Re: FischerTechnik

On 28/08/05, PeterBalch <[email protected]> wrote:
> 
> 
> > late last night I stumbled onto their website:
> > http://www.fischertechnik.com/
> > Does anyone have a set, and/or have any experience building with it?  How
> > does it compare to Mindstorms?
> 
> I used to have fischertechnik but sold it and bought lego. My objections to
> fischertechnik were:
> 
> It's bigger and heavier for the same mechanical functionality. So you need
> bigger motors, batteries, etc.
> 
> The bricks don't click into "integer" positions but can slide around and so
> require more bracing.
> 
> The axles are round so it's harder to fix the phase relationships of gears.
> I was interested in building walking machines where fixed phase
> relationships are essential.
> 
> I haven't looked at fischertechnik in 15 years so maybe these problems have
> been solved.
> 
> Peter
> 
There are a couple of areas where FT does outshine Leg a little.
Namely - Pneumatics - FischerTechnik has a larger range of cylinders,
more advanced valves, serious compressors, and most importantly
solenoids.

Also their robotics controller has a great deal more in terms of IO
flexibility than the RCX. Although it appears to be somewhat larger.

I agree that their designs do mean that things slide around a bit -
and have to be braced harder. I havent used it for a while though -
but I seem to remember that the gear fixings were based upon grub
screws. It is possible to build cross-system models with them both,
and the push fits of Lego pneumatics are compatible with the FT
pneumatics.

On the European/UK website some of the kits have handy PDF part
catalogues - something that it would be handy for Lego to do, although
we do have Peeron.

OrionRobots
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