Alt-BEAM Archive
Message #00413
To: Bumper314@aol.com
From: JVernonM@aol.com
Date: Mon, 15 Feb 1999 00:17:51 EST
Subject: [alt-beam] Re: question
In a message dated 2/14/99 8:39:10 PM Eastern Standard Time, Bumper314@aol.com
writes:
> A completely
> autonomous, self contained bot that gets all the power it needs from
> above.....This is what got me into BEAM. Now if we take a close look at
BEAM
> we can find that the two most expensive parts are the cell and the motors,
> right (for a simple photovore). This is why you have to put a lot of time
> and
> money into BEAM before it starts to pay off.
Me too. I love the truly autonomous possibilities of these beam beasties. I
guess your slant on the cost issue made me think of the true nature of my
frustration. Let me put a more personal spin on this. I just checked my
reciepts recently and discovered that I've spent about 800.00 dollars total on
kits, motors, solar cells, and various electronics. I have so far built 15
different bots, many of which were posted for viewing. I have mostly built
symets, photopoppers, and a bicore head. I have a micro core breadboarded with
reverser and motor driver. Now I begin looking for gearmotors. None to be
found. OK, I'll use servos, maybe another 30 or 40 bucks for good ones. But I
have enough electronics to build another 3 motor, a 4 motor and maybe throw
on a head or two. That's how many motors now. And I'm kinda still attached to
the solar thing, so I want them all to be solarized, so I need some more
electronics for the pm solar engine. How much is that now? Jeez, my wife is
gonna have a hissy fit when she sees this. "Where's the free robots you were
gonna make from all the kids walkmans you destroyed?" she's gonna ask.
"Well..um..there's a learning curve dear,...and..um.. I only need a few more
parts," I stammer. "I'll be able to build a bot for less than 100 bucks then
that will really do some stuff." She just gives me that look. You know the
one. The look your mom makes when you tell her you need the car and you WILL
buy gas this time. "You've already spent enough to have built C3PO!" She says
with a sneer. "Oh.. well..um..yeah." I am forced to agree. I mean I'm spending
a lot of cash to build a few "cheap" bots. Now, don't get me wrong I have the
electronics to build quite a few projects, but to bring them to fluition I
need motors and solar cells. This cheap hobby is gonna tap me out.
Sincerely,
Jim
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