Case Study: BattleBots® achieves rapid robot prototyping and end-use parts delivery with Protolabs

BattleBots clash for robot supremacy on ABC with help from Protolabs

The customer, BattleBots, faced the challenge of designing and building complex combat robots for a televised competition under an extremely tight three-month deadline. Competitors Hal Rucker and Christian Carlberg of C2 Robotics required incredibly fast turnaround on both prototypes and end-use parts, needing components that were strong yet light to meet a 250-pound weight limit. They turned to vendor Protolabs for its automated CNC machining and 3D printing services to meet this challenge.

Protolabs provided a rapid manufacturing solution, delivering multiple shipments of machined and 3D-printed parts within days of each order. The vendor's speed and design for manufacturability (DFM) analysis were critical, allowing one team to walk in with two complete, functional robots. The results were successful: all parts performed to expectation with no breakages, and the finished robots worked exactly as designed. Protolabs' services were credited as a key factor in enabling both teams to meet the uncompromising television production schedule.

BattleBots®

Hal Rucker

Freelance Product Designer