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FTC Mechanical design considerations 2012 edition. by: Andrew Rudolph. What we’re going to talk about. the rules. ideas. manipulators. 2012-2013 rules. You’ve already read them right?. rules. Only can use preformed robotics components from: Lego Tetrix Matrix. matrix.
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FTC Mechanical design considerations 2012 edition by: Andrew Rudolph
What we’re going to talk about the rules ideas manipulators
2012-2013 rules You’ve already read them right?
rules • Only can use preformed robotics components from: • Lego • Tetrix • Matrix
matrix • Designed to bring costs down of FTC overseas • Designed off standard lego grid • Different motors • Different motor controllers • Different Gears and wheels • Possibly thinner metal • Belt system • CV Axles • Check some of the offerings at: • http://matrixrobotics.com Observed at World Cmp
http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/showthread.php?t=106017 matrix
rules • Only COTS (Custom Off The Shelf) items allowed: • Linear Slide • Non-motorized Turntables and Lazy Susan • Lead screws and threaded rod plus compatible nuts • Servo Blocks • #25 Chain and connector or half links
rules • Unlimited in quantity or size of the following: • Raw material available to all teams from standard distributors • Standard bearings or bushings • Fasteners • Rope, Cord, Cable, monofilament, … • Rubber bands • Latex tubing • Zip ties • Nonslip pad without adhesive backing • Electrical solder, tape and any type of glue/cement • Any COTS lubricant as long as it doesn’t get on stuff
materials • Readily available from many retailers • Cut and drill with simple tools • Strong and lightweight • Most commonly 6061 Aluminum • 7075 Aluminum for higher strength www.onlinemetals.com Extrusions www.8020.net
materials • Readily available from many retailers • Cut and drill with simple tools • Or Water Jet, Laser Cut, CNC Break for complex parts Sheet metal
materials • Lexan (NOT ACRYLIC) easy to find and work with • Bend with heat • Lots of shapes and different mechanical characteristics available Polycarbonate (lexan) Coroplast Sintra Teflon Nylon Delrin HDPE Plastics
materials You can now Rapid Prototype Parts! You can now 3D print Parts! ABS Polycarbonate PLA Plastics
materials Steel wire rope Paracord 150 lb test = 0.56mm diameter Solid steel wire Rope, cord, etc… Braided fishing line
88725K33@ McMaster for $2.68 for 3’ materials Drill rod (tool steel rod) Bushing 6338K311@ McMaster for $0.75 ea! Lubricants Lead screw or Acme screw Shoulder Bolts drive components Linear Bearing
Lifts! You mastered these last year…right?
lifts We saw them last year
lifts What did we miss last year? Precision lifting Variable position lifting Lifts go up Lifts go down
lifts • Short height, Wide base • Lift over base • Requires lots of power • Lots of moving parts • Difficult to synchronize two sides • Difficult to lift from ground • Difficult too have finite control • Poor lateral loading Scissor lift
lifts FRC 343 circa 2000 Lead screw or Acme screw
lifts • Simple to build • Can move fast • Can reach fore and aft • Light weight • Object orientation changes • Strong Lateral load • Lift outside base • Object orientation changes • Difficult to multi position • Do not lift high Single joint arm
lifts • Lots of freedom • keep lift inside or outside of base • complex to build • heavy • Lots of motors • Difficult to control multi joint arm
lifts • Simple to build • Light weight • Object orientation stays the same • Lift outside base • Lots of torque required at shoulder Four bar linkage
lifts • twice the weight of four bar • Object stays the same • Higher lift than four bar • Lift outside base • Lots of torque required at shoulder • More joints to create friction and wobbles six bar linkage
lifts • Straight lift • multiple positions • small footprint • COMPLEX • difficult to maintain • high CG Telescoping
lifts Combine multiple mechanisms hybrid
Ideas General design practices
ideas What tasks within my strategy do I need to perform? Let strategy drive your robot design, not the opposite • Are you going to… • acquire it? • manipulate it? • store it? • lift it? • position it? • release it?
ideas Think like a robot about the game piece • What does the game piece look like from the robots POV? • What are all the ways the game piece could lay? • What is the most usable or stable position? • How does the object react?
ideas other design considerations Maximize your “Acquisition Zone”
ideas other design considerations Alignment Devices
ideas other design considerations Make it easy to drive
ideas other design considerations Will stray objects interfere?
ideas other design considerations Keep your Center of Gravity (CG) low
ideas other design considerations Design is an iterative process
ideas Some design mantras Really, simple IS better. You don’t have to prototype everything… Just the parts you want to work. Assume nothing. Sometimes wild ideas lead to champions.