Quote:
Originally Posted by KGenson
There's also 80/20, although it's fairly expensive and very heavy. I think C-Channel is a better option since the stresses these robots undergo aren't nearly that tough.
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80/20 is a fantastic prototyping material, but if you're going to consider making a drive out of it there are some considerations you really should take into account:
1) Do not rely on sliders for holding chain/belt tension. They
will work loose. If you feel you must do this, be ready to check them between every single match, and be sure to use a generous amount of loctite and brute force when tightening.
2) The corner blocks designed to connect at the end of the bar (with a bolt into the 1/4-20-tappable hole in the extrusion) are very good, and you should use them. Again, loctite is your friend.
3)
Everything needs either loctite or a locknut. This goes for pretty much all constructions that use lots of bolts, but is especially pertinent for 80/20, where slightly loose things will slide all over the place (as opposed to just jiggling around a bit).