First Time Bulid, Diary, And Noob Questions!

All things antweight

Moderators: BeligerAnt, petec, administrator

HugoIsOnFire
Posts: 37
Joined: Sun Feb 14, 2016 10:16 am

Re: First Time Bulid, Diary, And Noob Questions!

Post by HugoIsOnFire »

Just a question, Ive seen that HDPE is more common, available in more thickness's and cheaper than polycarbonate, would 2mm or 1.5 mm HDPE be a suitable armour?
Procrastination Robotics


Propellant: flipper: construction phase
User avatar
joey_picus
Posts: 1137
Joined: Tue Jan 13, 2009 1:51 pm
Location: Lancaster, Lancashire
Contact:

Re: First Time Bulid, Diary, And Noob Questions!

Post by joey_picus »

It depends how you use it - 1.5mm or 2mm HDPE is certainly going to be suitable protection, but it behaves quite differently to polycarbonate when hit - it tends to bend or flex or tear, rather than break or crack as polycarbonate does. I've also found it flexes a bit much for use as a chassis material unless the design's very well thought out (see RONNY for an example with lots of bracing and welding). HDPE is lighter than polycarbonate, which can help, but it'll ultimately come down to personal preference and experience.
Joey McConnell-Farber - Team Picus Telerobotics - http://picus.org.uk/ - @joey_picus
"These dreams go on when I close my eyes...every second of the night, I live another life"
User avatar
Shakey
Posts: 1119
Joined: Sat Mar 13, 2010 8:38 pm
Location: Reading

Re: First Time Bulid, Diary, And Noob Questions!

Post by Shakey »

Polycarbonate will give you a much stiffer chassis than HDPE and can be bolted easier. HDPE is good if you want curves or flex.
Nuts And Bots - For all your components and ready built antweights!

Alex Shakespeare - Team Shakey / Nuts And Bots / Team Nuts:
AWS 44, 45, 49, 51 & 55 Winner - Far too many robots!
User avatar
BeligerAnt
Posts: 1872
Joined: Wed May 15, 2002 12:00 am
Location: Brighton
Contact:

Re: First Time Bulid, Diary, And Noob Questions!

Post by BeligerAnt »

Polycarbonate is usually available in a variety of thicknesses as A4 sheets from several UK sellers on Ebay.

Hopefully this link will work: http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_from= ... 4&_sacat=0
Otherwise search Ebay for "Polycarbonate A4"

As has been noted it is much stiffer and a little heavier than HDPE. For a rigid chassis you will need at least 2mm HDPE, probably 3mm, then you are faced with the task of drilling LOTS of holes in it to save some weight!

Good luck with it whichever way you decide to go!
Gary, Team BeligerAnt
HugoIsOnFire
Posts: 37
Joined: Sun Feb 14, 2016 10:16 am

Re: First Time Bulid, Diary, And Noob Questions!

Post by HugoIsOnFire »

What about aluminium? its available in ALOT of thickness's, and can be easily shaped/flexed
Procrastination Robotics


Propellant: flipper: construction phase
User avatar
Shakey
Posts: 1119
Joined: Sat Mar 13, 2010 8:38 pm
Location: Reading

Re: First Time Bulid, Diary, And Noob Questions!

Post by Shakey »

It can be bent but not flexed. This means spinner hits will twist the chassis horribly. It makes for far worse armour, honestly you can't go wrong with polycarbonate.
Nuts And Bots - For all your components and ready built antweights!

Alex Shakespeare - Team Shakey / Nuts And Bots / Team Nuts:
AWS 44, 45, 49, 51 & 55 Winner - Far too many robots!
HugoIsOnFire
Posts: 37
Joined: Sun Feb 14, 2016 10:16 am

Re: First Time Bulid, Diary, And Noob Questions!

Post by HugoIsOnFire »

Yeah, I'm just gonna go with 1.5mm polycarb, :D simple, cheap, effective. :)
Procrastination Robotics


Propellant: flipper: construction phase
Hogi
Posts: 1002
Joined: Sun Dec 30, 2012 6:47 pm
Location: basingstoke

Re: First Time Bulid, Diary, And Noob Questions!

Post by Hogi »

i've always used HDPE and it has to be said i've been smashed up by spinners more times than i can possibly remember so pollycarbonate is probably your best bet.

as for the sabertooth thing, i managed to burn one out on 2WD so botbitz or a nanotwo is more recommendable.

welcome to antweights by the way. :)
Daniel Jackson.

Team Hectic.

Many antweights

Super antweights: territorial.

Fleaweights: fleadom fighter, gaztons.

Featherweights: hectic (under construction)
Occashokka
Posts: 433
Joined: Sun Nov 30, 2014 9:34 pm
Location: Stroud,Gloucestershire

Re: First Time Bulid, Diary, And Noob Questions!

Post by Occashokka »

I've always managed with aluminium but you really need at least 1mm and to rebuild the front most events but mr shakey how could you say that abt my 3 hand bent beauties, yea that's right I can fit alu into a spinner so nothing is impossible.

Would still probably recommend plastics tho
Team Badger
Has a 3d printer now yay
-£4.82+VAT (intact)
-cool modulated printed thingy
-not yet built nasty mean spinnt thingy

I'm gonna build something huge and stupid, try and stop me :P
User avatar
Shakey
Posts: 1119
Joined: Sat Mar 13, 2010 8:38 pm
Location: Reading

Re: First Time Bulid, Diary, And Noob Questions!

Post by Shakey »

I've had alu armoured spinners.

It can work for armour but is not a good chassis material due to it having no flex. I've had spinners bend a 4mm alu chassis in half on a good hit that 2mm polycarb would have easily survived.
Nuts And Bots - For all your components and ready built antweights!

Alex Shakespeare - Team Shakey / Nuts And Bots / Team Nuts:
AWS 44, 45, 49, 51 & 55 Winner - Far too many robots!
Post Reply