80/20 Inc.

[nnfuller]

This will be FRC Team 2733's 5th year, and I think that they have finally decided on a building method that works for them. By using the box extrusion similar to Quickframe and other such products, and gusset plates made from .050" aluminum sheet metal, they are able to create forms with amazingly complex shapes with nothing but a band saw, drill press and popriveter. One of the goals of FIRST is to expose students to new ideas and methods. In my opinion, 80/20 is a great prototyping tool, but at competition leads to a lot of trouble with things getting loose and requiring upkeep it also is not a new concept for anyone who has ever used an erector set. For a rookie team, it would be simple to use a KOP chassis, and then use 80/20 to build the rest, at the end however, converting the 80/20 bars with 1/16th wall box extrusions will save tons of weight. This is the trick to using 80/20, using as little as possible on the final robot.