pic: 6Wheel Drive Sheet Metal

[PAR_WIG1350]

Originally Posted by RogerR

I may be looking at the picture wrong, but it appears that you have two idler gears between each wheel. This would make the middle wheels spin the opposite direction of the outer wheels.

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[roystur44]

Matt,

If you have access to a press brake you can add bends along the edges to make the sheet metal stiff. Your design is using flat pieces of sheet metal. Think of it like a piece of paper. In the flat the paper flops but if you add a bend in the paper suddenly the paper is stiff and can support weight.

Designing the sheet metal to locate and interlock the various pieces is what makes the sheet metal medium a great way to build a robot.

Don't forget your belly pan, mounting points for your manipulator and the bumper brackets. One piece bumpers are the rage.

Here is a shot of our 2012 frame. It's only 3 pieces. Very light and stiff. We use a cnc punch press to make the parts. Takes only 10 minutes to punch all the parts for two frames.

https://picasaweb.google.com/1045493...18256773910530

[AdamHeard]

Originally Posted by PAR_WIG1350

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There is a very obvious gap between the center gear and the next gear that would fit a small pinion nicely, the .75" hole with #10 clearance holes at 2" diameter show a CIM would mount there. One CIM per side, two total.

Pretty cool setup, and very light (especially if those gears are pocketed).