Shipping Crates

[smarcus88]

Hi I am a rookie, I was just interested to see how everyone built their shipping crates,
how they mount their robot inside, and what they send in it (besides batteries and robot) and also, if any how they organize storage inside (i.e. shelves, etc)

I tried searching to see if their was a post about this and I have seen MOEmentums paper, so I apologize if I am recreating another thread. but any help from some veteran teams would be great

[FlyingDutchman]

well last year my team was a rookie team to so i know how you feel. you could say we made a big out house [no we didnt go to the bathroom in it] but any way the dimensions are 4*4*5 ft 10 in and you can screw in the controller [ the controller was mounted on wood ], i recommend that you put a thicker peace of wood where you screw it in if you use that idea and or use smaller screws also make a little box just big enough to fit the amount of battery's in so they aren't flopping around [on the inside ].I think thats all i can do for you and sorry about the spelling errs I'm not the best speller

[Michelle Celio]

Originally Posted by FlyingDutchman

.I think thats all i can do for you and sorry about the spelling errs I'm not the best speller

Next to the "submit reply" button, there is a "Spell check" it helps, i use it with almost every post, I'm not the best speller.

Last year, this what our crate and robot looked like, I wasn't there I was just given the information.

[smarcus88]

do you need full 2 by 4 inner structure or does the 1/2 inch plywood pretty much hold the box together

[Mike Hendricks]

Be careful when adding shelfs and storage inside the crate. Go overweight, and you'll have some hefty bills to pay drayage and FedEx when you uncrate your bot at the regional.

We use a crate, with a pallet base (and a sheet of plywood over it) then its built up using 2x4s that were ripped in half (2x2s .. well .. 1.5x1.5s) and then plywood over the sides. The thickness of the ply has slipped my mind (which is pathetic since I was putting the crate together tonight), but it seems like it was 1/2".

Inside, we have a small plywood box for the batteries, and then the robot. Over the last 2 years, we've mounted the bots differently (last year we made brackets that physically bolted the robot to the crate; first year we used lag "eye" bolts and ratchet tie downs). One thing to remember, secure any appendages. If you have something that moves (such as an arm), make sure you secure it to the robot or the frame some how. Stuff WILL shift inside the crate. Something else worth mentioning that we have discovered .. the crates aren't kept very dry. Back when FIRST gave us the drill motors, ours rusted in the crate. Steel shafts started to rust/oxidize. This is something to consider when you're thinking about shipping tools. Unless you really want to pay for the extra fees, I would recommend bringing your tools to competition anyways.

With that said, heres our crate (with our 2004 bot)

[Wayne Doenges]

If you go into 'Picture Galleries' at the top of the forum page and than go to the different years listed there is a 'Crate' site. Some of the pictures show the inside of the crates.

We built ours using 1/2" plywood sides and 2x4's.
FYI, you must have it off the ground so a forklift can move it. I think the specs are in the manual.
Hope this helps and good luck on your rookie year.
Don't forget to have FUN

[Jimmy Nichols]

We pretty much did the same as most people. But I do believe that you are allowed to take your batteries with you and your controls. You do not have to ship them in the crate. Refer to 6.3.5 of the Manual and you do not have to ship the controls or the batteries.

"Teams must include the robot and may include the two batteries...FIRST will allow you to keep all of your robot controls (Operator Interface, OI power supply, joysticks, etc.) and not ship them with your robot on Tuesday, 2/21/2006..."

[Courtneyb1023]

With the dimensions of our robot being different this year from the other 3 years that we have competed. We had concerns that our robot would be to big for the crate that we have used in the past. However, everyone on the team seems confident that the robot will fit. Has anyone else run into this problem this year or any other year?

[arabsponsor]

[quote=smarcus88]Hi I am a rookie, I was just interested to see how everyone built their shipping crates,
how they mount their robot inside, and what they send in it (besides batteries and robot) and also, if any how they organize storage inside (i.e. shelves, etc)

I tried searching to see if their was a post about this and I have seen MOEmentums paper, so I apologize if I am recreating another thread. but any help from some veteran teams would be great[/QUOTE

We build a new crate each year and use 2x4s and 1/2" plywood. I think this is pretty typical. If you have the ability to carry you batteries with you it will cut down on the likelihood of robot damage during shipping. We are fortunate in that we are close enough to our regional that we can put the robot in the crate by itself and take everything else with us. I believe it was two years ago that a a team at Peachtree opened their crate to a squashed bot and had to rebuild on inspection day. Good luck and have a great rookie year.