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Unread 17-12-2006, 13:26
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Paul Copioli Paul Copioli is offline
President, VEX Robotics, Inc.
FRC #3310 (Black Hawk Robotics)
Team Role: Engineer
 
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Re: Riveting up a frame

We used rivets in 2005 and 2006 and those were our best robots, by far. We used 1/8" aluminum rivets with aluminum mandrels in most places, but 1/8" aluminum rivets with steel mandrels in places where we could not use a lot of rivets, but needed strength. Our entire drive base, main structure and end of arm in 2005 were riveted sheet metal. Our entire drive base, tower, and shooter frame in 2006 were riveted sheet metal.

Anyone who says the rivets are not strong enough have either not used it, or implemented the rivets improperly. Strength to weight ratio is out of this world and I will race anyone changing out a component riveted together vs. bolted together. Our riveted components can be repaired and replaced much faster with rivets than with nuts and bolts.

Using 1/4" rivets in the kit frame should prove very effective. Also remember, you want to have a mechanical fuse when it comes to collisions. We usually do not have the weight to design our components against severe crashes/mishaps, but the rivets will break in key areas in order to save components.