Battle bot building plan

When it comes to building a BattleBot, remember that you’re building a machine, so you’re
going to need tools beyond your standard hammer and nails. You’ll need utilities that can cut
and drill through metal, not to mention melting it together. Specifically, you’ll need electric saws,
a drill press with a range of drill bits, a soldering iron, a welder, and a sheet-metal brake so you
can easily bend and fold metal into the shape you need for the frame.
Machinist tools: 600

The holy grail of BattleBot frames and armor is titanium. It’s even more durable than steel, and
insanely lightweight. However, it’s expensive and difficult to work with. Most designs utilize
aluminum. It’s not the sturdiest metal in the world, but it is incredibly strong considering its low
weight. You can order sheets of the metal in a variety of sizes. Once you have your design for
your BattleBot sketched, it should be easy to determine how much you’ll need.
Aluminum framing: 50

LiPo (or lithium polymer) batteries are the most commonly used in the BattleBot world, prized
especially for their light weight, ability to pack a lot of power, and high discharge rate. The size
you buy will depend on the size of your BattleBot. Remember, unless you know some hacks for
supercharging a little robot with a big battery, keep your power pack size proportionate to the
frame of your robot. Controlled size and weight are key in the arena.
Lipo battery pack: 190

Here we’re getting into what really makes your BattleBot tick. The motor determines your
robo-warrior’s speed, strength, stamina, resilience—all the biggest attributes you could imagine.
When it comes to choosing the right motor for your battlebot, remember that the more
lightweight the better, and you’ll want something that fits snugly inside the frame. Even better if
there’s room inside for extra armor or cushioning around the motor to protect it from heavy
blows. Brushless motors, the newer technology in the field, seem to be the favorite for BattleBot
enthusiasts because of their light weight and awesome performance, but they are more
expensive than the old-fashioned brushed motors.
Battlebot motor: 300
Now’s the time to let your imagination run wild. The weapon will probably play a major role in the
name of your newborn BattleBot as well. Is your creation going to be crushing opponents with a
heavy-hitting mallet or a hard-chopping axe? What if it utilizes some sort of flipping mechanism
so it can send opponents flying into the air, smashing to bits when they hit the concrete? Dare
we suggest a flamethrower? Whatever your weapon of choice, just make sure your motor can
handle it.
Battlebot weapons: 100
The controller and receiver are simultaneously the most important and most overlooked aspects
of your BattleBot. Without them, you can’t make your glorious creation move. Or do anything,
really. To bring your BattleBot to life, experts recommend an RC controller with three to four
channels to specifically handle your machine’s movement and control its weapon. Go for
something shelf-ready, as well, to keep things nice and easy. The reason you see most
BattleBot owners controlling their warriors from the sidelines with clunky RC, rather than, say, a
converted PS4 controller, is because they would have to customize the interface. And nobody
has time for that when there are battles to be had!
RC controller: 120

Total pricing range:

$1,360-$2,000