[EricH]

The other thing to look into is the cost of 3D printing. When 330 looked into it, the cost of material used would be within the limits. However, the smallest commercially available quantity (what FIRST cost accounting is partially based on) would have been too much. However, costs may have come down since then, and different materials would cost different amounts.

As far as a "snap-together" robot...

I wouldn't necessarily do it, and certainly wouldn't try it without research or a prototype robot. The thing about snap-together is that it would have to lock securely and stay locked through impact. Start by building a prototype over the summer--material doesn't matter, other than you'll want to make it similar to what you might build in competition. Put it through the grinder--you WANT it to break under the stress of practice, due to the toughness of that practice. If it holds up, use it in competition. If it doesn't, figure out why it doesn't, and use that to improve the design or reject the design.