top of page
Building
Building: Welcome
General Building Tips
Building: Text
Always Make Your Chassis as Strong as Possible
You want your robot to be heavier on the bottom, and lighter at the top, making it faster and stronger. A strong base means a stronger and faster robot!
Don’t Add Any Parts That You Don’t Need
Only use parts that you need. Just because you have a ton of parts on your robot doesn't mean that your robot is strong and stable. Having minimum pieces with strong connections can make your robot much more stable, along with making it faster.
Make Your Robot Symmetrical
If possible, make your robot to look the same on the left and the right, so that it is balanced and stable. Big differences between the two sides of your robot affect the robot's turning and ability to go straight.
Use Rubber Bands to Aid Your Main Arm (Or Any Mechanism)
Rubber bands can help take off some of the power from the motor, preventing motors from burning out. By increasing torque, they can also help your robot's arm lift heavier items if the motor or gear ratios aren't strong enough.
Rebuild after a Competition
If you want to have a better robot for your next competition, rebuild. Build on the stronger aspects of your robot and improve what needs improving. By constantly redesigning and rebuilding, you are sure to do better in every competition.
Keep Your Brain and Battery Accessible
Don't put your brain and battery somewhere in your robot that is difficult to access. You will need to access these to swap out batteries and to run autonomous programs during competitions, and you want to avoid taking pieces apart.
Building: Text
VEX IQ Building Tips
Building: Text
Building with VEX IQ parts is similar to building with Legos. It's quite easy to get the hang of it, but there are some things that you can do to help you build the strongest robot possible.
Make Sure You Have Strong Supports
Pieces like angle connectors are very useful to help make your supports strong. If your supports are weak, then your robot will be wobbly and won't function as well as you want it to.
Don’t Always Use Double Pieces — Single Pieces Work Too!
Double pieces may look sturdier, but single pieces work just as well, and even better in some situations. Double pieces also add weight, so only use them if you have too!
Use Capped Pegs over Double Sided Pegs
Capped pegs are stronger than double sided pegs, so they won't bend, and will give you a more stable connection.
Use Omni Wheels
Omni wheels are a lot better than regular wheels in VEX IQ competitions. They allow you to turn your robot faster than regular wheels. Omni wheels aren't always the best choice, though, so pick the right drive train for your goals.
Don’t Put Your Brain on the Side of Your Robot
This can cause your robot to become unbalanced, and force you to put more weight on the other side of your robot as a counterweight. Over time, it will also cause your robot to not drive straight. Instead, try to affix your brain to the inside or top of your robot, near the center, so the weight is distributed evenly.
Building: Text
VRC Building Tips
Building: Text
Bearing Flats
Use them everywhere. At least everywhere where there's a shaft. A shaft should always go through two bearing flats to ensure no friction. A square shaft (which is all of them) does not turn smoothly in a square hole. The bearing flat makes the shaft rotate in a circular hole.
Shafts Should Always Be Supported by Two Pieces of Metal
A shaft that's only supported by one piece of metal moves around is and is unstable.
Flip Out Systems
If your design doesn't fit inside the size limit, use a flip out system. These are legal in EDR.
Make It Reliable
A simple, efficient, and consistent robot is better than a robot that complicated but only works half the time.
You Never Know until You Try
If you have an idea, there's only one way to find out if it works. Rebuilding is the only way to have a better robot, so rebuild between competitions.
Build a High Quality Robot
Always try to make a robot that can do all the tasks the game requires. Focusing only on one aspect of the game limits your team's level of play.
Building: Text
bottom of page