Antweight / Beetleweight Combat Robot Testbox

This Guide is still a draft, more clear pictures will be added

I made a box with a sliding polycarbonate top to safely test combat robots at home. My version is able to be flatpacked using barrel nuts but that is optional.

I based my design off the FTR Test Box guide.

Disclamer: This testbox is just a simple box to contain posible shrapnel from EU Antweights (150g) and Beetles (1.5kg). Fresh Polycarbonate (PC) will absorb impact and keep shrapnell inside of the box. Once PC gets exposed to UV or gets older it will get more brittle over time. Only use new PC or PC that has a known history of low UV exposure and age.

(Rogue) Combat robots can be dangerous. Always test your robots in an arena or testbox and use your brain when operating.

For a testbox sized: 60x60x31cm

Multiplex:

1. 2x 600x310x15mm
2. 2x 570x310x15mm
3. 1x 600x600x9mm

Polycarbonate:

1. 595x595
2. 4mm for Ants & < 250J < 250mph Beetles
3. 6mm for < 1KJ < 250mph Beetles

Aluminium L profile:

1. 20x40x2mm 2000

Hardware:

1. 2x Trunk handle
2. 4x Corner protectors 45x45x45
3. A hand full of 4x35mm screws for assembling the wooden box
4. A hand full of 3.5x12mm screws for mounting the brackets to the box

Optional:

1. Woodglue
2. 8x round nut m6 12,5
3. 8x m6 screw 50mm countersunk head
4. 1x Led strip 12v 50cm
5. 1x Led strip profile 50cm
6. Wheels
7. Extra wood for kickplates
8. Metal for floor

Tools:

1. Cicular saw (The hardware store might also be able to cut your wood exactly to size)
2. Drill/driver
3. Hacksaw
4. Metal File
5. Wood Clamps

You can do this with long clamps but corner clamps can also be easy if you have those or can improvise those.

Apply wood glue if you don't want to disasemble the box again.

If you have a brad nailer, tack the sides together so they don't slip and misalign. Otherwise wait at least some 45min after applying glue.

Pre drill and countersink some holes & attach the sides with some 35mm screws.

I mounted 2 screws to each side along with 2 tacks.

Lay the 60x60cm bottom panel on the box. Make sure at least one corner of this panel is square. We will reference that corner to make the box square.

Pre drill and screw tight with some 35mm screws. I mounted 3 screws in each side panel.

If some sides stick out a bit, you can trim them flush with a router or sand them.

I found that the screws were not sitting flush in the brackets I used. So I countersunk the holes in the bracket a bit more.

Attach the bracket on the bottom corner with 2 12mm screws in the sides. (Not the bottom) If you add a screw to the bottom it might scratch your floor. You can add some felt pads too if you want.

Option 1, a bit harder but cleaner look.

Cut out triangles out of the L profile in the places you will bend the profile so that we can bend a frame. It might help if you make a slight cut in the long side so it bends where you want.

I'll add some more clear pictures to show this but I hope you can imagine how this would work

Option 2, easier but less clean look.

Cut:

1 piece 58cm long

2 pieces 57cm long

Drill holes

Drill & countersink 3 holes per side

left and right hole 4cm from the sides and one in the center

Lay down the polycarb on the box and add the aluminium fram on top. Add some 1-2mm spacers between the polycarb and the frame. This way the polycarb has some room to slide when this is all done.

mount the frame with 12mm screws

Mount the handles in a way that you would have to lift up to slide the polycarb panel. This way it does not slide out when carrying. I made this mistake with the first blue test box I made.

The box can also be used as an antweight arena in a pinch.

Led Lights

If you can before buying, film the led lights with your camera. If it flickers, look for other lights. You can get high CRI Led lights with quality powersupplies for pretty cheap now.

These are great for filming and even allow for some nice slow-mo footage

Kickplates & metal Floor

When testing Beetle spinners your floor or sides can get torn up. Adding a sacrificial layer of wood or metal can lengthen the life of your testbox.

Wheels

When you add that metal floor, kickplates, thicker polycarb and also store extra tools & spare parts in your box it can get quite heavy. Wheels might be a nice upgrade. I carry mine arount with a hand truck for now.

Paint

This will finish off your box and make it stand out. Painting the inside walls white benefits the amount of light that gets bounced around and make everything a bit more clear to see