Resources: Links
This page provides a list of Internet resources that Team NEMESIS has found to be helpful for the FRC competition. Select a category from the menu below...
Critical Resources
Top level site:
www.usfirst.org
The FRC specific page of www.usfirst.org:
http://www.usfirst.org/roboticsprograms/frc/default.aspx?id=966
The FRC discussion forums:
http://forums.usfirst.org/forumdisplay.php?f=743
FIRST Scholarships
http://www.usfirst.org/aboutus/content.aspx?id=508&terms=scholarships
Metal Working
CuiriousInventor.com has a cool collection of how-to and metal working videos: http://curiousinventor.com/guides/
Wikipedia article on tap/die:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tap_and_die
Control System Related Pages
National Intruments (makes the control system this year and supplies LabVIEW) FIRST specific information:
http://decibel.ni.com/content/community/first
WPI worked on the C++ programming environment this year:
http://first.wpi.edu/FRC/index.html
Team NEMESIS Specific
Our Yahoo Groups distribution list with complete archive:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/rhs_nemesis/
Sponsor Web Sites
Autodesk FIRSTbase. Autodesk allows the teams to use Inventor, 3ds Max and Combustion:
www.autodesk.com/firstbase
PTC, The Product Development Compnany™ allows the teams to use Pro/E, Windchil, and Mathcad:
www.ptc.com/go/firstgettingstarted
FIRST Related Web Sites
Excellent discussions on any/all FIRST topics:
www.chiefdelphi.com
LabVIEW training videos and other LV related resources:
http://frcmastery.com
Top Team Web Sites
http://www.usfirst.org/roboticsprograms/frc/content.aspx?id=7010
Kit of Parts Related Information
AndyMark, supplier for several FIRST components
www.andymark.biz
Information about the Jaguar motor controller
www.luminarymicro.com/jaguar
Specs for 2010 KoP Mabuchi motors:
http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/showthread.php?t=79829
Discussion of using KoP Fisher Price motors with BaneBots gear boxes:
http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/showthread.php?t=71170&highlight=fisher+price+gear+box
Robot Component Suppliers
BaneBots has CIM motors and planetary gear boxes for CIMs, Mabuchi, and Fisher Price motors:
http://www.banebots.com
McMaster-Carr, over 480K products, 470K of them can be used on the robot:
http://www.mcmaster.com/
McMaster has 1/2 bore drive sprockets which are perfect for the KoP Toughboxes BUT they DO NOT include the keyway! The picture for some steel sprockets shows the keyway but it's a generic picture. If you look at the specifications table for a specific sprocket it does say ANSI Keyway Size "none". which is easy to miss. You will have to broach the keyway yourself. It's made clear here on the sprockets overview page:
http://www.mcmaster.com/#catalog/116/1026/=5uxhwh
McMaster looks to have 80/20 aluminum extrusion and giblets. It's hard to find though. It's under "T-Slotted Framing" and the connector selection is limited:
http://www.mcmaster.com/#aluminum-extrusions/=5uxkd3
We've been using Tslot since they offer a discount for FIRST teams, but getting items from McMaster is much faster since we are so close to their Will-Call desk....
Tubular aluminum connectors. See Square Tubular Aluminum Supplies below.
Powerwerx has Anderson connectors:
http://www.powerwerx.com/
Pneumatics / Tubing
Worry-free plastic tubing:
www.freelin-wade.com
Extruded Aluminum Supplies
T-Slots offers a 30% discount to FIRST teams:
www.tslots.com
80/20® Inc. - The Industrial Erector Set®:
www.8020.net
Square Tubular Aluminum Supplies
Brunner Enterprises has nylon tubing connectors for tubular aluminum:
http://www.brunnerent.com
Another source of nylon connectors
http://www.estoconnectors.com
Metal-core connectors
http://www.eztube.com/connectors/connectors.html
(these have a metal core)
McMaster also carries these although they are very hard to find. It's under Press-Fit Framing Systems (scroll down to Fittings and Accessories), which is page 1919 in their current catalog.
http://www.mcmaster.com/#press-fit-framing-systems/=5uxyka
Wiring supplies
PWM cables and wire ("servo wire"), connectors, crimp tools, etc:
http://www.hansenhobbies.com/products/connectors/servowire
McMaster carries "zip wire" where the red/black is connected together (like ribbon cable) which greatly simplifies long wire runs. It's called Easy-Id Low-Voltage Cable in the catalog and available in most all FIRST required gauges:
http://www.mcmaster.com/#catalog/116/792/=5uy93m
Miscellaneous Supplies
Pool noodles:
www.poolcenter.com
Bumper Fabric
http://www.oldtrailfabric.com
Eye glasses shields
www.DiscountSafetyGear.com
