I am personally at uni doing research all summer and will have a lot of spare time and have people who can help me so it shouldn't be an issue getting the arena built. (Though there would be bolts everywhere and welds nowhere)
Certainly it is possible to have the event start late enough for NSW people to reasonably get there without missing Thursday, the bots that get there early can entertain for a short while, but ideally we'd look to start around 1pm at the latest. Depends how much you guys like your sleep
Because this is the inaugural event, I think that we should tip the balance towards publicity over our own convenience/enjoyment. In following years once the event has been established we would be able to run it on weekends with less of a disadvantage.
Tue Oct 14, 2014 10:24 am
Nick Experienced Roboteer
Joined: 16 Jun 2004
Posts: 11802
Location: Sydney, NSW
Sounds reasonable .
Is it too early to start drawing up plans for the arena? We have plenty of practical experience from years of events and something modelled on the QLD arena should be easy enough to knock up. I will also have loads of free time over summer and as I will be visiting family in the ACT, I could spend a couple of days helping with cutting and welding the frame. _________________ Australian 2015 Featherweight champion
UK 2016 Gladiator champion
Tue Oct 14, 2014 10:34 am
Thomas AIC
Joined: 22 Jun 2009
Posts: 151
Location: Canberra
I've been talking to Daniel about the arena and have a good idea of the expectations, though I am not committing to a carbon copy of that design yet.
Your assistance and anyone elses would be greatly appreciated in construction, as I am not skilled in that area
Tue Oct 14, 2014 10:52 am
Nick Experienced Roboteer
Joined: 16 Jun 2004
Posts: 11802
Location: Sydney, NSW
Compared to the QLD arena, I would make a few small upgrades if the budget covers it:
* Make the steel panels at the bottom of each panel a bit thicker gauge. The QLD arena has gathered a few dents over the years and thicker is safer (also easier to weld).
* Make the vertical panel borders from 25 x 25 steel tube and the horizontal parts from 20 x 50 tube - its much easier to get a strong weld using different sized tubes this way.
* Use commercial aluminium truss for the roof support; it has a certified load rating and making your own truss is very time consuming.
* The panel base supports should be interlocked so the walls cannot bow out. Its not a major problem with the QLD arena but looks bad when it happens. _________________ Australian 2015 Featherweight champion
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Tue Oct 14, 2014 11:54 am
Valen Experienced Roboteer
Joined: 07 Jul 2004
Posts: 4436
Location: Sydney
Ideally double skinning the steel wall would be great, heavy though
(so the inner wall can get beat/cut up, but the crowd facing side doesn't get damaged) _________________ Mechanical engineers build weapons, civil engineers build targets
Tue Oct 14, 2014 3:17 pm
Nick Experienced Roboteer
Joined: 16 Jun 2004
Posts: 11802
Location: Sydney, NSW
Good idea; the outer layer could be much thinner or just plywood could be used. _________________ Australian 2015 Featherweight champion
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Tue Oct 14, 2014 3:48 pm
Valen Experienced Roboteer
Joined: 07 Jul 2004
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Location: Sydney
I wouldn't want to use anything that could splinter,
But yeah you could go like 1mm or so if you welded it around the edges to the frame (so it didn't get dented too bad from outside, that or pre-dent them ;->)
I have some heavy duty nylon fabric we could potentially use. Mainly we just want to catch any splinters coming off the internal steel or off whatever is hitting it. _________________ Mechanical engineers build weapons, civil engineers build targets
Tue Oct 14, 2014 4:13 pm
miles&Jules Experienced Roboteer
Joined: 19 May 2010
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Location: ipswich QLD
The Qld arena has got an outer coating of mdf for looks…. but nothing have ever fully penetrated the arena sheet metal yet….thicker sheet metal will make them even heavier to move. is it 2mm or 3mm? _________________ Miles Blow - Julie Pitts
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Thu Oct 16, 2014 10:10 pm
Nick Experienced Roboteer
Joined: 16 Jun 2004
Posts: 11802
Location: Sydney, NSW
Yeah, those panels sure were heavy! I think I would rather do the lifting rather than have Decimator or Scissorhands punch thru and hurt someone though. _________________ Australian 2015 Featherweight champion
UK 2016 Gladiator champion
Thu Oct 16, 2014 10:26 pm
Valen Experienced Roboteer
Joined: 07 Jul 2004
Posts: 4436
Location: Sydney
MDF would be OK, it goes fluffy rather than splintery like ply.
Any dampness and it'll be screwed though, and MDF is heavy. _________________ Mechanical engineers build weapons, civil engineers build targets
Fri Oct 17, 2014 9:36 am
Knightrous Site Admin
Joined: 15 Jun 2004
Posts: 8511
Location: NSW
Considering how well the 3mm mild steel has survived on the QLD arena, some 1/8" Hardox 450 would be an serious upgrade.
RPG in Brisbane can supply this, even cut to size via laser cutter. Speak to Nick Arnold. _________________ https://www.halfdonethings.com/
Fri Oct 17, 2014 11:30 am
Nick Experienced Roboteer
Joined: 16 Jun 2004
Posts: 11802
Location: Sydney, NSW
Wouldn't the freight be as much as the steel? _________________ Australian 2015 Featherweight champion
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Fri Oct 17, 2014 12:25 pm
Thomas AIC
Joined: 22 Jun 2009
Posts: 151
Location: Canberra
So that you're all aware: the maximum funding we could receive for the arena is $5000. I will be trying to use suppliers through the university to arrange discounts and such, but lets keep cost in mind.
Fri Oct 17, 2014 1:17 pm
Nick Experienced Roboteer
Joined: 16 Jun 2004
Posts: 11802
Location: Sydney, NSW
$5K sounds reasonable, particularly if you can get discounts on the polycarb. If you can't find a supplier for something, just ask. _________________ Australian 2015 Featherweight champion
UK 2016 Gladiator champion
Fri Oct 17, 2014 1:27 pm
Knightrous Site Admin
Joined: 15 Jun 2004
Posts: 8511
Location: NSW
quote:Originally posted by Nick:
Wouldn't the freight be as much as the steel?
I can currently help with that as I'll be doing a few trips back and forth from QLD to NSW for the next few months. _________________ https://www.halfdonethings.com/
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