J.M. Gabrielse

Using Tools with VEX

(Bending & Cutting)J.M. Gabrielse

J.M. Gabrielse

Outline

• Tools• Bending Metal

– forms– vise & hammer

• Cutting Metal– Measure– Mark– Secure– Cut

J.M. Gabrielse

Small (#1) Screwdriver

• Fits the pesky screw on the battery cover of the joystick.

J.M. Gabrielse

Hex Wrenches

• Ball-end hex drivers can be used to at an angle.• T-handle hex wrenches give you more torque.

All VEX parts (except the joystick) use two

sizes of hex keys (3/32 & 5/64).

Each robot kit has two hex keys.

These hex wrenches are better.

J.M. Gabrielse

Competition Switch

• Use for scrimmages in the classroom.• Up to 4 robots can be enabled/disabled and set

to autonomous operation or driver control.

J.M. Gabrielse

Pliers

slip-joint

needle-nose

Use pliers to grasp, hold, and bend.

Using pliers to turn nuts or screws will scratch nuts and damage the threads on screws.

Remove stripped screws by grasping their heads and turning with a pair of pliers.

J.M. Gabrielse

Vise

• Use to bend or hold metal.

• Jaws can crush things.

• Clamp to a heavy table or bench.

• Do not clamp to a student desk!

The vise won’t fit in the toolbox.

J.M. Gabrielse

Ball-Peen Hammer

Put metal in the vise and hit with the hammer to bend it.

J.M. Gabrielse

Safety Glasses

• You must wear safety glasses when working with metal.

• So must everyone else nearby.

J.M. Gabrielse

Bending Metal• Mark (with a marker) where you want the metal

to bend• Secure in a vise so the jaw closes just below the

bend-mark.• Tap with the hammer until the metal bends at

the desired angle.

J.M. Gabrielse

Hacksaw

• Measure (count holes or use a ruler)

• Mark (use markers on metal)

• Remeasure: “measure twice, cut once”

• Secure in a vise

• Place hacksaw on mark and pull backwards several times to start a groove

• Pull back & forth to cut

J.M. Gabrielse

Cutting Metal

J.M. Gabrielse

Keep everything (except the saw) in the toolbox .

J.M. Gabrielse