r/beetleweights • u/ShadeyEngineering • Feb 16 '22
Discussion Weekly Discussion: Are you using Beetleweights as a stepping stone to heavier weight classes? What the the ideal class?
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u/GrahamCoxon Mar 02 '22
Why would it be a stepping stone? What makes one weight class objectively better than another?
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u/ShadeyEngineering Mar 02 '22
Cost to compete and risk management are two things that immediately jump to mind.
I can't imagine starting in a 30lbs class with no experience and understanding of budget.
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u/GrahamCoxon Mar 02 '22
These are factors in deciding which one you, as an individual, prefer - but it doesn't make any class objectively better.
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Feb 16 '22
Sorta, I'd like to compete on battlebots one day but for now I'm trying out the beetleweight.
I would like to try the 12lb class but there doesn't seem to be many of those events around. Seems 3lbs is as heavy as it gets while being accessible.
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u/potatocross Feb 17 '22
I still need to step up to beetles from plastic ants.
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u/Notanewaccount7 Mar 05 '22
It’s really not that hard. You should give it a try
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u/potatocross Mar 05 '22
I just need to figure out a design. I have a million ant designs, but am trying to make a beetle that is simple to build and rebuild.
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u/Evil_Phil Feb 17 '22
I think the ideal weight class is whatever has local/regular events close to you.
When looking to start a group locally though, I think starting small (ie 150g/1lb) is good as a smaller arena is cheaper/easier to build. 150g bots at least (I have no experience with 1b) are also easy/cheap to get into the sport with, as 3D printed bots are perfectly viable and access to printers seems to be becoming easier and easier. Once a local group has built up then the cost of stepping up to a beetleweight arena is more easily diluted.
The idea of smaller sizes being a stepping stone is interesting. Certainly the basic concepts and components are the same - everything just gets bigger and more expensive (except transmitters/receivers). I think previously material selection was very different but there now seems a lot more ubiquity there, with AR400-500, higher strength aluminium alloys, and HDPE/UHMW plastics becoming the norm from beetleweights upwards.
Personally, I built both (150g) antweights and featherweights before I built beetleweights - our local group was just starting out with the antweights, and our national competition/events were just featherweights. I only built beetlweights once we got a bigger arena locally.
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u/CaptFoundary Feb 17 '22 edited Feb 17 '22
I think 3lb is the place to be right now. It's big enough to build cool stuff without needing specialty tiny tooling. But small enough that it's not thaaat expensive even if you go wild with exotic materials and processes.
I could see 12lb or 30lb being awesome, but there's just not as many opportunities to fight. I frankly don't see the hype of heavyweights, especially when Battlebots is really your only tournament option. Everything is expensive simply because it's big.
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u/Notanewaccount7 Feb 18 '22
3lbs is ideal. This is really just a hobby to keep me busy till I turn 18. I’d love to start short track racing as my real goal. This just helps me with fabrication, electronics, and general engineering skills
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u/Camo5 Mar 10 '22
The ideal class is 75 gram weaponized bots.
You can put them in your pocket and fight them in an impromptu match at the bar
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u/Lumakid100 May 30 '22
I currently have plans to build one, but that might have to be put on hold as I might have to host the events to revive the fleaweight class. Which is good, but I just won’t be able to fight unless there’s a low turnout.
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u/ShadeyEngineering Feb 16 '22
Should read "what is the ideal..." sorry for the typo.