1. Week 2) Motors & Controls Week 3) Pneumatics
FIRST Robotics 101
Week 1) Gears, Pulleys, Sprockets, Bearings
Week 2) Motors & Controls
Week 3) Pneumatics
Week 4) Materials & Fasteners
Week 5) Drivetrain and Framing Options
Week 6) Arm & Winch Options
Week 7) Team Building

2. Warlocks Materials Plastic Safety Man of Steel Glasses Smok’n
Super Safety Geek!
Plastic Safety
Glasses
Man of Steel
Smok’n
Nylon Noose to
Drag Him Offstage
Transparent
Polycarbonate
For Protection
Cloak of Bronze
Aluminum
Diamond
Plate
For Solid
Appearance
Warlocks
Imprinted with
Brass
Titanium Shoes (for Weight & Strength) with Rubber Soles so as not to damage carpet.
Carbon Fiber Framework for lightness

3. He isn’t worried. He has Bullet Proof Glass protecting him!
Polycarbonate
Polycarbonate is Bullet Proof Glass (What an Invention)
Oh No
Not again!
He isn’t worried. He has Bullet Proof Glass protecting him!
Warlocks

4. Materials
Now Seriously, Lets Talk about Materials.

5. Metal Density
Higher Density/Higher Weight

6. 80/20: Industrial Erector Set
80/20 Extruded Aluminum

7. Skyway Wheels Wheel Chair Wheels (Light) Beadlok Wheels (Grippy)
Rubber & Pneumatic Wheels
Wheel
Chair
Wheels
(Light)
Beadlok
Wheels
(Grippy)
Yes, Pneumatic
Wheels

8. Polyvinylchloride (PVC)
PVC Possibilities
Don’t Forget:
Polyurethane
Polyethylene
Vitron
Or Silicon Rubber
Plastic Plumbing on a Robot?
Why not!

9. Innovation First http://www.ifirobotics.com/
Speed Controllers/ Operator Interfaces/Robotic Controllers

10. Electronic Parts http://www.radioshack.com/ http://www.alliedelec.com/
Resistors/Switches/Electronic Boxes Sensors
Radio Shack
Allied Electronics
Newark Electronics

11. Material Weight Homework Assignment Material Weight Amount HT 80/20
Aluminum Plate
PVC
Brass
Bronze
Polycarbonate
ABS
Carbon Steel
Nylon
Nuts & Bolts

12. Fasteners Screws, Bolts and Nuts Nails (prototype only please) Tape
Metal, Wood, Set
Hex, Phillips, Slotted, Star, Allen, Square
Pan head, Flat Head
Nuts, Washers, Lock washers
Nails (prototype only please)
Tape
Electrical, Duct, Scotch, Double Backed
Welds
Steel
Aluminum
Rivets
Chain Connecting Links
Master Link
Half Link
Collars & Ties
Shaft, Zip Ties, Rope, String
Adhesives
Epoxy
Loctite

13. Screws Flat head Screw Driver for Slotted Screws Socket Head
(Allen Wrenches)
Phillips Head
Phillips Head Screw Driver

14. Bolts
Nuts
Socket
Set used
To Put
On/OFF

15. Left Loosey, Righty Tighty
Screw Size Decoding
Screw Count
6-32 is 6/64”=3/32” diameter 32 threads per inch
8-32 is 8/64” diameter 32 threads per inch
10-24 is 10/64” diameter and 24 threads per inch
¼ -20 is 1/4” diameter and 20 threads per inch
Remember:
Left Loosey, Righty Tighty

16. Drill & Tap Tap Drill & Tap Dies are used to put threads on rods
Why? Create your own screw hole in a slab of metal
Hole is drilled slightly smaller than screw hole (use drill and tap sheet) and a tap cuts the grooves for the Screw. Literally, the tap threads the hole.
Oil is used to lubricate while threading
In and Out technique is used to clear metal out of tapped hole
Dies are used to put threads on rods
Same technique!
Also, they make threaded rod.
Tap

17. Tap & Die Sets
Tap Set
Tap and Die Set

18. Tape & Glue Tread on Wheels; Small Sensors etc. Tape
Duct tape is not allowed on the robot to connect anything it is against FIRST rules.
Electrical Tape is only allowed on a robot to insulate wires.
Other tape is allow for decoration of the robot only.
Adhesives (Allowed)
Super Glue- Loctite
Epoxy, 2 Parts
Cement
Hot Glue
Tread on Wheels; Small Sensors etc.

19. Welding
Aluminum Welded Frames are the typical technology used in constructing a robot for the following reasons:
Removes Screws & Nuts from robot
Removes Brackets from Robot
Improves structural integrity- nothing gets loose
Smaller aluminum tubing can be used while keeping equivalent strength
Reduces weight up to 10 lbs.
Improves look and perceived quality of workmanship.

20. Riveting Impacted by Rivet Gun Rivets Rivet Gun Cuts and Deforms
Aircraft have used rivets since the 1920’s and 1930’s to improve aerodynamic performance while keeping the same structural integrity.
Aircraft use aluminum and rivets just like Robots. (This is interesting?)
Rivet Gun
Cuts and
Deforms
Impacted by Rivet Gun

21. Shaft Collars Keep Wheel on Shaft Wheel
Split Collars Clamps for Shafts
Shaft
Collars
Keep
Wheel on
Shaft
Wheel

22. Zip Ties

23. Roller Chain Links
Chain Connecting Links
Full Links
Half Links