pic: Spectrum Fall 2013 Drive V2
 

Re: pic: Spectrum Fall 2013 Drive V2
 

Digging the new iteration. Reminds me of 971's work + the VEX chassis.

Nice job! Can't wait to see the finished product.

Re: pic: Spectrum Fall 2013 Drive V2
 

Looks great.:) I hope to see the final robot sometime.

Re: pic: Spectrum Fall 2013 Drive V2
 

I'm sure I'll see it. We see you guys everywhere we go :yikes:

Re: pic: Spectrum Fall 2013 Drive V2
 

Ooh, very nice looking! I'm still not totally sold on gears, but that looks like a really nice system...

Can you go into more detail about the "extra features" you've integrated into your frame? I have't seen many frames with a integrated Ethernet jack or pneumatic system, for example.

Re: pic: Spectrum Fall 2013 Drive V2
 

I sure can, this an accumulation of a lot of random features I've seen on other robots when inspecting them or have been posted on CD. The panel mount Voltmeter and ethernet port should make practice a bit easier. The pneumatics stuff is just to give a convenient place to access it. All of this will be below the tops of the bumpers so it should be pretty well protected. Here are the links to all the items.

2 wire Volt Meter
Ethernet Keystone Coupler
Panel Mount for 1/8 NPT Pneumatics
Small Pressure Gauges
Miniature Pneumatic Valve

I'm also looking at bumper mounting systems. The latch systems used by 254, 971, and other seem really expensive at around $10 each. Has anyone had experience with McMaster quarter turn fasteners?

Also here are the CAD files for the sheet metal in both Solidworks 2013 and STEP. Dropbox Link

Re: pic: Spectrum Fall 2013 Drive V2
 

I'll warn you, we've purchased their "miniature dump valve" and it really isn't what we'd call miniature.

Re: pic: Spectrum Fall 2013 Drive V2
 

Thanks for the heads up, Adam. Have you found a smaller one? It's listed as 1.6875" long.

Re: pic: Spectrum Fall 2013 Drive V2
 

Not yet. Not sure I expect to, it was just thought their use of miniature to describe something that's more or less normal size (to FRC) didn't work for me.

However, we did find lighter ones!
4379K41
and
4379K61

Re: pic: Spectrum Fall 2013 Drive V2
 

We used these for our offseason build, and they've worked wonderfully. I highly recommend them.

Re: pic: Spectrum Fall 2013 Drive V2
 

How many did you use for a full bumper set, 8?

Re: pic: Spectrum Fall 2013 Drive V2
 

For one color 2, so for a full set of two colors 4. We have two C shaped bumpers.

Re: pic: Spectrum Fall 2013 Drive V2
 

Each C shaped bumper only had 1 clip or 2? Did you test that against other robots, that seems like it doesn't have a lot of holding force. Was anything else holding them in place? Do you have any pictures?

Re: pic: Spectrum Fall 2013 Drive V2
 

Each only had 1 clip. The bumpers were supported in the middle by two L brackets mounted to the frame of a WCD style frame. The bumpers sit with one leg of each L against the middle of the C. One of these L brackets had the clip. There were also two L brackets on the bumper that supported the top and bottom of the c against the frame, and flanges on the bumper that locate it side to side by sliding over the L brackets mounted on the frame. When I get a chance, I'll try to upload a photo.

We've already played an offseason with the bumpers, including some elimination matches where we were pretty heavily defended. The bumpers were solid, the only damage to them was that one of the 0s on one of our bumpers peeled a little.

The important thing to remember is that the clips shouldn't really take all of the force that's on the bumper. Other features on the bumper can do this. All the clips do is retain the bumper on the frame in a way that can easily be removed.

Re: pic: Spectrum Fall 2013 Drive V2
 

Interesting, we were planning to do a one piece bumper that drops over the top of the robot. In that configuration I don't see an easy way to limit to the vertical forces that will act on the latch during impact. We had issues with the double C design because they are weaker where the two C bumpers meet. Our frame bent in when we hit the pyramid once.