel which is typically lower in cost and easier to work with.
 **Tool Steel: High Carbon alloys that can be very strong and resistant to deformation and abrasion.
-*** AR / Hardox: Abrasion Resistant steel often used as armor in larger bots.
+*** AR / Hardox: Through-hardened, Abrasion Resistant steel often used as armor in larger bots.
 *** S7: Shock resistant alloy that is suitable for impact weapons.
 *** 4041: Strong and easily hardened alloy. Often used as welded steel tubing in frames.

@@ Line 94: / Line 94: @@
 Mechanum wheels can be driven in all four directions, allowing sideways or "strafing" motion as well as forward and back. This requires the use of at least 4 motors and wheels.
-===Ackermann steering===[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ackermann_steering_geometry]
+===Ackermann steering===
 Often called car steering or servo steering, this is the kind of steering found on both real and R/C cars, where the front wheels both pivot to change the direction of motion, usually driven by a single servo. Easy to understand and drive, but because the robot can't turn around rapidly, it may not be able to react quickly to changing situations.

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-Knowing the name of things is part of the challenge of building things; it's difficult to do internet searches if you don't know the name of the thing you're looking for, even harder if you don't know it even exists. This page contains some things useful for building robots that you might not know the name of, so you can get a start.
+Knowing the names of things is part of the challenge; it's difficult to do internet searches if you don't know the name of the thing you're looking for, even harder if you don't know it even exists. This page names some things useful for building robots, so you can get a start on learning or research.
-== Materials ==
+= Materials =
 === Plastics ===
@@ Line 36: / Line 36: @@
 ** Very flat, generally good characteristics?
-== Fasteners ==
+=== Fasteners ===
 List of common types and what they do
@@ Line 52: / Line 52: @@
 ** Rivnuts / rivet nuts - a combination of a rivet and a threaded insert, i.e. a rivet with a thread inside so a machine screw can be screwed in - very handy.
-== Other hardware ==
+=== Other hardware ===
 * [[Magnets]] - Rare Earth or Electromagnets can be used to increase the apparent downforce in a bot giving it an advantage.
@@ Line 58: / Line 58: @@
 * Nut strips - a strip of (typically) metal with periodic threaded holes, perhaps at right-angles, to attach parts at right angles.
-==Parts for moving==
+= Parts for weapons =
 *Wheels (or hubs) hold tires and turn them. Some hubs come apart to make wheel replacement easier.
 **Tires are the part of a rolling bot that is in contact with the ground. Often a separate part that can be replaced. Good traction is important.
-**Mechanum wheels have rollers that allow a bot to move sideways.
+**Mechanum wheels have diagonal rollers that allow a bot to move sideways on command.
 *Tracks, treads
 *Axles, shafts, keys
@@ Line 79: / Line 86: @@
 **Flexible shaft couplings are used to dampen high impact shocks from being fully transmitted back to the motor.
-==Parts for weapons==
+= Types of steering and locomotion =
-==Electrical and electronic==
+===Melty steering===

@@ Line 59: / Line 59: @@
 ==Parts for moving==
-*Wheels and tires
+*Wheels (or hubs) hold tires and turn them. Some hubs come apart to make wheel replacement easier.
-**Mechanum
+**Tires are the part of a rolling bot that is in contact with the ground. Often a separate part that can be replaced. Good traction is important.
 *Tracks, treads
 *Axles, shafts, keys
@@ Line 67: / Line 68: @@
 **Gearmotors
 **Gearboxes, transmissions
-*Chain drive
+*Chains can transfer power from one shaft to another.
-*Belt drive
+**Chain drive allows two shafts to spin at equal speeds, or a fixed speed ratio.
-**Pulleys
+**Sprockets are toothed wheels that guide the links on chains.
-**Belts
+*Belts can also transfer power from one shaft to another.
-*Direct drive
+**Timing belts (toothed belts) are also meant for fixed speed ratios.
 ==Parts for weapons==
 ==Electrical and electronic==

@@ Line 40: / Line 40: @@
 ** Locking nut / Nyloc nut - a nut containing some plastic / rubber material which makes it self-tighten and resist e.g. vibrations.
 ** Threaded inserts aka "Insert nuts" - an internally threaded part which can be pushed or screwed into a softer material to allow a machine screw / bolt to be attached strongly and repeatedly. Some types
 * Rivets and other one-time fasteners