View Single Post
  #11   Spotlight this post!  
Unread 27-05-2011, 12:25
DonRotolo's Avatar
DonRotolo DonRotolo is offline
Back to humble
FRC #0832
Team Role: Mentor
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Rookie Year: 2005
Location: Atlanta GA
Posts: 6,979
DonRotolo has a reputation beyond reputeDonRotolo has a reputation beyond reputeDonRotolo has a reputation beyond reputeDonRotolo has a reputation beyond reputeDonRotolo has a reputation beyond reputeDonRotolo has a reputation beyond reputeDonRotolo has a reputation beyond reputeDonRotolo has a reputation beyond reputeDonRotolo has a reputation beyond reputeDonRotolo has a reputation beyond reputeDonRotolo has a reputation beyond repute
Re: Alternatives to Welding?

By tubing, I am guessing you mean square extrusion? Much of the following applies to round tubing as well.

Gusset plates can be made with a hacksaw and drill. If the tube is in danger of crushing (from nut & bolt) use hard wood (we use oak & maple), pounded into the tube, as an internal support.

Don't be so hard on blind rivets. They are faster to remove than a nut & bolt (want to race me?) and at least as strong. Never ever had one fail.

In some places we leave two of the 4 tube walls intact as 'tongues' we use for fastening. We've also used 3/4" square as an internal splice for 1" square (1/8" walls), as well as 1-1/4" square as an external splice.

We use 80/20 for prototyping, since it's easily adjustable, but move to extrusion for the final robot where it makes sense.
__________________

I am N2IRZ - What's your callsign?