Another game I play with myself
(and my helpers, often stray children)
is “where will it go?” When the saw
kicks back or bites too well, and the
cut object goes flying (and it will!), I
like to know that only solidly immovable, undentable things are in the
way. Second choice is a wide open
space, like across the yard.
A special problem is when the
safety guard has to come off, like
when cutting a dado (groove). This
increases the chances of a kickback
or runaway, and exposes the blade.
Even when by myself, I run through
my checklist out loud. “Where will
my hand go when I slip?” “Where
will it go when it gets tossed?”
“What happens at the end of the cut
when it falls off the table?”
If you Google images of “table
saw injury” you might see why I’m
such a fanatic about this topic. If you
look at my hands, you’ll KNOW why!
(I have eight fingers, two thumbs; all
original factory attachments without
surgical intervention). SV
Club Corner: Ohio Robotics Club Hosts Insect Event
● by Chris Olin
The Ohio Robotics Club (ORC) in
association with the Robot
Fighting League (RFL), Hobbytown
USA, Microbotparts, and Dimension
Engineering held ORC’s fourth
robotic combat event in the
Cleveland, OH area.
The event — House of Robotic
Destruction, Spring 2007 (HORD) —
drew 14 robot teams with a total of
27 robots from the 150 g (Flea
Weight), 1 lb (Ant Weight), and 3 lb
(Beetle Weight) classes. This event
featured many teams from Ohio,
Pennsylvania, and Michigan. In
addition, Team Hockey Runner
Robotics flew in with five robots
from Brentwood, TN; and Team
Apocalypse came all the way from
Mahwah, NJ to enter their one robot.
The event was held in the parking lot
of the Strongsville Hobbytown USA,
which is owned by Steve Broz.
Action started with
five flea weight robots
fighting a fierce round
robin tournament. Mr.
Bigglesworth and Buzzing
Flea tied for first place.
Meanwhile in Ant
Weight action, 11 robots
battled through a double
elimination bracket. Dr.
Super Brain’s Lab
Assistant rose to the top
winning five straight
matches. Cupbot came in a close
second and Criminal Mastermind
took third place.
Rounding out the event were 11
Beetle Weight robots fighting a
pitched battle through a double
elimination bracket. One Fierce
Javelin came back from the loser
bracket to claim first prize. Can of
Nuns came in second losing only to
Left to right: Evan Gandola, North Omlsted,
OH, driver of Criminal Mastermind; David
Winek, Brentwood, TN, driver of Cupbot;
Chris Olin, Perry Township, OH, driver of
Dr. Super Brain’s Lab Assistant.
Javelin and The Box finished in third.
Prizes were provided for the top
two finishers in each weight class
by microbotparts.com and Dimen
sionEngineering.com.
Look for future ORC event dates
at www.ohiorobotclub.org. SV
BATTERY PACK
CONSRUCTI N
All remote controlled vehicles
require some form of onboard
power. There are various methods of
providing that power, but for combat
robots the needs are fairly specific.
You need:
1) The appropriate voltage to operate
the motors and/or accessories
● by Ray Billings
that you use.
2) Enough amperage to power all
systems at once.
3) Sufficient capacity to last throughout
an entire match, with some reserve.
4) To fit within the size and weight
constraints available.
5) Possession the physical strength to
withstand the shock loads of combat.
FIGURE 1
SERVO 09.2007 27
