Regarding turning 2D drawings into parts, rhino is quickest. Solidworks is better but i'm not going to waste my time hehe. I need to screw into the panels along the edge, they're only 6mm thick so the screws need to bite in well but not put too much stresses into the plastic.

What i'm thinking I might end up doing now is designing a 'base' which can be modified for what they want, instead of them doing it ground up. Less work from me and more chance for that all important reliability.
_________________
( •_•)

( •_•)>⌐■-■

(⌐■_■)

YEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH

How many robots are you expecting to make? And who is fronting the bill for them?

Another reason to use rhino is the license fee.
_________________
Steven Martin
Twisted Constructions
http://www.botbitz.com

Bots will be made as they get paid for, I've told the clubs coordinator that the bots will cost about $150 in parts and frames will cost around $30, which he thought was reasonable when I broke it down for him. I won't be making any kind of profits on the parts but considering I'll be owning the CNC the only cost to me is time. The actual material is very cheap, I doubt i'll need to purchase more than one full 6mm sheet, which will be around $120 once the transport is factored in. I wonder how many bots could be made out of 2.4 x 1.2m of material. Using rhino will be ... under the radar... >_> For now.
The first few weeks will be designing and planning + teaching, giving time for the payments to come through and the orders to arrive.
_________________
( •_•)

( •_•)>⌐■-■

(⌐■_■)

YEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH

quote:

---

Originally posted by Nick:
I don't knowwhere you would get them locally, but these Plastite screws are way better for plastic than ordinary sheet metal screws: http://www.taptite.net/taptite/plastite.asp

I could order them from McMaster if you can't find them elsewhere.

---

quote:

---

http://www.hobbyparts.com.au/store/partslist/screwsselftappingforplastics/screwsselftapping/all/1/

---

lol wonder why smallparts has 3 identical websites under 3 different names

Yeah it's a bit weird. I found them on smallparts but the prices as usual from them are obscene, $130 for 100 fasteners can hardly be justified when a box of 100 normal ones cost $4 in in the hardware store. Cheers for the link though!
_________________
( •_•)

( •_•)>⌐■-■

(⌐■_■)

YEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH

The Plastite screws seem to be made from better steel and the threads are formed more precisely, so they are worth a bit more. I can get an 8-16 by 3/4" screw (between M4 and M5) for $7.56 per 50 at McMaster, I wonder where Smallparts get theirs?

Probably from mcmaster. That size is a little large, but the price is right. I'll have a look later for some smaller ones.
_________________
( •_•)

( •_•)>⌐■-■

(⌐■_■)

YEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH

Nice work on getting everything going. If you need any assistance i'd be happy to help. I think i've mentioned it before but i was thinking a similar sort of thing at my (jaemus.lindsay,dumhed) old school. If the 'course' is repeatable might try getting it going and expanding.

What was your school like with clubs before though? Mine didn't have clubs and such really
_________________
Farnsworth - "I hate these nerds. Just because I'm stupider than them they think they're smarter than me."

Hehe, I most certainly will need help later to make sure everything goes to plan! My old school always had clubs when I was there, and now they have a dedicated 'head of extra curriculum/club and sports' person. He was an old teacher of mine so we're on good terms. They asked me to do this club, so not sure how other schools would go if you just approached them. A transferable platform would definitely be a good idea though...
_________________
( •_•)

( •_•)>⌐■-■

(⌐■_■)

YEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH

Yeah I'm concerned that without that already existing club framework then it will struggle to be implemented in other schools. But I still think it's possible, and our club/sport needs an injection of enthusiasm.

After Bris-o-rama we need to sort out some planning ideas, and a plan to follow through with them.
_________________
Farnsworth - "I hate these nerds. Just because I'm stupider than them they think they're smarter than me."

Mmm more planning, does anyone know roughly how much I would expect to pay for 2mm ali plates, cheese grade? Would it cost more or less than 2mm garolite? Another option I suppose is polycarb... Need an easy to machine material for the top and bases, doesn't really need to be structural.
_________________
( •_•)

( •_•)>⌐■-■

(⌐■_■)

YEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH

What's Cheese grade?
2mm ali plate is very easy to machine
3mm 1.2m x 1.2m is $90 for 4mm $125
grade is 5005
polycarb 2mm 1.2m x 1.2m $90
what size plate?

If it doesnt need to be structual what is it for?

Cheese grade ie anything that bends and gets mashed easily, anything lower than 6061 in my opinion. Thanks for the numbers, all it's needed for is covers to hold the bot contents in (only small robots), so polycarb would be a better option at that price. I'm sure a full sheet is even more economical
_________________
( •_•)

( •_•)>⌐■-■

(⌐■_■)

YEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH