Newsgroups: comp.robotics
Path: brunix!uunet!nevada.edu!jimi!physics.unr.edu!equinox!bryson
From: bryson@equinox (Derry Bryson)
Subject: Re: Building Materials
Message-ID: <1993Mar24.050607.10864@physics.unr.edu>
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Organization: University of Nevada Reno
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References: <1993Mar22.101517.1@uwovax.uwo.ca>
Date: Wed, 24 Mar 1993 05:06:07 GMT
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On the subject of affordable robotics, I and a friend of mine have
each been working on robots for about 6 months and have found quite
a few good sources (not listed in the FAQ) for surplus, new, and 
otherwise parts useful in robots.

We each have probably $150 and around a bazillion (sp?) hours of 
work into our creations.  Each of our robots sports a 640K XT with
a 360K floppy (heavy), parallel ports, serial ports, game port, and
a monochrome video adapter.  I picked up the motherboard and cards
for $20.  Check your local computer stores (especially those doing
repair), there are a lot of old XT motherboards and cards out there.

For a power supply I bought a switching supply from some laptop for
$15 (Marlin P. Jones still has these).  It provides all the voltages
needed for the PC motherboard and cards and is pretty efficient 
(have to opto isolate everything though due to where its ground is).
We have found, however, that most motherboards will run on only the
+5 and some even pull less than an amp.  The floppy will require
+12, but that doesn't need to be regulated.  Unless you want serial,
this should work fine.

For batteries we picked up 14AH at 12V for $30.  For motors we got
some very common surplus satelite dish positioning motors for around
$30 (both motors).

I would suggest just looking around where you live.  Visit machine
shops, industrial supply stores, computer stores, junk yards, etc.
Bother everyone and let them know you are looking for cheap computer
equipment, motors, etc. and see what turns up.  Don't be afraid to
tell them what you are building, they usually seem amused and become
more helpful.

I would be happy to send the list of suppliers I have so far.

Derry Bryson
bryson@equinox.unr.edu

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We picked up 14AH at 12V for $30
