[pmangels17]

We do CAD all of our parts, so we don't do much drivetrain prototyping. We have an old C Base chassis that we use to mount our test designs and concepts.

Our prototypes are generally from wood, old c-base chassis rails (11 year old team, we have a lot of them), and small pieces of aluminum, as well as some old copy machine rollers that we use as pulleys for belt driven prototypes. All of our prototypes are powered by old motors that are not FIRST legal anymore, old CIMs in CIMple boxes, and hand drills with the chucks tightened around the shaft.

We built a few wire leads with battery connectors and household light switches, and alligator clips on the other end. We also have an old, half-working compressor mounted under a workbench, with a regulator and a few old air tanks, and some manually controlled, momentary solenoids to test out and pneumatic stuff that we design.

I find that being able to prototype with pneumatics is very important in the design process, and also, never throw out old aluminum pieces, especially extra c-base rails, as they are really well made for prototyping (you dont have to drill extra holes to attach wood parts).

Good luck, T-Minus 3 hours, 20 minutes.