Originally Posted by Akash Rastogi (Post 967786)

Yes, you did not word it correctly. But, since superstructures are game-based anyway, you usually don't see many teams using pre-designed superstructures, as is. However, it is a good idea to always keep mounting methods in mind, such as the hole patterns in kit frame rails and 973's frame rails.

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Great design work, Marcus. You definitely have some nice skills.

Originally Posted by MWB (Post 967792)

Thanks for the the info! Well the upper-structure is 1/16in. The belly pan could be lighter, but right now it only weighs about 2lbs so if less weight is needed i will change it.

The secret CAM system does not necessarily lie in the blocks or the actual cam, it lies within the method in which the CAMS are turned... Think about it

Originally Posted by MWB (Post 967797)

Also if anyone hasn't noticed, there are two different heat sinks on the CIMS. Does anyone have any comments and/or preferences.

Originally Posted by CraigHickman (Post 967795)

Be wary, welding 1/8" wall to 1/16" wall can be entertaining. Are you planning on having a welder do it for you, or will a student be doing the welding? 1/16" wall is veeeeery thin, and can splatter and deform under the hands of a less experienced welder.

Originally Posted by CraigHickman (Post 967795)

Be wary, welding 1/8" wall to 1/16" wall can be entertaining. Are you planning on having a welder do it for you, or will a student be doing the welding? 1/16" wall is veeeeery thin, and can splatter and deform under the hands of a less experienced welder.

Originally Posted by sgreco (Post 967799)

I would agree with your warning. My team bolted our chassis last year, but in 2009 we had a fairly complex chassis of a mix between 1/16 and 1/8, wall tubing. If a professional welder is doing it you have nothing to worry about, but if he's not you have a lot to worry about. I tend to be an aluminum type of guy, but if you don't have an experienced welder, then you could go with steel, and shrink the wall sizes significantly. My team has a mentor who, among othert things, is a very good welder, and we had no problems with our frame, but we have let kids weld on prototypes and such that weren't on the real robot, and it didn't turn out so well.

I like where the model is headed, keep up the good work.

Originally Posted by MWB (Post 967797)

Also if anyone hasn't noticed, there are two different heat sinks on the CIMS. Does anyone have any comments and/or preferences.

Originally Posted by MWB (Post 967800)

well in the picture you cant see that the 1/16 tubing has a stud sticking inside of it which is welded to the 1/8. it will be held in with a pin.

I will be doing the welding, but i have done 1/16 before so it wont be too hard.

Originally Posted by Chris is me (Post 967775)

There's a belly pan spanning the width of the robot. Generally such pans are used as structural members of the chassis (see 233/254's frames)

Originally Posted by MWB (Post 967791)

They slide inside of of a square cutout, ask somebody from 254, who might know more about the subject.

Originally Posted by Cory (Post 967805)

We put cross members even when using the "belly pan" design.

For the original poster: How do you intend to manufacture your gears? I'm guessing our 2007 robot was the inspiration for this design based on some of the aspects you've chosen to incorporate. If you've read much about that robot you'll have seen that everyone involved with the robot agrees that it's simply not worth the time and cost to make aluminum gears, for the ~2-2.5 lb weight savings.

Additionally we have moved away from delrin in the past two years. It flexes too much and isn't as durable as aluminum. If you have access to a waterjet it becomes very easy to make pocketed .250" aluminum gearbox plates which will be comparable in weight to .250 delrin but much more rigid. If you have access to a CNC mill, which I assume you do based on your design, it's a little more work, but still fairly simple.



If you intend to make this as a prototype, you should probably understand the basics of how the design actually works. If you're just copying it and drawing it in CAD with no understanding of why things are done the way they are, then what value is that bringing to your team?

Originally Posted by Travis Covington (Post 967810)

Why the secrecy with the tensioning method? I have to assume that most all of your design inspiration exists because of a lack of secrecy and the willingness of others to share ideas and to develop understanding.

Originally Posted by MWB (Post 967797)

Also if anyone hasn't noticed, there are two different heat sinks on the CIMS. Does anyone have any comments and/or preferences.

Originally Posted by Chris is me (Post 967821)

You shouldn't need either, and if I correctly understand how the CIMs dissipate heat from what I've been told by people smarter than me, they won't make much of a difference. Your CIMs shouldn't be burning hot at the end of a 2 minute match; if they are, you probably have bigger problems with drawing tons of current and draining right through batteries.