907 4 inch IFI Sheet Metal Drivetrain Feedback

[Matthew.Mc]

Hey CD,

So recently our team has been delegating with potential sheet metal fabrication sponsors. We have come to an agreement that our team would like to pursue a sheet metal construction for next year. (Well at least Drivetrain)

I posted on CD about a month and a half ago on my first sheet metal drivetrain that I made in Pro Engineer. Since then, I have taken the information that some members of the site gave me, and created roughly 6 drivetrains. All better each time. I haven't posted one since the first, so I believe that this is another that can be criticized. I believe that I have much room for improvement, and hopefully you guys can help me address the issues I have.

The Drivetrain will consist of the following:

-6 Wheel Design (Dropped Centre (0.125)
-4 inch IFI Wheels
-Super Shifter's (OR Custom Shifters)
-Lightweight Design
-Rigid design
-Belly Pan With Electronics
-0.090" 5052 H32 Aluminium

Please don't mind the massive amount of rivets. They are simply to demonstrate where all the "possible" holes are to rivet. Not going to rivet everywhere their are rivets in the assembly.

Things that we would like answered even after hours of searching for answers are:

-What is the best method of securing the two outside plates?
-Direct Drive vs No direct Drive. One of our alumni said that a few years ago one of our pinion gears on the cim motor had shattered because of the sheer amount of force that was struck upon the gear when we would stop the drivetrain or hit something hard. Basically he was saying that when you have chain driving from a sprocket off the output shaft of the gearbox, that takes the load, and not the cim gear.
-Belly pan thickness (0.125? 0.090?)

-"Reinforcements" on the axle points. I obtained the idea from 1114's robots from the past couple years (thanks guys). Im sure that other team's use the same idea but more or less it provides that extra strength to dissipate the load more equally when you get hit. I will post a link to their website to the picture with the idea.

-I want to make circular lightening holes because they are easier to make meaning less time. But my team-mates, want to use the "118 iso-grid", because they say it obviously better but in reality it takes longer to CAD and I'm not sure that its a whole lot better in terms of a drivetrain. Maybe though?

"118 iso-grid"

http://www.simbotics.org/files/image...isplay/038.jpg

Included is the render done on CAD. This is about the fifth revision.

Thanks, CD. I look forward to the feedback as I'm looking for lots!