HOW TO USE HEATSHRINK TUBING IN YOUR COMBAT ROBOT

Heatshrink Tubing – a game-changer FOR COMBAT ROBOTICS BUILDERS

Installing heatshrink tubing for combat robotics

If you’re building a combat robot, heatshrink tubing is your new best friend! Combat robots take a beating, and with all that jostling, unprotected wires can short out, leaving you with a robot that’s not ‘combat-ready’ anymore with more ‘magic smoke’.

Forget about electrical tape or hot glue—heatshrink tubing is in a league of its own. It’s not just easy to apply; it’s also incredibly versatile, offering superior protection and a clean finish. If you haven’t added it to your toolkit yet, now’s the time. Your robot will thank you for it!

Assembly Steps – Line up your tools

Installing heatshrink tubing for combat robotics

• Heat shrink tubing is easy to work with– it can be cut with scissors. But, because it’s heat shrink, you have to have a way to heat it. We happen to have an industrial heater from our days in an electronics factory, but it’s probably too bulky and too expensive for most people. You can find one on Amazon here. Or Google “Industrial Heat Gun”
• We also have the mini heat gun, it’s a lot cheaper, and its easier to handle. These have been good to us. You can find one on Amazon here. Or Google “Mini Heat Gun”
• We’ve heard of people using soldering irons or even lighters.  We definitely don’t recommend using an open flame!

Assembly Steps – Install and heat the tubing

1. Plan ahead: when you are soldering wires, ensure that you have a way to slip the heat shrink tubing onto the wire. Sometimes, this may mean that you need to place the tubing onto the wire before you perform the soldering.
2. Slide the tubing on to the wire. Slide it as far from the soldering joint as possible, because when you start to solder, the tubing can shrink prematurely from the heat of the soldering iron, making it impossible to move.
3. Wait for the soldered joint to cool. Slide the tubing over the soldered joint, including that all exposed wires and joints are covered by the tubing
4. Use the heat gun to heat the tubing. Make sure to move the heat source so that the tubing shrinks evenly.

You’re done, and you now have a well protected electrical connection, ready for combat!