967 Off Season Project
 

Team 967 has been working very hard on a prototype and will be posting teasers of our new drivetrain over the next few weeks. The sheet metal frame is all CNC laser cut by a local manufacturing company, DAD Manufacturing, with parts donated by Master Tool Mfg. We hope to be able to take this drive along with an improved gatherer and shooter to off season events this year. And for all wondering, this is not just an ordinary 8 wheel. Any guesses are welcome.
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Re: 967 Off Season Project
 

I imagine that there is more than meets the eye with this chassis besides it being an 8 wheel, 4 center IFI w/ Blue Nitrile and 4 outer omnis? I don't see much for shifting, though I don't have much experience with custom shifters. (Only have experience with AM Supers)
I see a rectangular hole in the back that I'm going to say is for a battery. And given there are no openings in your chassis, I'd say that you're designing an over the bumper collection system.

Anyways, that CNC laser job looks amazing! Competing against the Iron Lions is always a pleasure, and I look forward to next year! Perhaps we can help you scout again? (Well, more you helping us! :D)

Re: 967 Off Season Project
 

Looks more like AM Performance wheels w/ Blue Nitrile.

Re: 967 Off Season Project
 

Ah. My bad.

Re: 967 Off Season Project
 

It has drop down casters/omnis in the back. Though with that setup, it would seem as though the robot would be lifted onto the casters/omnis in the back and the front omni wheels. Which would mean you could very easily be pushed.

Re: 967 Off Season Project
 

The cutout in the belly pan could be for a balancing mechanism like a stinger.

Re: 967 Off Season Project
 

No, it is too big. Actually you can see a drop down caster/omni assembly on the wildstang iteration thread.

http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/sh...hreadid=105969

Re: 967 Off Season Project
 

This is some really solid sheetmetal work. Looks beautiful.

What is the drop on the center set of wheels? What reduction are you running in that gearbox and the overall reduction?

Looks great! I think you could simplify the frame rails and bit for easier assembly but other than that this is great.

Re: 967 Off Season Project
 

Awesome drivetrain. What software are you using? What is the best way to model the cutout pattern and have it stop at a specified edge on the bellypan?

Re: 967 Off Season Project
 

I'm not sure what they do, but it works pretty well to make an oversize diamond pattern and then just use an extrusion to make the border of the sheet. The same applies to the cutout or any electronics mounting you might add.

Re: 967 Off Season Project
 

*whistles*

That is a really nice chassis! Can't wait to see the final!

Re: 967 Off Season Project
 

Thanks! The gearbox is 50:12, and the chains are 32:16. The axles are all level, but the omni wheel radius is around 0.10" smaller than the performance wheels with nitrile tread.

Assembly wasn't too bad, but next time we'll give ourselves some breathing room in certain places to make it easier (reducing time spent grinding...). What would you simplify on the side rails?

Re: 967 Off Season Project
 

This is done in Inventor. Making the diamond pattern basically involves doing the math to figure out exactly how big the diamond needs to be in each direction, depending on the number of diamonds you want and the desired thickness of the material between the holes. I don't know exactly what our student did in this one, but I've just made a couple of diamonds in a sketch, patterned them all the way out in two directions, then cut them all at once. Gray Adams' suggestion sounds good, because it would save you from having to cut the diamonds on the edges in half.

Re: 967 Off Season Project
 

While I disagree with a few of the detailed decisions in this, I can't question the quality or the work ethic that brought this to existence. It's this kind of detailed and quality work in the offseason that will bring your team to the top level.

I love the bellypan, in the future I would try to add material to the bellypan specifically for electronics; it forces a clean layout and lets you mount electronics with the minimal amount of weight.

I think switching to a 2-stage gearbox, then directly driving one of those wheels would clean up the assembly and increase reliability substantially.

The webb of the diamond pattern could be decreased for maximum weight efficiency, but probably isn't too heavy now.

What is the weight of the two outer "rails"? Seems like a lot of material in there that could be pocketed out, especially with the reinforcement bumpers provide.

Why Omni on the outside, you could easily do traction without sacrificing turning speed or ability.

Overall I like it though, it definitely looks robust and quality. Don't take my questions negatively, I just hold drive trains to a ridiculous standard.

Re: 967 Off Season Project
 

What do you mean by this? Specific mounting holes for mounting jaguars, the pdb, etc.?