Quote:
Originally Posted by 114ManualLabor
also, as far as strength... custom is far superior.
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Umm, okay.
We have to be careful about making all encompassing statements on these forums. It's one thing to say "My team chooses to use a custom a chassis, because we have enough resources to build something better than the kit chassis". It's another thing to say "custom is far superior". Yes there are custom frames that are better than the kit frame. By no means it the kit frame the ultimate solution. But, to imply that all custom frames are better than the kit frame is ludicrous and insulting. I've seen many teams design custom frames in lieu of the kit frame, and fail miserably because of it.
The decision on whether to use the kit frame or not depends on a variety of factors. If your team feels that you're losing part of the FIRST experience by going kit, that's a personal decision. When it comes to a sheer engineering decision, here's the guideline I offer to teams.
Step back and honestly evaluate your team's resources. Do this in terms of finances, experience, manpower & talent. This will help you answer the following questions.
1. Consider the custom frame you're considering building. Does it provide a large advantage over the kit frame? Consider strength, rigidity, ease of mechanism integration, and ease of repair.
2. With this frame, can you have your drivetrain completed in 2 weeks?
3. Will building this frame still leave you with enough resources to work on and complete the rest of the robot at a high quality? (Will you still be able to build as good of a mechanism as you want?)
If the answer to these three questions is Yes, then it sounds like you're ready to go custom. Otherwise, stick with the kit frame. The easiest way to make your robot perform better at competition is to have a well practiced driver. That means having the drivetrain done early. This is why I feel more teams should use the kit frame. The kit frame allows you to get your drivers practicing before week 2 even finishes! This is such a huge advantage. Time is such a valuable resource, it can't be wasted. Plus, by using the kit frame, you can allocate resources to your mechanism.
I'm frankly tired of a lot of the "kit bot snobbery" I hear from people in this program. I definitely agree that it's not for everyone. There are some teams who can whip out a wicked, strong welded aluminum tube frame in a couple of days. If you don't use it, this doesn't mean you need to come out and say that it's a horrible product, and that teams who use it are making a dumb decision. The kitbot is a great tool for all teams. For those low resource teams who need a kick start, and for those savvy teams who don't want to re-invent the wheel and would rather spend their time practicing and building an awesome mechanism.