pic: Conceptual bumper mounts, Universal Chassis
 

Re: pic: Conceptual bumper mounts, Universal Chassis
 

Be careful.......in 2008 (and previous years) bumpers had to mounted in a specific way and that way only!! Read the Manual!!! I do not see the specified mounting in your rendition.

Re: pic: Conceptual bumper mounts, Universal Chassis
 

Nothing in the rendition precludes the specified mounting. In fact, it would assist in that mounting. (As in, hold the bumpers to the brackets with bolts. If you need to remove them, pull the bumpers, but not necessarily the brackets.)

Re: pic: Conceptual bumper mounts, Universal Chassis
 

Correct, if the chassis with brackets fits in the sizing box after the bumpers are removed.

[Caution: we're assuming the 2008 bumper rule. The 2009 rule may be different.]

You might need to add something to support the bumpers against flexing inward to contact one of the center wheels when your robot gets slammed broadside. :eek:

Re: pic: Conceptual bumper mounts, Universal Chassis
 

2008 was the first year that had this rule.

STANDARD BUMPERS must be attached to the ROBOT with a bolt and-fastener system to form a rigid, robust connection to the ROBOT structure (i.e. not attached with Velcro!).

Before that they were only required to have a strong and stiff fastening system that was easily removable.

Who knows if bumpers will be required this year or if they even will be an option at all.

Re: pic: Conceptual bumper mounts, Universal Chassis
 

I can't tell by this picture how big this is.

I know the 2009 footprint may be different, but would this fit in the 2008 footprint?

Re: pic: Conceptual bumper mounts, Universal Chassis
 

you could put another bracket on each side of the center wheels, it wouldent look great, but it would work

Re: pic: Conceptual bumper mounts, Universal Chassis
 

Not having any major support in the center of the wood panels makes me very nervous. It doesn't take much force to push one of those into a wheel, and then bad things can happen to more costly parts. O.o

Re: pic: Conceptual bumper mounts, Universal Chassis
 

Another thing....depending on the game, and how your robot plays it, you might be able to put a full crossmember at each end of the robot, sticking out all the way to the side bumpers, which simplifies bumper mounting.

And the added mounts on the sides near the center wheel don't need to be bolted onto the bumper, they could just be supports that prevent the bumper from being deflected in towards the wheels.

Re: pic: Conceptual bumper mounts, Universal Chassis
 

Well, if the bumper is going to be there anyways, that crossmember wouldn't do any harm (because the bumper would be blocking anything the crossmember would, and it would be stronger with the bar there).

On the other side of the robot, though, as Squirrel said, might have to be kept open to allow game pieces to move closer to the robot.