[Specialagentjim]

Originally Posted by andy

The guys and I have been kicking around a few ideas to help our electronics go on a diet (20 lb plus electronics panel/s last year) and I've got a few thoughts (translation: probably illiegal)

Idea One: mount all electronics on composite board carbon fiber or fiber glass (yes I know CF conducts electricity), tap the composite and use nylon hardware This is very expensive, but one of our sponsors does composite work and we can have the scraps

Idea Two: mount all electronics on a massive printed circuit board. Design the entire thing in CAD. Route traces to he componants and then solder wires to the board to connect to the component. Also, build in any custom curcuitry and current sensors IN TO the electronics panel. In addition, get solder in fuse holders and eliminate the fuse block. Even better, get board to board connectors, make the entire thing modular and stack the boards. Simple replacement of any component. BUT, it might be considered using the chassis to conduct electricity, wich is agienst the rules

Just thoughts...

-Andy

The CF sounds like an interesting idea to me, but I'm not so sure about Idea two. Most of the weight from the electronics results from the IFI compononets (Issac 32, Victors, Relays), solenoids, battery, and distribution blocks, etc. Seeing as it's illegal to open anything from IFI, I don't really see the benefit to running it all into printed circuit boards. I DO like the idea of having a single printed circuit board for all your sensors to attach to, and then a modular connector to the IFI box.

We tried something similiar this year which never got off the ground, which V2.0 will be on the robot this year. We're going to define each segment of the robot electrically (The arm has two globes and two relays, the left side drive has a drill and an atwood, a solenoid, and a wheel encoder, etc.) and build modular quick connects. If we need to tear down the robot, you can grab any segment of the robot which is modularaily connected by only a few bolts, disconnect the connector for that segment, take it to somewhere else and work on it. Great for when you have a problem with drive on one side and another problem with the arm, two groups of people can work at once.

So far the best solution to Mounting electrical compononets IMO is still wood if weight is feasible, and plexi if weight's an issue. A good piece of 1/8" Plexi mounted in a safe location is great for electronics.