The following sites are great places to start:
http://forums.delphiforums.com/RobotWars/
Click on all (left menu top), then click on a category, start reading.
Then click on next 50 (left menu bottom), keep reading every message.
http://coolrobots.com/builders/newbie.html#motors/
Speed Controllers:
http://www.robotcombat.com/store_ifirobotics.html
Robot Teams:
http://www.robotbooks.com/biohazard.htm
http://www.panic-attack.net/index.php
http://home.earthlink.net/~gagecauchois/_wsn/page4.html
http://www.robotcombat.com/links-us.html
Chemistry Machine Shop.
The Chemistry Machine Shop is probably the best place for new teams to start. The Chemistry Student Machine shop is run by Tom Wilson and is located in room 24 Noyes Laboratory. The SCS machine shop offers a 5 day 20 hr course which covers everything from using ban saws and drill presses to the more advanced techniques of milling pieces including the correct milling feed rates and cutting tools all the way through turning pieces on the lathe. This class also covers applicable safety as well as machining etiquette, a must for using any machine shop here or anywhere else. The class lasts 4-5 days and around 4 hrs per day. The cost of the class is $150 for non-SCS students and $50 for students in the SCS. As a note, the costs for this class only covers the cost of the machinists time, the room and equipment is covered by the SCS, hence the difference in fees. I did check on possibly having group rates, and the dollar amount is per person; however, you can check with Tim Wilson and it might be possible for creative alternatives. http://www.scs.uiuc.edu/shop/student.html
MRL Staff Machine Shop.
The Materials research laboratory (MRL) has a staff machine shop that is open to any department; however, there is an annual usage fee of approximately $160-$170 and the user must have a university research account in which the lab course and/or annual user fee can be charged to. Additional information can be found at http://facilities.mrl.uiuc.edu/shop/. If your interested, contact Spencer Schultz at the following address schultz@mrl.uiuc.edu.
ECE Machine Shop, Probably the best bet for JSDC Competitors.
Probably the best bet for competitors in the JSDC is the ECE machine shop in Everitt Lab. The Machine shop is headed up by Scott McDonald and is located in RM 66 of Everitt. The ECE machine shop works closely with the JSDC Committee and provides invaluable help with the competition each year.
ECE has also worked closely with teams in the past; however, due to safety concerns, ECE is limiting access to teams who have (i) previously demonstrated safe working and correct working procedures, (ii) new teams who have experience in working with the tools in the SMS AND pass a verbal and/or practical test or (iii) teams who go through the training course at the School of Chemical Science headed up by Tim Wilson. As a result, it is recommended that at least one person on each new team complete the training class at SCS; it'll be money well spent, not to mention such a class will cost SIGNIFICANTLY MORE outside of the University.
Tools available at ECE Machine shop.
There are several tools which are available at the ECE machine shop and include:
DoAll Ban Saw
2 Drill Presses
a mini pilot hole drill press
sheet metal cutting tool
grinder & sander
Bridgeport Milling Machine
Lathe
Usage of any tools requires you to BRING YOUR OWN TOOLS, e.g. drill bits, milling bits, hammers, etc. ECE WILL NOT provide any tools, DON'T ASK. If you don't own the specific tool, it may be purchasable in the store down the hall (e.g. they have drill bits and milling bits). The ECE machine shop is being very generous with the JSDC, remember always (1) Work Safely, (2) clean up after yourself. Any problems can significantly impair future relationships with the ECE machine shop and JSDC participants. For contact information see http://www.ece.uiuc.edu/units/mshop.html
Other Machine Shops
There are also machine shops in the Mechanical Engineering Building, Civil Engineering Building, Physics, and TAM. If you are a student in those programs, you may have access to those machines shops. Speak with the Machine shop director to find out if such a program is available.