pic: First attempt at Sheet Metal Chasis please give advice to help me improve

[roystur44]

Needs some bracing in between the wheels, stand offs or bracketry will work. This will help to prevent twisting of the left and right wheel modules. Adding a sturdy belly pan will stiffen the frame. Make sure you can get to the chain with a chain breaker. The curved arc on your front and back panels looks cool but you can add a straight bend instead of the arc and this will strengthen the frame. The guys bending the part will appreciate the flat surface to bend from instead of the arc. Design in a tension method for the chain. You will find the chain stretches and will need maintenance. I'm a fan of round perforation patterns for lightening. Instead of triangles or rectangles try a round 60 deg staggered perforation pattern.


So far you are on the right track.

[protoserge]

Originally Posted by roystur44

I'm a fan of round perforation patterns for lightening. Instead of triangles or rectangles try a round 60 deg staggered perforation pattern.

Your fabricator will also thank you. Round holes can be punched much faster than a waterjet can cut (saves time and money). The pattern is a great suggestion; additionally, use a common hole diameter. Even better is to use a dimple die to add a flange to the hole, which adds strenth back to the structure.